Colorado: Pork barrel spending from energy dinosaurs
The Denver Post reports Citizens for "Sensible Energy", funded unsurprising not by regular citizens but by three of the major suppliers of energy in Colorado, are campaigning against a proposal to require the state's largest energy providers to make greater use of renewable energy resources.
Instead energy executives prefer to raise energy prices (by an average of 73% last winter) and pay themselves multi-million dollar salaries.
The article predicts this being the first of many battles with the energy dinosaurs across America.
posted by James at 2:33 pm
2 Comments:
Wind, solar, water and muscle are sources of power that energy corporations hate to talk about. You can ride a bike and generate enough energy to watch your television program and some backward religious communities in America do it now. A local "pig farmer" called the "Dull Farm" erected 6 wind powered generators and as I ride along the bike path I watch them turn and generate power to keep the pigs cool in their pens. Their waste can also generate gas that can be used. Water power is also a source that is wasted every day. People are not ready to accept what it takes to be energy independent. At least I don't think they are. People are still buying 4-wheel drive vehicles and SUVs in America and are willing to pay up to $2.00 dollars a gallon to get 8 to 10 miles from it. The problem is not with the companies but with the "stockholders" who demand bigger and bigger returns on their investments. That's why the energy companies don't want to hear anything unless it involves increased use.
When it comes to cutting consumption a significant proportion may be unwilling to make sacrifices if they are not aware of the full facts regarding the present energy situation.
However given the choice between electricity generated from fossil fuel sources (coal, gas, oil) & a clean renewable source like wind power the majority of people will choose wind power even if it costs slightly more.
If through subsidy and/or efficiency gains the cost of wind power is the same or lower than fossil fuels I believe given the choice the vast majority of people will choose the renewable energy.
The issue is getting the infrastructure & regulatory environment right by corporations & governments so regular people are able to make this choice.
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