House Democrats unveil new energy plan
Chris Baltimore, Reuters, March 1, 2007
Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday unveiled a bill that would spend about $15 billion to double U.S. automobile fuel efficiency, expand ethanol distribution and build more mass transit. ...
The bill would fund research into ways to double U.S. automobile fuel efficiency, focusing on hydrogen, fuel cells, plug-in hybrids and other high-tech ideas. It would give grants to build more public transit and commuter rail systems, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said.
It also would reimburse companies for installing new pumps at service stations to dispense gasoline blended with 85 percent ethanol, as well as tanks to hold the fuel, which because of its corrosive properties cannot be stored with gasoline blended only from crude. ...
My God, this plan is idiotic. We dont need to fund research into doubling mpg; we already know how to do it. The legislative mechanism is called CAFE.
Free gas pumps for E85! Whoopee! There's a great idea. Excuse me, Gentle Reader. And I thought Bush was stupid.
Posted by: George | March 03, 2007 at 12:52 AM
I do not bother to read legislation until it is close to be law. The 2005 energy bill was a very good. It was clear that most critics did not read it. When it comes to energy/environmental policy the Bush team is not stupid but the new plan does not so sound new.
Posted by: Kit P. | March 03, 2007 at 09:31 AM
Seems the democratas are just reaching in lue of the photo opt Bush had with Phoenix/A123. The energy debate is starting real early... I hope it has enough teeth to sink into the minds of the people to last until the presidential election. Maybe perception of the masses is about to change, for the better I hope. I'd like to see alternative energy solutions become a hot topic of debate... especially since it affects other issues such as foreign oil dependance, GHG, energy independance so forth and so on.
Posted by: Jimmi | March 03, 2007 at 03:10 PM
(1)Hoyer said the bill also would offer a stimulus to help rail freight shippers build more tanker cars to transport ethanol. Why do they need this "help"? From what I've seen, the railroads are aggressively pursuing the ethanol-transport market.
2)If rail-based mass transit systems are built in areas where they will not be heavily utilized, I wonder what the *real* energy balance will look like. Making steel rails and railcars requires a lot of energy, which is well repaid *if* utlization is high.
Posted by: david foster | March 03, 2007 at 03:47 PM
There are some really good ideas about automobile fuel efficiency,but I don't think they can be so easily fulfiled.
Posted by: steven davies | July 20, 2007 at 02:13 AM
Steven, why would you think something is a good idea if it is impractical?
This is just another example of passing the buck while refusing to pass effective legislation. This is called playing to the party base to get reelected.
Posted by: Kit P | July 20, 2007 at 11:46 AM
Jason,
You can discover what Steven Carew "has got" by visiting wholesale the website for Rhino Hydro. There are a few "update" items there, dated 2004.
But, the essence of Steve's invention is described under the "technical" menu selection, as follows:
"This electro generating plant employs magnets and springs to help create a perpetual motion which hiphone drives a generator. Thus giving you the electricity you need."
Get the picture, Jason? Hard to imagine Steve can't get funding . . .2945abc45 0422
Posted by: Android Tablet PCs | April 22, 2011 at 04:34 AM