Energy-- Good News

Automakers are not protesting Obama's increase in fuel standards to 54.5 MPG from the current 27 corporate average by 2025. The president calls for five percent a year improvement from 2017 to 2025.
This is a different posture from that taken by the automakers four years ago. Apparently the companies thought it would be bad form to oppose the new standards after the goverment saved their butts with bailouts.

Catastrophe- Part 8 in a series

A recent National Geographic television channel program helped me understand the physics behind the increased number of violent storms--hurricanes, floods, tornadoes. An increase in the earth's temperature causes greater evaporation and more water vapor in the atmosphere. This moisture has to go somewhere, and that is back to earth. Also the increased water vapor absorbs more of the sun's energy and this energy contributes to storms.
Now, for public policy-- It is past time we got serious about our activities contributing to greenhouse gases, etc. particularly coal-fired power plants. The key to utilizing wind and solar energy is a national power grid to carry the electricity from the sunny and windy places to our major cities.

They Still Don't Get It

General Motors announced the Cadillac CTS-V Wagon that has a 556-horsepower V-8,which uses premium gas and qualifies for the $1,300 gas guzzler tax. And we tax payers saved their butts for this innovation? Well, Texans need something to drive on their 85 MPH highways!

recycling plastic and energy policy

How have the Republicans turned policy addressed to climate change into a dirty word? We have no new energy and climate change legislation thanks to the notion that there is no evidence of global warming and no need to take it seriously. Is this the return of the "no-nothings" to political power?
Thomas Friedman writes in the NYT that an American company has developed technology to turn waste computers into usable plastic at low cost. But new factories using the technology are being built in China and Europe. Friedman explains:
"Americans recycle about 25 percent of their plastic bottles. Most of the rest ends up in landfills or gets shipped to China to be recycled here. Getting people to recycle regularly is a hassle. To overcome that, the European Union, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea — and next year, China — have enacted producer-responsibility laws requiring that anything with a cord or battery — from an electric toothbrush to a laptop to a washing machine — has to be collected and recycled at the manufacturers’ cost".
Why don't we follow suit? Answer--because the "no-nothings" regard it as a socialistic plot! Industry screams that such a policy would cost American jobs and slow the economy when exactly the opposite is true.

Electric Power Grid & Wind

"Adding wind gets progressively more difficult as the amount used rises because of wind’s intermittent nature and the need for back-up power generation, according to the study, which was prepared for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Without a better (electric) grid, the system would often waste large amounts of wind power because at many times during the year, the power grid would not be able to handle the traffic." New York Times, 20 january 2010
The country needs a modern electric power grid. The present one was built largely a piece at a time by different companies. It reminds me of the telegraph in its early days. Lots of pieces that connect two points here and there, but no cross country lines and connections, We could use some national planning and both private and public investment within it. Now, with high unemployment would be a good time for major investment in our infrastructure.
The country could also use a national system of high-speed trains, we are pathetic compared to other western countries.

for related view see, www.modernizethegrid.com

Gas Mileage

I read that the Ford Focus in the US gets avg. 30 mpg - the one sold in the UK gets an avg. of 48 mpg. If this is true, the government should require them to import or produce these cars in the US as a condition for the bail out.

Inflation

Inflation is in the news and blamed on the rise in oil and food prices. But, inflation is defined as a rise in the general price level, not the rise in the price of particular items. The only way that the rise in oil prices can cause inflation is if the banking system accommodates it by an increase in the money supply. If the money supply is constant, then a price rise for oil means a price drop for other things depending on their relative demand elasticities. The popular misconception of inflation causes us to look at the wrong policy options.

Fuel Efficiency Standards

The House voted for increased fuel efficiency standards, but the Senate has not. It is hard to believe that our domestic auto manufacturers cannot meet the proposed standards. We already have cars that can get 35 mpg, they are called small and light. If Toyota can make a profit selling these cars, why can't US auto makers? As someone observed, "What exists proves what is possible."
During the oil embargo, Clinton led us to a 55 mph speed limit. Such a limit for all relieves us all of the burden of trying to get one up on our fellows by more horsepower and size. Would the quality of our lives really suffer if we were more modest? Many Europeans seem to enjoy it.