Archive for the 'Energy' Category

McCain Doesn’t Know What Gas Prices Are?

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Energy, Gas, McCain, Oil

What on earth possessed him to say this?
When was the last time you pumped your own gas and how much did it cost?
Oh, I don’t remember. Now there’s Secret Service protection. But I’ve done it for many, many years. I don’t recall and frankly, I don’t see how it matters.
I’ve had hundreds and hundreds of [...]

June 29th, 2008 | Permalink| 3 Comments »

Schwarzenegger On Opening Up Off Shore Drilling

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Economy, Energy, McCain, Oil

It doesn’t get more direct than this…
“Anyone who tells you this will lower our gas prices anytime soon is blowing smoke.”
However, Arnold wanted to make sure that McCain doesn’t get stung for this…
Schwarzenegger’s press spokesman Aaron McLear called me a short while ago to stress that this comment was NOT directed at Crist or McCain, [...]

June 27th, 2008 | Permalink| 8 Comments »

2008Central.net Presidential Election Podcast (06/25/08)

By 2008Central.net | Related entries in 2008 Election, Barack, Energy, McCain

Today, we discuss (1) McCain’s energy policy proposal to provide 30 billion for clean coal technologies over 15 years and its political implications; and, (2) Barack Obama’s moderating stance on FISA and the Supreme Court’s decision banning capital punishment for child rapists.
[Listen Online] or [Download]
[Subscribe to 2008Central.net's Presidential Election Podcast]
Feel free to email us questions/suggestions [...]

June 26th, 2008 | Permalink| No Comments »

Gallup: Obama Leads On 5 Of Top 8 Issues

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Barack, Democrats, Economy, Energy, Gas, Health Care, Immigration, Independents, Iraq, McCain, Polls, Republicans, Taxes, Terrorism

Some surprising data here, but what’s not surprising is that the economy is at the very top of the priority list. And that has to be good news for Obama since he has such a wide lead.
Energy, Gas Prices - extremely important to 51%
Obama - 47%
McCain - 28%
Economy - extremely important to 49%
Obama - 48%
McCain [...]

June 24th, 2008 | Permalink| 2 Comments »

Japan To Cut Solar Panel Costs By 50%

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Economy, Energy, Environment, Good Decisions, McCain, Taxes, The World

Remember my post today about McCain’s $5,000 a car tax break giveaway to the auto manufacturers who make and sell zero-carbon emissions cars?
If so, do you recall how I said it was a bad idea, and that he should instead be proposing giving consumers tax breaks because incenting consumption is the only way we [...]

June 23rd, 2008 | Permalink| 3 Comments »

McCain’s $300 Million Energy Stunt

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Energy, McCain

Trust me, his announcement today is pure political theatre.
Harsh? You may think, but what he’s proposing a prize for is already in the pipeline of every major auto manufacturer and numerous green tech startups. In other words, there’s NO reason to incent superior battery technology because it’s already being widely developed.
The presumed Republican nominee is [...]

June 23rd, 2008 | Permalink| 7 Comments »

Obama’s Questionable Ethanol Ties

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Barack, Energy, Illinois, Iowa, McCain

Keeping the Washington interests out of his campaign? Perhaps not, and this is something I’m keeping an eye on…especially since ethanol is widely seen as a boondoggle.
From NY Times…
Mr. Obama is running as a reformer who is seeking to reduce the influence of special interests. But like any other politician, he has powerful constituencies that [...]

June 23rd, 2008 | Permalink| 7 Comments »

Obama’s Plan To Address Energy Trading

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Barack, Democrats, Energy, Legislation, Republicans

This is one way to bring some sanity back to the price of oil, and I’m glad to see that not only is Obama backing this bi-partisan push to put some limits on out of control speculation, but also calling for tougher restrictions on market forces that aren’t doing anything to help out consumers…
Obama wants [...]

June 22nd, 2008 | Permalink| 2 Comments »

Charlie Crist On Common Sense

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Energy, Environment, Florida, McCain, Republicans, Science, Veep

After reading this short interview in the NY Times Magazine, I liking this guy’s approach…
Is it fair to describe you as socially progressive?
I think it is fair to describe me as a common-sense Republican.
Which implies that some Republicans lack common sense.
That’s possible.
You have supported stem-cell research, unlike most Republicans.
I do support that. I think it [...]

June 22nd, 2008 | Permalink| 2 Comments »

Webb Splits With Obama Over Drilling

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Barack, Energy, Environment, Gas, Oil, Veep, Virginia, Webb

Maybe yet another reason why Obama would want to pick Webb? I’ll explain why after the excerpt.
From The Hill:
Webb wants his home state to have the right to explore for energy off Virginia’s coast. His staff insists his proposal pertains only to natural gas, and not oil, and that it is completely in line with [...]

June 20th, 2008 | Permalink| 11 Comments »

Gallup: 57% Support Opening Up Drilling

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Democrats, Energy, Environment, Gas, Independents, Oil, Polls, Republicans

A completely understandable position given the current price of gas, but I wonder if those being polled understand the reasons why we put limits on oil companies access in the first place.

And while this is a partisan issue, there’s definitely a lot more Democratic support than Republican opposition.

My gut tells me that the government will [...]

June 19th, 2008 | Permalink| 7 Comments »

Under Saudi Arabia

By donar | Related entries in Cartoons, Energy, Gas, Islam, Oil, Political Graffiti, Saudi Arabia

June 16th, 2008 | Permalink| No Comments »

Oil Flirts With $140

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Energy, Environment, Money, Oil, The World

Why?
I’ll give you one guess…
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil surged to a new record high on Monday of nearly $140 a barrel, propelled by weakness in the U.S. dollar which offset the bearish impact of plans by Saudi Arabia to boost output.
Folks, how much longer can we ignore that our monetary losses and oil prices gains [...]

June 16th, 2008 | Permalink| No Comments »

Saudi Arabia May Increase Oil Production

By Alan Stewart Carl | Related entries in Energy, Gas

After some hemming and hawing on the matter, Saudi Arabia looks ready to increase oil production in an effort to reduce oil prices. According to reports, the Kingdom is concerned that high oil prices will eventually shrink global demand for oil.
Yes, heaven forbid we ever move on to a more sustainable energy source.
Of course, [...]

June 16th, 2008 | Permalink| 1 Comment »

Saudi Arabia’s Curious Nuclear Energy Play

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Energy, Money, News, Nuclear, Saudi Arabia

We’re spending our money to help them build nuclear energy plants?
Why?
Yes, I realize they’re a friend, but let’s not forget that Saudi Arabia is not a democracy and giving them nuclear energy, when they could be one of the biggest users of solar energy with as much sun as they get, doesn’t make really make [...]

June 11th, 2008 | Permalink| No Comments »

Zogby: 67% Support Investment In Nuclear Energy

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Energy, Environment, Polls

It’s clean, it’s safe, but it’s incredibly expensive and it creates a bunch of really dangerous waste that nobody wants.
I wonder if these respondents knew the whole story?

Personally, I’m hesitant about nuclear power, but I won’t dismiss it outright. Because as Alan has pointed out recently, wind and solar power just won’t do the trick, [...]

June 6th, 2008 | Permalink| 9 Comments »

Canada To Pay Citizens To Get Rid Of Gas Guzzlers?

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Canada, Energy, Environment, Gas, Ideas, Money, Oil, The World

And this idea comes from no less than the Conservative government…
Canadians will be offered bicycles, public transit passes or cash if they agree to scrap their old gas-guzzling vehicles, the government said on Wednesday.
Ottawa says five million of the 18 million cars and trucks in Canada were made before 1996, when tougher emissions standards were [...]

June 6th, 2008 | Permalink| No Comments »

Cost of Fighting Global Warming Could be $45 Trillion

By Alan Stewart Carl | Related entries in Energy, Environment

A new report by the International Energy Agency offers a basic roadmap to drastically cutting fossil fuel emissions by 2050.
The study said that an average of 35 coal-powered plants and 20 gas-powered power plants would have to be fitted with carbon capture and storage equipment each year between 2010 and 2050.
In addition, the world would [...]

June 6th, 2008 | Permalink| 9 Comments »

GM To Stop Making Hummer?

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Economy, Energy, Environment, Gas, Oil, Video

Gee, I wonder why…
CEO Rick Wagoner said Tuesday before the automaker’s annual meeting in Delaware the plants to be closed are in Oshawa, Ontario; Moraine, Ohio; Janesville, Wis.; and Toluca, Mexico. He also said the iconic Hummer brand will be reviewed and potentially sold or revamped.
Wagoner said the GM board has approved production of a [...]

June 3rd, 2008 | Permalink| 1 Comment »

Climate Change Bill Headed For Defeat?

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Energy, Environment, Legislation, Lieberman

As is the case with many pieces of legislation…it doesn’t seem to have enough institutional support.
From Fortune:
The U.S. Climate Action Partnership formed last year won’t take a position on the bill, although nine of its members - including General Electric, Alcoa and four utility companies - signed a letter to senators backing the legislation.
The letter, [...]

May 31st, 2008 | Permalink| 2 Comments »