Saturday, February 3, 2007

Hillary Rodham Clinton: A Road Map On Energy

The presidential race for 2008 is presently in its infancy as we see many new candidates and some retreads announcing their intentions. For the most part, the early days are filled with sound bites, present administration criticism and generalized agendas. Like the smiling potential Miss America contestants announcing their world peace agendas to the judges, they take the center stage with a talking head and proclaim their qualifications. Generalities, for the most part, are a good thing for our 30-second attention span, but as the trail narrows and the dust begins to fly, some people will actually demand some specific details on issues they warrant as important. Energy will be high on my list.

In the past, HRC has taken the middle road, touting a balanced energy policy that will lead us closer to energy independence while at the same time protecting our air quality. Her husband’s administration took the middle road but did fire a few shots across the bow of some behemoth utility companies burning coal.

Presently, her press releases have begun to mirror popular opinion and stately newspaper headlines. She wants cleaner, reliable, renewable energy that includes cleaner coal, hydrogen fuel cells, and responsible recovery of oil and gas resources that do not include the Artic National Wildlife Refuge. She is for improving our national electric transmission grid, (no more New York blackout babies), and research to improve energy efficient technologies. With the news release of Exxon Mobil’s earnings report, she stated that tax breaks for big oil should be eliminated and use the money to create a “Strategic Energy Fund”. Inline with the UN’s findings on Global Warming, she states, “Unless we act to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, the planet will continue to warm over the next century”. So far, she is looking good on energy, but she needs to fine-tune a few areas.

First leg on the map. Criticize President Bush’s attempts to weaken portions of the Clean Air Act, reducing targets set forth many years before he came into office. Voice a stronger alignment with Senate Bill 309. This bill amends the Clean Air Act, sets forth a schedule to reduce carbon emissions, and is referred to as the “Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act”. This critical evaluation of the Bush administration should not include his perceived alignment with big oil. That attack will get you mired in an issue that never ends, and no one wins. The better maneuver is to face big oil directly with solutions that make everyone win.

Second leg. Without echoing the president’s state of the union address, emphasize again your determination to see that we progress towards less dependency on foreign oil. Never use the term “energy independence”. We will not be energy independent anytime soon, and if you use that term, you will be judged accordingly. Our goal is to “lessen dependency” on foreign oil. The emphasis here should be on our imports of fuels from areas of the world that are highly unstable. Put the onus overseas, it always works.

Third leg. Renewable, organic energy sources, solar, wind, bio-mass, cellulosic, etc., are great for conversations that everyone agrees with. Do not overdue it. These sources of energy are but a tiny portion of our requirements today. 20 years from now, who knows? Lay a foundation of energy solutions. A portfolio that includes all of the above as well as clean coal, natural gas and domestic oil. We need this portfolio and your target should be on our ability to do it in an environmentally friendly fashion.

Fourth leg. Your presidency should be known for its determined effort to fund technology that improves our quest for cleaner and more efficient energy. “Cleaner and More Efficient Energy” is a win win term. It includes our efforts to clean up presently polluting sites as well as making sure future sites conform to your policies. It addresses technological research, which someday will make organic energy more viable. Research that cleans our coal. We have more coal than Saudi Arabia has oil and coal is not going away. So lets clean it up.

Home bound. History should include your energy trinity.

1. Government Mandates such as Senate Bill 309, amending the Clean Air Act. A reduction in carbon emissions will spur technology towards improving energy efficiency and performance. Here, you aim is at air quality. The market is efficient and survival of the species applies to industry as well. Never mandate fuel quantity. The market will react negatively and disproportionate.

2. Government Incentives to seed technological advances in energy production and utilization. 6-7 Billion has been set aside for new nuclear plants but that is down the road. The government needs to follow the venture capital money now.

3. Independent Oversight to monitor energy advancements and to insure that special interests and earmarks are held at bay. Organizations will not suffice. Commissions are needed. When we had a banking crisis in the early 1900’s, we set up the Federal Reserve. Well, we have a crisis now.


Good Luck Hillary. This is but a tiny portion of your burden.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY – THE ENERGY EVOLUTION –R11

In order to insure energy and economic independence as well as better economic growth without being blackmailed by foreign countries, our country, the United States of America’s Utilization of Energy sources must change.
"Energy drives our entire economy." We must protect it. "Let's face it, without energy the whole economy and economic society we have set up would come to a halt. So you want to have control over such an important resource that you need for your society and your economy." The American way of life is not negotiable.
Our continued dependence on fossil fuels could and will lead to catastrophic consequences.

The federal, state and local government should implement a mandatory renewable energy installation program for residential and commercial property on new construction and remodeling projects with the use of energy efficient material, mechanical systems, appliances, lighting, etc. The source of energy must by renewable energy such as Solar-Photovoltaic, Geothermal, Wind, Biofuels, Ocean-Tidal, etc. including utilizing water from lakes, rivers and oceans to circulate in cooling towers to produce air conditioning and the utilization of proper landscaping to reduce energy consumption. (Sales tax on renewable energy products should be reduced or eliminated)

The implementation of mandatory renewable energy could be done on a gradual scale over the next 10 years. At the end of the 10 year period all construction and energy use in the structures throughout the United States must be 100% powered by renewable energy. (This can be done by amending building code)

In addition, the governments must impose laws, rules and regulations whereby the utility companies must comply with a fair “NET METERING” (the buying of excess generation from the consumer at market price), including the promotion of research and production of “renewable energy technology” with various long term incentives and grants. The various foundations in existence should be used to contribute to this cause.

A mandatory time table should also be established for the automobile industry to gradually produce an automobile powered by renewable energy. The American automobile industry is surely capable of accomplishing this task. As an inducement to buy hybrid automobiles (sales tax should be reduced or eliminated on American manufactured automobiles).

This is a way to expedite our energy independence and economic growth. (This will also create a substantial amount of new jobs). It will take maximum effort and a relentless pursuit of the private, commercial and industrial government sectors commitment to renewable energy – energy generation (wind, solar, hydro, biofuels, geothermal, energy storage (fuel cells, advance batteries), energy infrastructure (management, transmission) and energy efficiency (lighting, sensors, automation, conservation) (rainwater harvesting, water conservation) (energy and natural resources conservation) in order to achieve our energy independence.

"To succeed, you have to believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a reality."

Jay Draiman, Energy Consultant
Northridge, CA. 91325
Feb. 4, 2007

P.S. I have a very deep belief in America's capabilities. Within the next 10 years we can accomplish our energy independence, if we as a nation truly set our goals to accomplish this.
I happen to believe that we can do it. In another crisis--the one in 1942--President Franklin D. Roosevelt said this country would build 60,000 [50,000] military aircraft. By 1943, production in that program had reached 125,000 aircraft annually. They did it then. We can do it now.
The American people resilience and determination to retain the way of life is unconquerable and we as a nation will succeed in this endeavor of Energy Independence.

Solar energy is the source of all energy on the earth (excepting volcanic geothermal). Wind, wave and fossil fuels all get their energy from the sun. Fossil fuels are only a battery which will eventually run out. The sooner we can exploit all forms of Solar energy (cost effectively or not against dubiously cheap FFs) the better off we will all be. If the battery runs out first, the survivors will all be living like in the 18th century again.

Every new home built should come with a solar package. A 1.5 kW per bedroom is a good rule of thumb. The formula 1.5 X's 5 hrs per day X's 30 days will produce about 225 kWh per bedroom monthly. This peak production period will offset 17 to 2

4 cents per kWh with a potential of $160 per month or about $60,000 over the 30-year mortgage period for a three-bedroom home. It is economically feasible at the current energy price and the interest portion of the loan is deductible. Why not?

Title 24 has been mandated forcing developers to build energy efficient homes. Their bull-headedness put them in that position and now they see that Title 24 works with little added cost. Solar should also be mandated and if the developer designs a home that solar is impossible to do then they should pay an equivalent mitigation fee allowing others to put solar on in place of their negligence. (Installation should be paid “performance based”)

Installation of renewable energy and its performance should be paid to the installer and manufacturer based on "performance based" (that means they are held accountable for the performance of the product - that includes the automobile industry). This will gain the trust and confidence of the end-user to proceed with such a project; it will also prove to the public that it is a viable avenue of energy conservation.

Installing renewable energy system on your home or business increases the value of the property and provides a marketing advantage.

Nations of the world should unite and join together in a cohesive effort to develop and implement MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY for the sake of humankind and future generations.


Jay Draiman
Northridge, CA 91325
Email: renewableenergy2@msn.com