Southern States Resist Energy Reform
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In a move sure to further the ideas, held by many, that the Southern United States are home to less intelligent and atavistic people, the largest and most polluting energy plants there are reticent to make efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
In an Associated Press article, the energy producers and law makers are balking at changing the way things are done. Although 6 of the top ten producers of carbon dioxide gas are in the south, the companies push hard to keep change from upsetting the status quo, and the bottom line.
The problem extends to the legislators as well. In the last month, a bill to require renewable energy to make up 15% of power providers total output, was defeated with the Republican senators from the South providing half the needed votes. Renewable energy mandates are in place in about half of the United States, but most of the South has not moved ahead with the needed legislation. The oddity in this bunch is Texas, with energy policies already formed.
Coal is by far the largest source of electricity for the South, with the largest providers using decades old equipment, not retrofitted for cleaner production.
The energy producers are quick to point out that the ability of solar panels to work in the South is hampered by fewer days of sun than the West, where solar panels are put together in huge farms. The wind production would be hampered in the South as well, because less is available to make power, and where large amounts of wind are available, population growth has made implementation difficult.
So, because of these problems, and the fear of energy produced by fission, it would seem the choices are hydroelectric and coal. Hydroelectric is used, and probably fully exploited, as no new rivers are forming.
The problem with coal - the emissions of visible matter, and the invisible emission of carbon dioxide - is something that the largest providers in the South aren’t willing to admit, or cope with. Southern Co., based in Atlanta, and the largest producer of greenhouse gas by a power provider, questions whether global warming is occurring.
With leaders like this, and a populace unwilling to take them to task, it becomes apparent that the move toward lowering global emissions of undesirable substances will be a long, uphill battle.
Tags: clean power, renewable energy, solar energy, wind power, nuclear energy, photovoltaic cells, hydroelectric power, greenhouse gas, conservation, an inconvenient truth
7 Comments
Gary
July 14th, 2007
at 6:19pm
Maybe the people in the south aren’t stupid enough to fall for this global warming scam. Do some research about a scientist in Denmark that is coming up with results indicaticating that the sun is responsible for global warming. That mankind is responsible for less than 1%, if that, when it comes to this spurious scam being foisted off on us.
the oracle
July 14th, 2007
at 7:07pm
Gary, I’m guessing you live below the Mason-Dixon line.
Of course, at the most simplistic level, the sun is responsible. Perhaps we should rename it so everyone will understand the exact process and consequences. The trouble is that many people lose focus when polysyllabic conversation starts.
Perhaps I can distill it for you…does it not seem plausible that scientific principles [greenhouse effect] could apply, when almost incomprehensible amounts of a substance that has never been in the atmosphere [carbon dioxide] before the Industrial Revolution are there now?
Norman McMahon
July 15th, 2007
at 3:45pm
The most likely reason that consumers down here are unwilling to “take to task” the companies responsible is that the rates are among the lowest in the nation, so of course consumers are thinking with their wallets. I of course realize the long term implications of not making a change will cost more than any short term rise in rates, but we have to convince the rest of the populace of this.
the oracle
July 15th, 2007
at 4:06pm
Norman, you’re right, but I always think in terms of what wil happen to the lives of our progeny. I’ve never thought I was alone in this line of thinking.
Thanks for the comment.
Gary
July 16th, 2007
at 10:14am
I lived the first 40 years of my life in Wisconsin. I used to call it Taxconsin. I just can’t believe how many of you are falling for this global warming caused by mankind scam. The unmitigated hubris of you little people thinking that man can have much of any effect at all on this mud ball makes me want to grab you by your lapels and shake you until you come to your senses. Stop worshipping at the altar of gore and start examining the nonsense that you’re being fed. Instead of making snide remarks to people that are trying to get through to you, start asking yourself who has the most to gain from destroying the first worlds standard of living.
the oracle
July 16th, 2007
at 11:01am
Gary, perhaps I could recommend a beginning Earth Science class.
Barring that, check statistics for any U.S. city, high and low temperatures, for the last 100 years. I doubt that ‘the evil ecologists’ have the power to change these for every city in a country this size, for 100 years.
Remember, there are none so blind as those who WILL NOT see. Remember, there are over 6 billion people on this planet, all affecting change in different ways. One ant can’t be much more than annoying, but a mass of them can carry away your entire picnic.
Have a nice day, while you can.
Gary
July 16th, 2007
at 1:56pm
You’re hopeless.