8/3/08 News Items & Thoughts

Colorado homeowners will have the opportunity to sign up for net metering in two days as a new law takes effect. If homeowners generate more power, via things like solar panels, they can sell the excess back to their utility. This is a step in a good direction. It will reduce demand on fossil-fuel powered generation systems (albeit very small at first). As neighbors see panels being put up on each others’ houses and hear that their energy bills are going down, more people will want them installed. As that happens, demand for solar panels will increase and the price to manufacture it will go down as larger scale economies kick in. It distributes power generation, which is an excellent thing. Any way we can reduce our need to connect to power being generated hundreds of miles away is a positive. In the long-term, greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced, which we have to work hard at doing.

Now, there are a lot of things to be done between now and then, but this is the kind of opportunity that a Democratic legislature and Governor can provide a state. Put another way, government is working for people.

***
I always enjoy visualizations to help understand things. Here is one I just read about: the Gardener’s Guide to Global Warming. It shows how USDA hardiness zones have changed from 1990 to 2006. We’re feeling the effects already – I can vouch for that since I’ve been gardening in this time frame. Year-to-year differences are small, but if you think back to how things were different 15 years ago…

***
The Colorado Department of Natural Resources submitted a protest last Wednesday (July 30) to the federal Bureau of Land Management today objecting to the BLM’s plan to lease the top of the Roan Plateau for commercial drilling on Aug. 14. I’m not sure it will actually do anything. It sounds like it’s just formalizing an opinion. If that’s the case, it’s incredibly frustrating.

***

Another new law will take effect in two days: HB 1407 is the culmination of years of insurance company abuse against its policy-holders by unreasonably denying or delaying the payment of valid claims. It requires insurance companies to pay double damages if they don’t pay what they owe when they owe it. You and I have to pay what we owe or face staggering penalties. If we’re going to treat corporations as persons, then let’s treat them as persons: benefits and responsibilities.

***

More of this please.

Drilling In Colorado & Paying Your Fair Share

The Colorado Petroleum Association paid for a report that says if Colorado were to eliminate the corporate welfare currently given away to oil and gas corporations, Colorado taxes would rank second in the nation behind Wyoming. The message they’ve manufactured is that taking away their welfare will end up costing consumers more. I’m not buying it.

Here is the important fact: the ad valorem tax credit allows energy companies to subtract 87.5% of their property tax bills from the mineral taxes they owe the state. Why was the credit established? Gov. Ritter has provided that answer. The credit has its roots in the late 1970s when Colorado wanted to help the energy industry establish itself in the state. Does anyone seriously think the drilling industry isn’t established in Colorado? I agree with the Governor: enough is enough. Oil and gas companies are recording record profits every quarter. If the companies want to continue to do business in the state, they should pay what they owe.

Once the giveaway is canceled, the state will receive an additional $260 million in revenue. Gov. Ritter, looking ahead for our state, wants to use some of that money to underwrite “Colorado Promise” scholarships. That makes sense to me: oil and gas corporations pay their fair share and young Coloradans gain another avenue to further themselves.

There is an alternative ballot measure that would redirect the taxes to a different recipient: transportation (read: roads). This is a less optimal situation. Once the money is spent on roads, it’s spent. Roads need additional funding, that’s for sure, but Republicans are trying to do so without raising taxes. Here is my opinion: if our infrastructure needs investment, let’s invest in it. If nobody ever pays anything for the infrastructure, it’s going to fall apart and end up costing us more in the long-term. If the money is directed toward improving citizens’ future earning potential, I think the state sees a larger benefit from that in the long term. They’ll not only earn more, and therefore generate more revenue for the state, but they’ll produce more for the state during their careers, thanks on their increased education.

The oil and gas corporations want people to buy into their myth that eliminating their welfare would hurt their industry.  I’ll expose that for the lie that it is: are the corporations fleeing Wyoming, where their taxes are higher, for Colorado?  Of course not.  The energy industry is thriving in Wyoming also.

Colorado deserves its fair share from the energy industry just like it does from every other industry.  The time for giveaways is over.

Sweet Modeling Video

I found a very nicely put together short video that shows some of the parameters considered in general climate models. Go to the following blog:

Ice Blog

It’s in French, so look for the term “ici” in parentheses. It’s a link that will allow you to download the video (36.4MB). Play it in your favorite software and enjoy the show!

Jared Polis Nears Act Blue Goal – Help Out Today!

Jared Polis has 85 supporters on his Act Blue 1of100 page. His goal is 100 contributors by midnight tonight. Head over there and donate whatever you can. Jared will be a solid progressive voice in a Congress that desperately needs it. He’s strong on education, has a policy proposal on the Iraq occupation, and supports a new path for renewable energy development.

*****

Update: Jared’s original goal of 100 has been reached! A new goal of 135 supporters has been issued. Go lend a hand, regardless of size!

Random News 6/24/08

Gov. Ritter announced a new statewide energy efficiency and conservation campaign yesterday. Entitled, “The New Energy Economy: Bringing It Home”, the campaign will consists of TV and radio spots that inform folks about simple, low-cost methods of saving money on energy. The methods include:

• “Turn it Down!” Install and use a programmable thermostat or adjust the temperature down when you aren’t at home. Programmable thermostats can save up to $150 a year in utility bills.
• “Unplug it!” Unplug electronics, such as cell phone chargers, when not in use, or install a power strip for controlling devices such as computers, TVs and entertainment systems. Seventy-five percent of electricity used by electronic devices is while the products are turned off.
• “Turn it Off” Turn off the lights when leaving a room and install energy efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). CFLs use about 75 percent less energy than standard lights and last 10 times longer.
• “Take a Ride” Gov. Ritter and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper ask you to “Take a ride, share a ride, or ride.” Besides getting exercise, you can save money on gas and vehicle maintenance by riding a bike. Relax on the bus or catch up with friends when you carpool.

The first ad can be seen on Gov. Ritter’s Energy Office website.

***

The League of Conservation Voters has a new ad about Bob “Big Oil” Schaffer’s connections to the oil and gas industry, including supporting multi-billion dollar corporate welfare.

***

Republicans think Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth “is replete with fantastic prophesies of doom for the planet unless America immediately regresses to third-world squalor.” If delayers get their way, the costs of mitigating and adapting to climate change will be much, much greater than if we take decisive action right now. The same is true for all the problems we face. And yet all Republicans want to do about them is give away our money to the largest corporations. That isn’t ethical and it doesn’t solve our very real issues of the day. Just the opposite: it makes them worse.

***

10 million homeowners now have mortgages that are worth more than their houses. Republican economic policies do not work.

***

People across the country are getting their power shut off by energy companies because they’re falling behind on their bills.  They must all be dead-beats living off the government, right?  Actually, more and more are middle class: four-member households earning between $33,500 and $55,500 are increasingly affected.  See, when you have to choose between gas bills, food, and health care costs while your wages have stagnated, something has to give.  But rest easy because CEO compensation was up 25% again last year.

Science Debate 2008 Update 6/20/08

It’s been a couple of months since I last wrote about a possible Science Debate in this election cycle. Unfortunately, no debate focusing exclusively on science policy has been scheduled between the two remaining presidential candidates.

Efforts have been underway however to push the relevance of science policy and the need for a national discussion thereof to not only presidential candidates but Congressional candidates as well. As such, 12 national science organizations have taken thousands of potential science policy questions and are working to come up with questions that will be presented to candidates: 14 for presidential candidates and 7 for Congressional candidates. The list of 7 questions has been provided and, courtesy of Scientists and Engineers for America, are presented below:

1. Innovation. Science and technology have been responsible for half of the growth of the American economy since World War II. But several recent reports question America’s continued leadership in these vital areas. What policies would you support to ensure that America remains the world leader in innovation?
2. Climate Change. The Earth’s climate is changing and there is concern about the potentially adverse effects of these changes on life on the planet. What is your position on the following measures that have been proposed to address global climate change—a cap-and-trade system, a carbon tax, increased fuel-economy standards, and research? Are there other policies you would support?
3. Energy. Many scientists and policymakers say energy security and sustainability are major problems facing the United States this century. What policies would you support to meet the demand for energy while ensuring an economically and environmentally sustainable future?
4. Education. A comparison of 15-year-olds in 30 wealthy nations found that average science scores among U.S. students ranked 17th, while average U.S. math scores ranked 24th. What role do you think the federal government should play in preparing K-12 students for the science and technology driven 21st Century?
5. Water. Thirty-nine states expect some level of water shortage over the next decade, and scientific studies suggest that a majority of our water resources are at risk. What policies would you support to meet demand for water resources?
6. Research. For many years, Congress has recognized the importance of science and engineering research to realizing our national goals. Given that the next Congress will likely face spending constraints, what priority would you give to investment in basic research in upcoming budgets?
7. Health. Americans are increasingly concerned with the cost, quality, and availability of health care. How do you see science, research, and technology contributing to improved health and quality of life?

These questions are wide-ranging and I suppose by necessity pretty general. By that, I mean there is a considerable amount of wiggle room for a potential candidate to wave their hands around instead of proposing a policy. That said, I do encourage candidates to take these questions seriously and provide thoughtful answers when asked.

Speaking of which, wouldn’t it be nice to know how your candidate has answered? You’re darn right it would be. You can use SEA’s website to send a request to candidates to address these important issues.

I will continue to provide updates regarding responses to these questions by candidates, including my own once I get them.

Joan Fitz-Gerald on Jay Marvin Show

This morning, Colorado Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald spoke with the morning talk-show host for the Denver/Boulder area, Jay Marvin on AM760. Joan is running to represent Colorado’s 2nd congressional district (CO-02). Her Democratic opponents include Jared Polis and Will Shafroth. There is an Aug. 12th primary election that will decide who the Democratic nominee for the seat will be. Then in November, the winner will face off against other party opponents. As CO-02 is solidly Democratic, the primary really constitutes the only meaningful race. The current CO-02 representative, Mark Udall, is running for the open U.S. Senate seat. Thus, there is no incumbent.

Joan started the conversation by telling Jay she has a sense of urgency about the state of the country that she doesn’t see in other members of Congress. She spoke about inertia in our political system. I think this was likely in reference to introducing “new” concepts/policies and getting them implemented. My opinion? Democrats have had a harder time than Republicans. Look at what Republicans passed in the six years from 2001 to 2006. Will Joan lead the charge to introduce progressive policies if elected?

She was asked to list her top three issues. She named the war, the economy, and health care as top concerns CO-02 residents identify. Then she went into some detail about each.

She said she was the only candidate who supported immediate withdrawal. I don’t consider this to be true. Jared Polis helped craft something called “The Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq“. Currently, 54 Democratic House candidates have endorsed it. Joan Fitz-Gerald is not one of them. She has said it is a bad plan, that it won’t accomplish what it says it will. I’m not aware of any specific points she disagrees with. And I definitely haven’t heard any specifics on how she would propose we immediately withdraw from Iraq. Unfortunately, this sounds just like climate change delayers: criticize everybody else’s plans, but don’t come up with your own. I don’t consider that to be leadership.

Quick Hits 6/5/08

One million homes are now in foreclosure. How’s that Republican-led economy doing?

United’s Ted will stop flying next spring. Fuel prices have doubled in the past year. Fuel-guzzling aircraft are being retired from numerous fleets. How’s that Republican-led economy doing?

Hey, a group of people are doing something about energy consumption: House Democrats led the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public Schools Facilities Act to passage. The White House threatened a veto, saying it was wrong for the feds to launch a costly new school-building program. Especially when we’re still mired in a non-working country-building program. Republicans have lost any claim on fiscal responsibility. Spending under Regan and the two Bushes have wrecked our balance sheets.

Oh, the occupation of Iraq is doing wonders keeping us safe back home.  Or not, as another story shows.  Helicopter EMS pilots are on year-long waiting lists for night-vision goggles.  Military contracts specify they get first pick.  So if you need to be flown by medical helicopters, make sure it’s during the day in clear conditions.

If you haven’t heard, Gov. Schwarzenegger declared CA is in a drought.  He is calling for increased conservation and transfer of water to areas facing shortages.  Rationing might be the next step.

First 2008 Atlantic Tropical Storm Forms

Tropical Storm Arthur has formed. For the past week, water temperatures south of Cuba’s southern coast and west of it’s eastern coast has averaged over 28C, warm enough to support the heat energy required by tropical storms. The Bay of Campeche is warmer still: over 29C. All that was needed was more favorable upper air conditions. Those conditions have at least temporarily come together.

Arthur basically made landfall right after designation on the east coast of Belize. The associated low pressure system is forecasted to move across the Yucatan peninsula and reemerge over water (southern Gulf) Sunday or Monday. If it does, it has the chance to restrengthen to weak tropical storm force before making second landfall somewhere over Mexico’s coast.

More information can be found at the Tropical Prediction Center.

Climate Change News & Information 5/28/08

Climate change has been documented on continental scales, according to a new study published in a recent issue of Nature.

In the study in this week’s journal Nature, Rosenzweig and her colleagues compiled data on about 28,800 plant and animal systems and 829 physical systems, all of which showed documented changes over the past few decades.

The study found that 95% of the observed physical changes, and 90% of the biological changes, are consistent with warming temperatures.

But what would a climate change article be without a ridiculous quote by a denyer in the blind pursuit of a “he-said she-said” story? Never fear, USA Today proudly demonstrates its lack of journalistic integrity:

Michaels says that there has been no warming since 1997 and that a recent study, also published in Nature, found that global warming isn’t likely to get started again for at least another 10 years.

That would be Pat Michaels, who works at the Cato Institute, a right-wing “think-tank”. Cato’s funding is similar to other ideological propaganda outfits like Heartland and Independence: plenty of Big Energy money goes in, climate change opinions come out. Rosenzweig and her colleagues worked on over 29,000 systems to come to their conclusion. What kind of dataset can the Cato folks point to to back up their claim? Good luck finding it. What is the real story on warming trends? See the next piece of information below.

*****