From my dear friend, David Vitter: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday issued a finding that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases pose a danger to the public, taking a major step toward regulations that could have far *reaching impacts on the U.S. economy and result in costly new burdens for businesses and consumers. Despite the Administration claiming to prefer that Congress pass legislation to curb greenhouse-gas emissions, Friday’s finding is intended to be used as a heavy stick to force Congress’s hand in passing cap-and-trade legislation. If you are wondering what these initiatives would mean for Louisiana families and businesses, just look at the President’s own words: “Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket.” Bottom line: About $3,000 increase in costs per American household per year but nearly $2 trillion for politicians over the first eight years to use for any sort of new wasteful spending program they see fit. I’m fighting diligently against the most expensive regulatory scheme in U.S. history from further depressing an already beleaguered economy. Cap and trade has failed miserably in Europe, and without similar concessions from China and India it would make U.S. manufacturers so wholly uncompetitive that the job losses would be staggering. In addition, an increase in electricity prices for Louisiana families struggling today is wholly unacceptable. We should focus our efforts on reducing the cost of energy and increasing domestic production while investing in renewable energy sources, and that’s what I’ll continue working on in the U.S. Senate. Sincerely, David Vitter U.S. Senator
Obama's cap and trade is not anything groundbreaking. The concept has been floated for 40 years and is simply another tax/income generating program that bogs down government with more bureaucracy and costs tax payers a fortune. The cost seems to outweigh the benefit of reducing temperatures 2 degrees in 40 years.
Cap and trade increases costs for polluting energy plants--coal burners. Louisiana produces most of its energy from cleaner gas, petroleum and nuclear. LINK This link also shows that Louisiana has one of the largest per-capita electricity usages in the country, largely because our air-conditioned houses are not very energy efficient. Rather than spend the money "for politicians to use for any sort of new wasteful spending program they see fit", as Vitter suggests, Obama has spelled out how the money will be spent. Things like prioritize the Alaska Gas Pipeline, weatherizing a million homes per year, increasing energy efficiency technology, create green jobs, funding renewable energy like wind farms. This would benefit Louisiana industries who will have lower energy costs than industries in the polluted coal belt. Louisiana has good potential for huge offshore wind farms (green jobs). Louisiana residents could use far less electricity if they received credits for new insulation and double-pane windows. Vitter is just aping the republican party line without regard for where Louisiana fits into all this.
I don't want any green jobs until I hear more information from people who aren't nut jobs. (Al Gore) On the subject of insulation and double-pane windows (which I think are smart solutions) why did this Congress fail to provide tax credits for these modifications in the 2008 tax year? They were there in 2007 and are projected in 2009 but supposedly they forgot in 2008. What happened?
Cap and Trade creates some convoluted carbon "market" that seems to contain more costs then benefit. The only places that adopted similar policies resulted in consumers paying large increases in energy costs. There has to be a better way to reduce emissions without creating this bureaucratic quagmire.
What don't you understand? Jobs are jobs. Green jobs are jobs that don't pollute. Like offshore wind farms which would generate thousands of manufacturing jobs somewhere to make the turbines. Then thousands of Louisiana construction jobs to build the offshore platforms followed by more Louisiana jobs for offshore support services and to build new transmission lines to connect to the grid. If every environmentalist is a "nut job" to you, you'll never understand.
I agree. Cap and trade is overly complex. Since congress is hellbent on taxing us to death they may as well make it simple and just tax emissions.
I think the estimate of job creation is way overblown. It sounds more like a job replacement program than job creation. If we create thousands of "green" jobs while doing away with those that currently "pollute", how do we realize these huge job gains? I didn't say that "every" environmentalist is a nut job (Gore is) but many of them are more concerned with politics than the planet and completely discount any scientist who mentions cyclical changes over man-made global warming. I just want my damn tax credit for replacing all my windows last year! Thanks Congress! I guess they were too busy polluting the air flying huge jets back and forth to California. I guess some leave smaller "carbon footprints" than others. :hihi:
