Solar Subsidies: Is Less More?

clipped from blogs.wsj.com The U.S. renewable-energy industry says letting the current clean-energy tax credits lapse will cripple the industry and kill hundreds of thousands of jobs. Even foreign clean-tech types like Vestas, the big Danish wind turbine maker, bemoan America’s short-term approach. Al Gore’s call for an “energy revolution” would require big and lasting support for clean energy that isn’t there yet. But guess what? While Europe’s flirtation with smaller solar-power subsidies is spooking the sector, the impending demise of subsidies for solar power in the U.S. is driving a last-minute stampede. The subsidies’ renewal is still on Congress’ wish list after several failed shots at renewal.

Gore pitches 10-year shift to clean energy

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com Just as John F. Kennedy set his sights on the moon, Al Gore is challenging the nation to produce every kilowatt of electricity through wind, sun and other climate-friendly energy sources within 10 years, an audacious goal he hopes the next president will embrace.

Was Jimmy Carter an energy prophet?

As I listen to President Bush suggesting that Americans turn down their thermostat and use less gasoline I have to ask myself, Was Jimmy Carter a prophet??

Most people don't know it but Jimmy Carter wanted to set a goal of obtaining 20 percent of our energy from solar power by the year 2000.

clipped from www.ajc.com Can we now acknowledge that Jimmy Carter was right all those years ago? Americans, who hate to be told they must change, roundly condemned Carter's memorable "Crisis of Confidence" speech of July 15, 1979. In it, Carter outlined a program for achieving energy independence: "On the battlefield of energy we can win for our nation a new confidence, and we can seize control again of our common destiny." He was right in seeking to raise the fleet auto mileage standard to 48 miles per gallon by 1995. (Even U.S. automakers admitted at the time that they could easily achieve 30 mpg by 1985.) Carter was right in exhorting Americans to turn down their thermostats, even if he did look nerdy in a cardigan while urging us to do so. In his July 1979 speech, he was right when he said, "I am tonight setting a clear goal for the energy policy of the United States. Beginning this moment, this nation will never use more foreign oil than we did in 1977 —- never." That worthy goal quickly went by the board.

Global warming is bolstering glaciers on Calif. peak

clipped from blogs.usatoday.com The glaciers on Mount Shasta, near the California-Oregon border, are growing, not receding, as a result of changing weather patterns over the Pacific Ocean. That's not happening to any other glaciers in the lower 48 states.