With billions of dollars of solar and wind power projects and thousands of green-collar jobs hanging in the balance, the U.S. Senate on Wednesday again failed to extend a key investment tax credit for renewable energy.
Republicans blocked the legislation from coming to the floor, marking the eighth attempt to extend the 30 percent tax credit beyond it’s Jan. 1, 2009, expiration date. The extension is backed by all the state governors save Georgia, a coalition of Fortune 500 companies, Wall Street banks, renewable energy startups, and tech giants like Google (GOOG), Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) and Applied Materials (AMAT).
Utilities like PG&E (PCG) and Edison International (EIX) as well as financiers such as Morgan Stanley (MS) and GE Energy Financial Services (GE), are pushing for an eight-year extension of the investment tax credit to give Big Solar projects enough time to get off the ground and start to achieve economies of scale.
Senate Republicans opposed the legislation, contending it would raise taxes. A list of senators and their votes on the legislation can be found here.
Without the 30 percent tax credit, the viability of several large solar power plant projects remains in doubt. Spanish solar company Abengoa Solar has said it probably will pull out of plans to build a 280-megawatt power plant in Arizona if Congress doesn’t renew the tax credit. Green Wombat happened to have breakfast this morning with a PG&E executive who said that the large solar projects that California utilities are counting on to meet renewable energy mandates would have a hard time securing financing absent the investment tax credit.
First Solar (FSLR) CEO Michael Ahearn said on an earnings call Wednesday afternoon that if the investment tax credit is not extended the thin-film solar module maker would focus its efforts on the European market. “We don’t have massive volumes of solar planned for the U.S. in the short term,” said Ahearn.
Said Rhone Resch, president of the trade group Solar Energy Industries Association, in a statement: “Already companies are putting projects on hold and preparing to send thousands of jobs overseas – real jobs that would otherwise be filled by American workers.”
While Senators Barack Obama and John McCain have have expressed support for increasing the U.S.’s investment in green energy, neither presidential candidate showed up to vote Wednesday on the extension of the tax credit.
Green Wombat 
I am shocked that neither candidate showed up to vote. Given the popularity of solar/wind energy (conceptually at least), you would think it was in their interest to show up and vote.
On the other hand, that might signal that this latest vote was just politics-as-usual manuevering by both parties. The real vote and extension may be preordained to happen down the road.
Great to see someone holding Nancy Pelosi’s and Harry Reid’s feet to the fire. When 70% of the population wants to use more of OUR resources then sending our money oversea’s to build more skyscrapers in Dubai you’ damn we need to listen!
Big Oil at work! Taxes!! Why not fund it like funding the Iraq war!
Intelligent comment Mike, apostrophes aren’t necessary for the word overseas though. I wonder why high school dropouts are drawn to the republican party.
Democratic energy policy: Let’s make it as difficult and expensive as we can for renewable energy start-ups to make a go of it while simultaneously making the energy resources that we have more expensive. Just think, we might get a democratic PRESIDENT too!!
Lord help us…
HOW MANY DOLLARS DOZ AN OIL COMPANY SPEND TO BUY A REPUBLICAN SENATOR
It is interesting to note that one of the key phrases is that the Repblicans BLOCKED efforts to even consider the effort. Claiming that it will raise our taxes. Like we are not already spending enough and what do they think of 482 Billion in red ink. Who is going to pay for that?
Yes Sir. The answer is to drill for more oil that we may see in about 15 years. Sure. Why aren’t they investing our money in the future? Could it possibly be that oil has already invested in the future? Like the recent investment in Alaska. Time to send them all home and keep them there until they learn to play nice.
How is extending a tax credit that is already in place making things more difficult or expensive. It is the senators that voted No (if you check how the Senators voted it was not entirely partisan…but close) that are trying to make it more expensive and difficult.
candidate didn’t show up to vote proves that how much they care. they only wants to get elected and nothing else.
Same amount it takes an evironmentalist to by a dem. They all suck!
I wondered how the survey on http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/news/0807/gallery.energy_solutions/index.html became so unlike the sentiments of the people already struggling with gas prices over food/housing/where to live/how much to drive/being able to recreate/college savings/savings/retirement/health care/Name it. Lobbying and stuffing the online ballot, naturally. Got the Republicans to vote based on how their pockets were stuffed -> pro big oil. Thanks for attempting to get in McCain. Obama will get the vote based on how republican’s support themselves who are already at the top, not the larger population who would benefit. Don’t you see the appeasment of the Mid East is not the route to political stability either? Take away their oil sales and ability to finance war and terror and see how little power they have.
Unbelievable. 4 dollars a gallon. In debt to terrorists for fuel. 10 trillion dollars in debt. And half a trillion wasted on someone else’s war with no promised payback for us. And the speed limit is still 70 mph. But God forbid we should invest in something that would help us be energy independent and produce jobs in the USA. The way I see it, you reap what you sow. And we are sowing backruptcy and the seeds of our demise. Better wake up. Invest in wind, solar, nuclear (fission and fusion), and think about 60 mph. Sorry about the rant. I just get tired of watching bad decisions being made.
Like any of them care about how much they tax us!
We need to get these dorks out of office. Vote Libertarian in November!
The GOP block this? I looked at the votes and I saw a lot of names with a (D).
Folks don’t just trust CNN, go look and see what was voted on. There was a lot more at stake and just renewables, CNN just grabed on to that.
Take a look and see for yourselves.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:S.3335:
Interesting observation Aquil, however wasn’t it Hillary and Obama who were fighting over the blue collar, non-college educated voters during the Democrat primaries? Besides, what makes you so superior to your fellow man that you have to denigrate someone for their apparent lack of formal education? Furthermore, I have many friends who are graduate engineers who could not write a coherent sentence to save their lives. It is those elitist class distinctions you espouse that separate and divide us as a nation. Why do you find it necessary to make those sorts of personal attacks?
Many wonder why neither candidate was present for a vote. The reason is that both parties already know the outcome before a vote.
McCain knew there were enough Republicans to vote to block the bill. Obama knew there were not enough Dems for the bill to pass.
This bill was for an 8 year extension which is vital for any solar or wind project since they take several years to complete.
Most of the previous alternative tax credits have been for 1 or 2 years.
These short time periods for the tax credits discourage large solar and wind projects from being built.
Libertarians are the only ones who will actively pursue lower taxes & still encourage alternate energy sources.
This is just another reason why I am going to vote all Democrat in the November election. When Republicans won’t even let it come up for a vote is absurd. Then to think it will raise taxes proves they are delusional and don’t care about fixing the energy problem unless it benefits them and anyone who they support, and supports them, that endorses drilling our way out of it.
Just like FISA, Obama again shows his turn-coat colors.
We have to vote for a party that wants real change. To bad Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul are down.
I think the one positive thing that has come out of this mess for me is that I have decided to be far more
active, and, to do all I can to be more aware. I have contributed as much as I can afford to Obama’s campaign. I emailed and called my district rep today when I saw that “W” was asking congress to vote to let his chronies drill off shore to let him know I am against it. I was very pleased to learn from his office that he (Neal)will not now or in the future be voting yes for this.
I have also contacted the maker of the car I drive to let them know that I will not purchase another vehicle that runs on anything derived from oil and I do not think I am alone, so if they want to boost sales they need to get aggressive about designing a car that does so!
Our nation is getting left in the dust globally because we can not compete due to our dependance on oil.
Alternative energy must be supported at all costs! The economic and environmental future of our country and the planet depend on it, and we need to let our elected officials know how we feel. Lets get vocal to our government.
My jaw dropped in disbelief when I read this story. Even with these tax credits in place it will take herculean efforts and little short of a miracle to have renewables start to replace our disastrous reliance on foreign oil…and the Senate Republicans block even considering the bill?
I would be ashamed today to be a Republican. Having only recently become political myself, very early on I was deeply disappointed by Republican politics. They have shot down three crucial bills in a matter of months: the Warner-Lieberman climate bill, the H.R. 609 Renewable Tax Credit bill, and extending unemployment benefits. It makes me think they must hate the common people and want to see us drown in our pollution and become even less competitive in the alternative energy field. How can anyone trust them?
NuShrike, I agree with two of the previous posters believing that the Libertarian candidates offer the best choice this fall. If you like Ron Paul’s ideals, note that several years ago, he ran for president on the Libertarian ticket. Ron is actually a hard core Libertarian, but the general population doesn’t understand what the Libertarian Party is all about. Vote for Bob Barr (Libertarian Presidential candidate) this fall & it’ll be like getting Ron Paul in there.
Stop expecting any improvements in your life from Government.
They’re there for themselves and anyone who thinks otherwise is an idiot.
I vote AGAINST anyone that says they will raise taxes.
Over the next several years, vote every Republican Senator out of office.
We need to do this… It’s right for the people, it’s right for the country… It’s obvious they are in big oil’s pocket… Vote them all out. And while your at it, write them to advise them you’re going to do it… Out with bad rubbish.!
No problem for Republicans to approve subsidies to the oil and gas industries, but not this? I am sick and tired of the “oilman” administration and Oil companies stranglehold on our future. There should be outrage about this. Why is Obama not raising hell about ti and at least showing up to vote? McCain?
Vote all of these wind bag good for nothing Republicans out of office. They make me sick to my stomach.
It is embarrassing to be a Republican these days. The Republicans in Congress can vote billions of dollars in subsidies to the big oil companies already making money in ungodly amounts, but try to do something worthwhile and they block it even from coming to a vote.
While other nations are drilling everywhere they can to look for oil, America just sit there and suffer higher and higher and higher gas prices! The Dems craps blocks offshore drilling, and the Reps craps blocks solar energy tax credits, and the list goes on and on. We can’t trust the gov to solve our problems.. The gov IS the PROBLEM!
The inability of the government to pass this legislation is impossible to understand. The United States can grow out of the recession by providing jobs in green industries. If the Republicans want to block the advancement of clean air and
American jobs, perhaps the Democrats should offer a bill where the oil giants like Exxon, Chevron and Mobil are given tax credits which must be spent immediately on green energy including solar, wind and geothermal. All must be manufactured in the US with American labor.
When they show those pictures of a few men on an off-shore oil rig, why don’t they ever show huge crews in a photovoltaic plant and wind mill industry?
Jim Messina- New Port Richey, FL
Everyone…write to your Senators as I did. My letter read as follows.
I have been a Republican for forty one years but it looks like I will be voting Democrat this coming election. The reason….you and your fellow Republicans keep shooting down the Energy Tax Credit bill. Your excuse is that it would raise taxes. Let me tell you something, the cost of rising energy bills and the products affected by them will be far greater than the taxes this bill will raise. I suggest for the sake of the party this election year that you and your fellow Republicans think real hard about this. Pass the Energy Tax Credit bill.
Obama should choose McCain as his VP they both share the same ideals and are both controlled by the same corporations
Sorry to say this everybody, but Obama lied to you so you would ignore Ron Paul’s message of ending the war.
Republicans & Democrats are one in the same any more. The only real change this country can make is to stop voting for “the lesser of two evils” & vote for a DIFFERENT party. I agree with those earlier posts calling for a Libertarian president.
and yet there are people that want to vote in a president that has no clue how the internet works – how will he promote technology and progress when he is stuck in the dark ages? He only knows oil….as does his party. Please vote Obama 08 – at least he has a plan for the country. If you listen closely to McCain you will realize that you are only getting more of the same Bush policies. Please lets go for change. Anything different to Republican….
If a person doesn’t like a particular product, they don’t buy it. If a person doesn’t like what is on TV, they can change channels or turn it off. Why, then, do so many people in this country complain about the republicans and democrats but still vote for them. Seems to me the people voting for libertarian candidates are the ones who are making sense, here. Complaining to the republicans won’t do any good–they’ll do what they want, which is what many other posters are also saying. If a person doesn’t want to vote libertarian, there’s also the green party (hmmm…how come no green posters are on here?) or natural law, or all kinds of other third party candidates are out there. Don’t throw your vote away by voting democrat just because you don’t like the republicans. There’s no difference between the two.
Replace this legislation with one that won’t raise any taxes … mandate 50% of the oil companies profits as a mandatory investment in solar and wind initiatives. They can do it themselves or they can pay for someone else to do it.
Bush tells us that we are addicted to oil. So what does he want done? He wants to drill for more oil (even if we don’t see a drop for 10 years). Bush is a MORON and a puppet for Big Oil. Thank god he’s out of office soon. He’s killing us.
I used to always vote republican, but I can see now I’m not. I don’t believe in the democrats, so I’m going to vote for a libertarian president this year. WE NEED A CHANGE!
It’s frustrating to see a future with less of a reliance on oil, then see the Republican party squash it while defending oil company profits and arguing the necessity of the war in Iraq.
Renewables have a strong future and unless we embrace it, America will end up stuck in the past while Europe and much of the rest of the world leave us behind.
Vote for Obama? He’s no different than McCain as he’s just going to do what he wants, which isn’t going to benefit the american people. I’m voting libertarian, so we can fix this mess.
Funny 39 comments so far, after a quick scan it looks like EVERYONE is disappointed in this outcome (so rare to see consensus on a comment board). How is it that the public has spoken one way yet our Government went another way? I would say we all need to be more vocal on our support for alternative energy tax credits but I would be a bit naive to honestly think that would even matter. Drive less and turn down that thermostat is all I got to say!
This looks like an important issue. Being very tired of republicans and the oil business, I’m a little disapointed Obama didn’t bother to vote. There is something between the lines here.
what a buch of idiots(republicans) they vote yes to drilling for more oil which will only stand to prolong our dependence on oil and then vote no to extending the tax credits that are already in place for renewable energy sources. Once again, they worry about getting reelected instead of voting what is better for the country.
Oil is a big part of the American economy and has been for a long, long time. Their is a lot of money at risk in oil, and that is the bottom line. Money rules in our economy, and as Putin once said,”Democracy only works in America if you have money.” The people in Washington got there because of money to run their campaigns. Oil has alot of this (money) to lubricate the political wheels, just look what is happening and tell me I am wrong. Lets drill for more oil and do away with credits for alternative energy. Exactly the opposite of what we should be doing.
My mind boggles at the ineptness, shortsightedness and stupidity of many Republicans in THIS matter. From comments I see posted on many conservative websites I came to the realization that Republicans/Conservatives just don’t ‘get it’ when it comes to this country’s energy needs going forward. It seems all the Republicans, including McCain, believe drilling is the only way to reduce energy costs and get us off the foreign oil addiction. This latter idea is so off the mark that my head can’t stop shaking. I still believe that these elected officials could be this stupid. These Republicans are as bad as any terrorist as their stupid and moronic policies will cause more long-term damage than any terrorist group could possibly inflict on the USA. Think about it.
Didn’t show up 2 vote result should be FIRED No more free lease cars no more free office no more free health care….
I encourage everyone to write to your state senators. I am currently looking up that information. If anyone else does the same, post your home state senators’ contact information.
We really need to help each other out. Writing may seem silly, but it’s a start… and persistence can pay off. Remember Andy Dufresne writing a letter per day in Shawshank Redemption? I know it’s fiction, but it gives you some hope/inspiration.
You can look them up here:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
I hope some of you decide to write letters/send emails. I’m going to do both.
The “terrorists” term does apply to republicans, world economy will go to the tank when part of Florida and northern Europe start getting under water (chances are, 5 to 10 years).
I’m here pointing my finger to all republican senators who voted NO, you are guilty of what’s coming. Do you have kids? Do you have grandsons?
We are humans after all, until water floods our backyard we will not believe it.
Lets keep drilling!!!!!
Earth doesn’t need saving…We do! Earth will adapt to any change ad still be here… We may not.
The people seem to want alternative energy while the rulers of the country want something else.
We can spend billions of dollars on a satellite that may or may not blow up an enemy warhead but we can’t spend the same amount on common sense projects to keep most of our energy purchases here at home.
My oxymorism of the day – Common sense spending.
Doesn’t matter if they’re republicans or democrats–notice Obama didn’t show for the vote, either? He’s like McCain & didn’t want to “offend” anyone by voting the “wrong way”. Time to get all these self-serving idiots out of office & REDUCE the size of government by voting LIBERTARIAN in november!!!
why should we vote for either candidate for president if they can not even make it to vote for important legislation that would help on renewable energy policies? both of the candidates are pathetic and we as a country deserve better than what is being offered from them.
Politics in this country have reached pathetic new lows. Something as good as promoting solar and they won’t see the bigger picture: the good for our society.
And yes, maybe solar is going to make out a bit by getting this tax break. But I would rather see money go to industry that can have an effect on so many aspects of our existance for now and the future, rather than see it squandered on something of a temporary nature.
Just another expample of our country’s slow descent.
What taxes are the republicans talking about raising? My god, they give big oil billions in tax credits every year. Can’t they spread the credits around? Get rid of the career politicials and the deals they make for personal gains.
Oil money buys lots of friends in Washington…
America needs a viable third choice in federal politics.
Just when I thought we’d run out of ammo and would stop shooting ourselves in the foot, we reloaded so we could continue…
if you want a link that will do better than a link to your republican senators who don’t care about the american people, check out this like to the libertarian party’s website: http://www.lp.org/
we need a change! a lot of people don’t think libertarians have a chance, but there was a time that a candidate became elected from a new politital party, which no one expected could happen–his name was Abraham Lincoln & his new political party was the republican party–anyone ever hear of either? let’s make a change now!
Why would this versus the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan raise taxes? Why would this raise taxes versus the so called economic stimulus package?
One answer, someone got paid off.
Are these republicans that blocked this tax credit really thinking of the planet or themselves?
There should be an accountability committee where Senate leaders, Congressional Leaders are put to the question of why they voted certain ways.
Transparency right?
Both parties are to blame in the energy disaster. Whether it is Republicans blocking this vote on solar, or Democrats blocking a vote on drilling (in 10 years, much of the world will STILL need oil – better for us to have it) and more importantly, defeating efforts at utilization of oil shale and coal gasification (both of which could produce product in much less than the 10-year figure bandied about). You see, if you’re blaming just one party, you’re only addressing half the problem. Neither the Reps or the Dems have this issue correct.
I firmly believe that we need to develop and utilize ALL of our domestic energy sources, and this is where BOTH parties are wrong. It’s not oil OR renewables, it’s BOTH.
I don’t think it really matters if either candidate showed up to vote or not. The bill was blocked from coming to the floor to be voted on by Republicans, so there was no point to show up and vote. Just keep that in mind.
Great, just great. Due to this brilliant decision, solar will concentrate more on the European market. Years from now other countries will make progress digging their way out of this energy mess and we will still be the oil industry’s b****.
They call this energy situation a crisis! We call this a crisis! Gas is through the roof and the price is starting to follow! People are losing jobs! What is frustrating is that congress is still talking about August recess! Think of some crisis situations you have been in, may be your house is on fire and you need to get out, or the company you slaved over to put together is hanging on by a mere thread. Are these times that we need to say to ourselves: time to rest because I’m tired?? NO! these times should bring alarm and increase our commitment to get out of them! Likewise, if congress really thinks that we are in a crisis, then they should postpone their break until they agree on a solution wether it’s green or oil or both or other!
The only ones not losing their jobs is congress, remember what green projects and other jobs that they have shot down in NOV.
TIME FOR A CHANGE ON THE HILL!!!
We tax the hell out of the tabaco companies for creating health risks to people who don’t smoke, but we credit the oil companies who: spill oil into the oceans, polute the air we breath, and contaminate lakes and underground water sources, and are adding to the continuence of global warming. Someone said the “the planet will always be here but we may not”. True, but it may be a dead planet like mars because we couldn’t take the necessary steps to save it.
another prime example that the politicians are in bed with the oil companies. they dont want this to pass because then there would be investment in solar power. And if theres investement in solar these politicians wont make any kickbacks from the oil companies. isnt capitalism great! The common american will be burdened with high gas & oil prices for many years to come.
All of the government repreenatives (and half of the government workers)need to go. No one hould be allowed to take taxpayer money for more than 2 years in this day and age, and tey should only be allowed one job, not use ech job as some kind of career stepping stone. My wallet is the rocks these clowns are standing on, and I am sick of the same people doing the standing around. I think Americans should be doing both, drill for more oil here and NOW, and extend the tax creits for alternative energy. Why is the government interfering with this in the first place? The anti-oil people need to use some common sense and stop tring to pretend that there is some magic wand, even t-bone won’t be selling his cars to run off electric or solar in the next ten years. If the technology was even half available or reliable, most businesses would have done this years befor rather than order taake-out goods from China. Everyone acts like we are not keeping up with the EU? Get real, at the beginning of our auto age (early 1900’s) 25% of the cars were electric. Now less than 1%. We felt some kind of need to go farther, faster and dropped the technical edge. Now you need to get the battery back, and most of the efficient ones are EPA nightmares, so get ready for the pollution police and whining sure to follow. I think Ron Paul actually does need a second look, he was the only honest man out there this year.
Why doesn’t someone do what’s right for the US? We should realize by now that neither solar or wind will be the answer to the energy crisis the US is facing. Despite much effort, electricity generated from both of these sources account for only 3% or so. How the heck are they gonna be the mainstream? The only way to go is NUCLEAR. We already have 104 nuclear plant and they provide 20% and they have been doing a darned good job. Let’s build more of them.
On another related article, Bush is also trying to push for more coal-generated plant. How absurd that is!!!! As a president, I think he should know more than that.
The only “green” thing that congress wants is the hard-earned dollars that we are straining to keep in our own pocket.
They don’t care about long-term, they don’t care about you. All they want is to have the most money and stay in power the longest.
This is poor reporting! Tell us WHO the 30 Republicans are so that their constituents will know if their senator is one of the blockheads.
The bill pays for itself by eliminating tax breaks for oil and gas (raising taxes if you like) to pay for tax breaks on renewable energy sources. As usual since President Bush came to office, the Republicans want to completely ignore the fact that you sometimes have pay for things with today’s money rather than more debt. If the bill didn’t pay for itself and instead just increased the deficit, I bet many Republicans would have voted for it. How crazy is it that one of the main reasons I have recently been voting for Democrats is fiscal responsibility?
Several years ago I read in a National Geographic Magazine article about the coming shortfall in oil production with wells entering declining production during the current timeframe. Congress has had plenty of time to address this problem. A balanced approach is now needed more than ever. Big Solar projects planned for the Mojave Desert and Morman Plateau can come on stream quickly. Why not extend the solar energy tax incentives while longer term solutions clean coal and nuclear are reviewed by competent persons for their viability. Drilling for more oil in not the solution in my view.
I’ve added a link in the story to the the roll call on the legislation, listing the senators and their votes. You can also find it here. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00192
What a joke…of all times not to do this. Further proof that big oil is in control.
There is a simple remedy to this problem: just vote to oust every single representative that is opposed to logic and reason. Personally, I hope that each and every individual that continues to block these types of legislation is never allowed back into office. However, such a hope can only be realized when the american voter decides to take action.
But thats just me….
I have to laugh…
We keep hearing (how many millions of times now)::
DIVERSIFY ENERGY COLLECTION FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF DOMESTIC SOURCES!!!
Well the absolutely most efficient and diverse way to do that is via intense research into Solar energy collection and storage on a PER HOUSEHOLD basis. Each household would have energy indepence via the God-given Sun.
That is a big problem that because by DOMESTIC they mean THEMSELVES and BIG BUSINESS not YOU. By DIVERSE, they mean EVERY POCKET IN THEIR PANTS; none in yours.
You are required to tithe every month to various energy businesses and to the government for using energy. Matters not that they don’t own it. Matters not that it’s not theirs. Haven’t you heard?
Government and Business have decided Jesus has a great business model: people are born into this world solely to serve the government and business and to tithe the government and business their entire lives.
The big difference is these evil clowns wind up with 110% and our souls.
These politicians like to preach out loud they are in the temple of democracy: if that’s the case it’s time we citizens drove these sinners and whores out of the temple.
Vote Ron Paul!
For those who want to clean out the “nay” voters… One democrat voted no and 4 democrats DID NOT VOTE. The DID NOT VOTE group includes Obama and Kennedy, your favorite democrats… That is the same as voting no when you need a 3/5 majority to pass. You better get rid of them too… No wait, you’ll get rid of one by putting him in the white house. That is a much better place for him.
Nuclear is the way to go, but the democrats continue to block that as they have for decades. Kennedy blocked a wind farm off the Mass coast because it would interfere with his yachting route (true story from a few years ago). Environmentalists stop just about everything else. Don’t just blame the republicans.
Not saying it is the answer, but coal is the cheapest fuel available and can be made significantly cleaner to burn through technology from where we are now. The US coal reserves can run the country for hundreds of years.
You guys love to blame Bush, oil and the repubs, but… SINCE you democrats took control of congress almost 2 years ago, oil has gone from $50 to $140 and corn went from $2 to $8. We have yet to see a full energy policy from Pelosi or Reid (that they promised back then).
vote out the republicans and democrats by voting Libertarian! That will send them the message! Bob Barr for president!
I would like to see what else was attached to the bill that got blocked. I am very disappointed in the way all the little pet bills get attached to the important ones. I would like to see the tax credits extended for solar and wind power technologies as well. Just keep the parasite bills off of the important ones and we may eventually get something passes. Even if solar right now only accounts for 3% of our energy, that’s 3% that we don’t have to rely on oil for. We could easily get that 3% increased to 5% or 10% or even 20% and reduce our dependence on oil.
Let’s see the rest of the bill that got blocked to see how many parasites are attached to it and who attached them.
Found a link for the entire bill. As I suspected, there was lots of garbage attached. Here is the link:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN03335:@@@L&summ2=m&
My message to ANY senator that wants to get this thing passed: Clean it up, get rid of the add-ons, and resubmit. If you are serious about an energy bill, make it a TRUE ENERGY BILL. Otherwise, stop the complaining and play nicely or go play in somebody else’s sandbox.
I use to think that the media was the single greatest threat to our democracy. Now, I think that the U.S. Congress is the single greatest threat to our country. With people’s confidence in Congress below that of rapists and murderers it seems they don’t care what they do because nobody holds them accountable. In my state the last election got 7% of the population out to vote, it’s no wonder we only have idiots and morons running the country.
Re: voting or not: Even if all the people who didn’t vote had, hypothetically, voted “yea”, it wouldn’t have gotten the required 60 votes.
Re: Drilling for oil vs. Renewable energy:
If you have $150 billion dollars and 10 years, does it make more sense to build an oil field/deep-water rig or a solar/wind field? Since the oil (directly accessible to this drill) will eventually give out, it makes more sense to build the solar or wind field, which will never stop producing energy. Also, the maintenance cost is much lower on a solar/wind field.
Bush admin. pro oil policy has a stonghold. Ask most any scientist, the end-point – solar power from solar electric panels and solar concentrators and clean hydrogen fusion. Perhaps we need another Kennedy to be a true leader for investment in energy independence, making it not only the US goal (like it was to reach the moon), but a massive cooperative effort for all nations (where we are the leader or co-leader with other super world powers), which in the end would promote the security and prosperity of all nations (we are all tied together now). We don’t have a choice, its now or face a devastating global depression or even extinction due to global unrest, environmental failure and conflict over energy supplies . My gut feeling is that the US is like GM, we don’t think ahead and when the day comes when nobody buys their vehicles, then they decide to make a change (a change too late). There is a great depression at GM, while the smarter foreign car makers (such as the Japanese), can’t sell enough. The credit crisis in another example of greed without intelligent oversight creating great hardship. Shall we do that with energy also? Shall we rely upon foreign nations with proprietary technology to provide us in the future with energy from solar, etc. We need a more intelligent capitalism.
We need to compromise. I agree with Boone Pickens that we can’t drill our way out of high oil prices. Oil is a finite resource, and it will eventually be all used up. However, in the interim, let’s throw the Republicans a bone, give them some limited off shore drilling, the leases can pay for the extension of the tax credits and by the tax credits’ expiration Solar and Wind will not need government help. Grid lock is getting us nowhere fast. They can drill in an environmentally friendly way as we transition to renewables.
The only way we as a people can fix Washington is to vote every single person out!!! The Senators all add earmarks to bills, only a few don’t. I find it crazy that 71% of the population favors offshore drilling yet Nacny (Peldummy) Pelosi refuses it to go forward for a vote. As Speaktress of the House doesn’t she hold a moral obligation to all the citizens of this country? I am sick of our Congress inability to accomplish anything good for the people of our great country.
Bush tells us that we are addicted to oil. So what does he want done? He wants to drill for more oil (even if we don’t see a drop for 10 years). Bush is a MORON and a puppet for Big Oil. Thank god he’s out of office soon. He’s killing us.
Posted By denise, seven hills OH : July 31, 2008 12:06 am
I was wondering, I bet you take the Natural Gas powered bus to work, have solar cells and solar hot water heater on your home’s roof and you have a small wind turbine to supply your home’s electrical needs don’t you???? Unless you are doing that you are as guilty as the rest of us.