First, since the post is regarding political issues - just a note that we got our annual holiday card from the White House :o)
As contributors to the National Republican Committee, we get our "form" card each year. We always get a kick out of it, with both George and Laura signing their full names.
Below is a summary of a Wall Street Journal article:
A new group of energy winners and losers is emerging as House and Senate lawmakers move toward agreement on the terms of legislation that could markedly change the nation´s energy consumption in the next two decades. Big beneficiaries of a $21 billion tax-incentive package announced yesterday by House and Senate tax-writing committees include companies that have invested in more energy-efficient products, buildings and vehicles. They also include the nascent industry that is working on bio fuels and other alternatives to reduce the use of petroleum-based vehicle fuels such as gasoline. The new $21 billion tax package, measured over 10 years, provides $2.8 billion in incentives for various energy-efficient products; a $993 million credit for plug-in vehicles; and more than $7 billion in incentives for renewable fuels (Unfortunately, it does not appear that Nuclear will be included in this category. However, there is a separate bill that provides $25 Billion in loan guarantees that is making its way through the process).
25 of our states have implemented renewable energy requirements for the 2015 target time frame - ranging from 8% in Illinois to 40% in Colorado.
This morning, I was reading an interesting article related to coal electricity generation, which is expected to increase by 65000 MWe by 2015 (typical plants are in the 500 - 1000 MWe range, so this is a huge number if plants). The biggest obstacle to this expansion is the railroad system, there are only two carriers in the east, and two in the west, and they are not regulated. Using our vast coal reserves is critical to a balanced energy mix in our country, but we are going to need to bring more regulation and fairness into the railroads.
One of the considerations for my next career (I have started my 10 year count-down to retirement from Nuclear) is to start a foundation for green energy development here in South Bend. I have really started to look into options regarding Midwest energy options.
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