Bush Administration Announces Half-Baked Climate Change Plan
Bush Administration Announces Half-Baked Climate Change Plan
Today the administration announced their plan to address the problem of climate change. Dow Jones has the story:
The Department of Energy said in a statement that the program is part of President George W. Bush’s plan to slow growth of greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide, which are emitted for cars, power plants and other sources. The plan includes $3 billion for research into new technologies and sets goals of reducing emissions and capturing carbon dioxide before it’s released into the atmosphere.
The money for research is a good thing. But the plan does not place any restrictions on emissions of carbon dioxide. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office studied this approach and concluded it was ineffective. Here’s a summary published today by the Senate Committee for the Environment:
A report issued yesterday by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) concludes that relying exclusively on research and development (R&D) funding is not the most effective strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. CBO found that combining R&D subsidies with a gradually increasing price on emissions is a more cost-effective approach.
In his speech on Monday, Al Gore recognized that the time to place limits on carbon dioxide emissions is now. The longer we wait, the harder it gets.
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53 Responses to “Bush Administration Announces Half-Baked Climate Change Plan”
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A half-baked plan from a Prez with a half-baked mind.
September 20th, 2006 at 4:15 pmSounds like another PR campaign by the Bush administration to make it look like they are doing something good for the country… what a surprise.
September 20th, 2006 at 4:24 pmWhy is the Bush administration spending $3 billion dollars on research to slow the growth of greenhouse gas emissions when Bush doesn’t believe human activity is the cause of global warming? I mean like shouldn’t there at least be some kind of announcement that Bush now realizes there is a connection? I don’t get it.
September 20th, 2006 at 4:25 pmI will be interested to see what companies get the $3,000,000,000.00
September 20th, 2006 at 4:27 pmworth of contracts to “research” this issue.
Hopefully not a bunch more no-bids to companies with their hands up Bush’s skirt.
The plan includes $3 billion for research into new technologies and sets goals of reducing emissions and capturing carbon dioxide before it’s released into the atmosphere.
Yeh from like from the tobbacco drying process [Co2, Nox Wink Cough Wink]
September 20th, 2006 at 4:29 pmHow can you place restrictions on emissions from things like Cars when we don’t fully know how to do it? Seems like doing this research first to find the best way is the way to go. Going into something halfbaked isn’t smart and could trigger horrible reactions within the market. Why potentially cripple the US economy when your not even sure what kind of effect a emission cap would even have on Global warming.
Besides, unless China and India go along with emission caps, whatever we do it pointless in the long run.
September 20th, 2006 at 4:30 pmpssssst…..tell Republicans that stopping greenhouse gas emissions now will prevent gays from marrying in the future.
September 20th, 2006 at 4:32 pmHopefully not a bunch more no-bids to companies with their hands up Bush’s skirt.
Yeh right!! lol The think-tanks eyeballs are bugging out on ways to spend 3 billion and accomplish nothing!
September 20th, 2006 at 4:32 pmwhat do you expect from a half baked gov on qualudes 24/7
September 20th, 2006 at 4:33 pm#4,
September 20th, 2006 at 4:34 pmCitizen Twenty,
Halliburton is researching on how to feed our troops CO2. It’s got carbon, the building block of life and a fortifide double dose of oxygen to keep those muscles going. Mmm..mmm…good.
You know, the trolls finally said something that got to me.
If we tax CO2 emissions, how can we expect companies to stay in the States? Funding R&D to avoid end user pollution is a great alternative approach to CO2 taxes.
Do I trust contracts to go to firms that will actually use the money to do research? No.
Would we fair better by doing both this and the CO2 tax? Sure.
September 20th, 2006 at 4:36 pm#7; snort.
September 20th, 2006 at 4:40 pmRoger,
September 20th, 2006 at 4:41 pmI don’t know where you get your info from but there are available technologies that can limit CO2 emissions from most processes. By using these technologies they would create more jobs because there would be a greater demand for them. Adding jobs and having a cleaner environment. Wow, who woulda thunk it…..oh yeah just about every sane person.
Don’t be fooled. There is no $3 billion. They just took every penny already being spent that could arguably be connected to global warming and announcing it as something new.
September 20th, 2006 at 4:44 pmThe plan includes $3 billion for research into new technologies
This 3 Billion for research alone could build 6000 wind turbines producing 6400 mega watts of power , enough for 1.44 million homes
what a waste of money research is the figures are all out there
September 20th, 2006 at 4:45 pmI don’t get you progressives. The plan is intended to help stop “greenhouse” gasses. The President is trying to help in the “environmental” cause and all you do is bust his chops. He does something that you all say you want but it’s not making everyone walk instead of drive so it’s just a ploy. Get real people. Stop the hate.
September 20th, 2006 at 4:46 pmRonin,
September 20th, 2006 at 4:47 pmA good part of the CO2 emissions are produced by power plants. These have to be situated in the US since you can’t transport the product.
HALF BAKED MINDS CONCOCT HALF BAKED PLANS! IT FIGURES!
September 20th, 2006 at 4:47 pmhttp://www.steorn.net
This company above claims to have enegy sources at more than 100% efficient which means free power there claims are >>>>
REVOLUTIONARY TECHNOLOGY
September 20th, 2006 at 4:48 pmSteorn’s technology produces free, clean and constant energy. This provides a significant range of benefits, from the convenience of never having to refuel your car or recharge your mobile phone, to a genuine solution to the need for zero emission energy production.
How can you place restrictions on emissions from things like Cars when we don’t fully know how to do it?
How could the Wright brothers expect to travel by airplane when they didn’t know fully how to do it?
Besides, unless China and India go along with emission caps, whatever we do it pointless in the long run.
The Wright brothers gave up their efforts because they concluded that since there were no airports, whatever they do would be pointless in the long run.
September 20th, 2006 at 4:48 pm#11
The CBO analysis addresses your concern. This is very important:
If a domestic carbon pricing program significantly increased the prices of U.S.- produced goods— and was not matched by efforts to reduce emissions in other countries—it could cause carbon-intensive industries to relocate to countries without similar restrictions, diminishing the environmental benefits of a domestic program.
Typical liberal solution. Kill the US economy while others florish without CO2 restrictions.
September 20th, 2006 at 4:58 pmThe Steon stuff looks good. They should put it on the market and it will make money.
If it works.
September 20th, 2006 at 4:59 pmIntroducing the new BMW 7 series which runs on hydrogen just out
America is losing its edge in technology because of its backward thinking
September 20th, 2006 at 4:59 pmIF true. Why is he taking so long to do something? Is he now admitting that its a problem and we need to take action? If it is a problem why is he doing so little? If its a problem to what level did he cover it up?
The reason everyone is “busting chops” as you put it is because this didn’t just suddenly happen. They have been trying to sweep it under the rug for years and have attacked anyone who tries to expose it. They do that because they are bought and paid for by companies that have a vested interest in it not coming to light until the very last minute (which could be now).
Any drastics steps that we might be forced to take in the not so distant future could have been avoided if we had acted sooner.
September 20th, 2006 at 5:00 pmAnother one of DUHbya’s vast plans with half-vast planning.
September 20th, 2006 at 5:01 pmBMW’s hydrogen-powered 7-Series is caught testing in Germany
September 20th, 2006 at 5:02 pmBMW has committed to delivering the first roadgoing hydrogen versions within the existing 7-Series’ lifespan, so they are expected to go on sale in 2008. Initial examples are likely to be aimed at small fleets, which will provide feedback to assist the company in its development of the technology.
Roger_Roger you remind me of a gum-chewing Britney Spears in “Farenheit 9/11″….“Honestly, I think we should just trust our President in every decision he makes, and we should support that.â€
September 20th, 2006 at 5:05 pmBarack Obama’s speech at G’town today with specific environmental policy was first rate. A serious, detailed plan. Anyone else hear it?
September 20th, 2006 at 5:06 pmI think they were headed in the right direction when they let gas prices go through the roof. Isn’t that a way to tax emissions?
Let’s put a huge tax on gasoline to curb emissions. Make gas like $5 a gallon. No make that $5 a gallon in taxes!
Now, that’s a plan!
You’ll use less gasoline, won’t you?
September 20th, 2006 at 5:10 pmThe specially equipped 7-Series executive cars emit only water vapor when running on hydrogen.
The car hits the market next April and will be shown at the Los Angeles car show in November
The BMW 7 Series Hydrogen 7 Saloon is powered by a 260 hp twelve-cylinder engine and accelerates from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 9.5 seconds. Top speed is limited electronically to 230 km/h.
September 20th, 2006 at 5:12 pmThey did research first! Doh!
September 20th, 2006 at 5:13 pmTaxes. The Liberal fix all.
September 20th, 2006 at 5:30 pmForcing just American compaines to comply to a emission cap would cripple American compaines as there Chinese counterparts would walk right over them.
I am a big fan of emission caps and emission taxes, but it needs to be something the entire world adopts. It is the only way we retain some semblence of balance in the market place.
Besides, setting caps on emissions just in America would actually speed up Global warming. The lost GDP would be eaten up by China which in turn would churn out that lost GDP but they would also use MORE emissions then we were making the problem worse.
September 20th, 2006 at 6:02 pmUmmm…the proposal is all about the COST of cutting emissions…nothing about the BENEFITS.
Also, some costs aren’t included. Like the loss of millions of acres of America to permanent flooding. And the cost of re-settling millions who’s homes and businesss are wiped out. You know, minor things like that.
BTW - have they admitted global warming is real yet? If not, why are they talking about greenhouse gases?
September 20th, 2006 at 6:17 pmSo is this half-admitting there is a climate problem?
September 20th, 2006 at 6:26 pm#35 - that’s old thinking. http://www.apolloalliance.org is new thinking. Green energy initiatives can decouple the link between GDP and emissions…
September 20th, 2006 at 6:32 pmThe only reason w is baking is Al Gore gave him the recipe.
September 20th, 2006 at 7:12 pm[…] Here is an opinion about the program. […]
September 20th, 2006 at 7:12 pm$3 billion for research on climate change. That much doesn’t buy a week in Iraq.
September 20th, 2006 at 7:21 pm[…] Bush Administration Announces Half-Baked Climate Change Plan […]
September 20th, 2006 at 7:36 pmNice to see Bush starting to implement some of Gore’s ideas. Makes you wonder how far along we’d be if Gore was president.
September 20th, 2006 at 8:16 pmFirst Republicans were for pollution, now they’re against it. Flip-floppers.
September 20th, 2006 at 8:17 pmHalf-baked, half-assed half-wit.
September 20th, 2006 at 8:28 pmI’m surprised. If it weren’t for tobacco, we’d have stronger pollution control, but now we can blame it all on tobacco and second hand smoke.
September 20th, 2006 at 9:22 pmSomehow I don’t think it is the smoker’s fault. They are the most vilified group these days.
September 20th, 2006 at 9:45 pmActually,
China and India have not adopted emission caps and they are the real problem going forward.
Also, Europe is a failing society. Have you seen there yearly GDP growth? France has a laughable figure. There unemployment is through the rough as well.
I truly hope none of you is suggesting we take Europe as a good example. They do show us a good example of how to ruin a countries economy however.
September 21st, 2006 at 12:50 amBlueprint to save Earth!
In the year 1905, Nobel physicist, Albert Einstein, published his E=mc² EQUATION, which opened the door to THE WORLD OF THE PROTON GENIE. But, nobody looked or listened except the Energy Cartel, which stood to loose its wealth and power if Einstein’s Equation should ever be implemented.
“E=mc²†provides the basis for extracting and fusing PROTONS from ordinary, pure water, which will ultimately make everybody on Earth so idly rich and content from the benefits of this clean, virtually-free, and inexhaustible energy supply that nobody should ever again have to worry about pollution, war or poverty, and Mother Nature will once again regain control of any Climate Change.
The Doomsday Clock reads: 7 minutes until Doomsday, and counting!
Is it too late? Or, will some ordinary, individual tinkerer (maybe just an average high school student) rise to the occasion and demonstrate the physical expression of Einstein’s EQUATION so that the entire World Population can move forward into a future of peace, contentment, and
prosperity?
You can help make Einstein’s great vision become a reality by linking this blog to your home page.
http://howtosavecivilization.blogspot.com/
September 21st, 2006 at 7:04 am#54 yet another good post Paul.
September 21st, 2006 at 10:48 am[…] Meanwhile…Bush announces his own half-assed and near worthless plan of inaction towards climate change. […]
September 21st, 2006 at 11:48 am[…] Let’s get this straight: A technology-only strategy cannot solve the global warming problem. So how can the Washington Post publish a basically favorable article about Bush’s technology-only “plan” — and do so the same week both the Congressional Budget Office and Senate Environment Committee explained that such a strategy can’t do the job? […]
September 21st, 2006 at 2:34 pm[…] tompaine.com: White House v. Climate Change. brazzil.com: Forget Bush! Brazil Should Wholeheartedly Embrace Kyoto thinkprogress.org: Bush Administration Announces Half-Baked Climate Change Plan. […]
November 18th, 2006 at 4:43 pmWays To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
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April 5th, 2008 at 9:40 am