Introducing ‘Clean My Ride’ Campaign: Promoting Clean Energy And Efficient Cars
Introducing ‘Clean My Ride’ Campaign: Promoting Clean Energy And Efficient Cars
With gas prices at $3.00 per gallon and “energy consumption globally expected to rise by more than 50 percent over the next 25 years,” the U.S. needs a drastic shift in energy policies in order to aid families, combat global warming, and reduce reliance on oil.
Several efforts are underway to tackle some of these issues. At least 150 legislators have signed onto legislation proposed by Reps. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Todd Platts (R-PA) requiring a fuel economy average of 35 mpg by 2018, creating as many as 241,000 new jobs. With ethanol served at only one out of 170 gas stations, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) has proposed legislation “requiring carmakers to make nearly all vehicles capable of using E85 [ethanol] within 10 years.”
In light of this debate in Congress, the Center for American Progress Action Fund has launched Clean My Ride, a campaign featuring lighthearted “webisodes” of actors and activists urging the adoption of provisions increasing mileage requirements and mandating the availability of E85 ethanol for flexible-fuel cars that can run on cleaner energy.
Check out the videos to learn more and laugh at the lengths to which one man - Phin - will go to get the word out about clean energy. Joining him along the way in the short films are Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Biggs, Jennifer Garner, and Joshua Jackson.
Watch the fourth of six webisodes:
Check out the other webisodes HERE. Read Phin’s clean energy blog HERE.
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104 Responses to “Introducing ‘Clean My Ride’ Campaign: Promoting Clean Energy And Efficient Cars”
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BwAhAhHAhAHaHAHhAHahahHHAHAHa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 24th, 2007 at 2:23 pmGo Tesla!
July 24th, 2007 at 2:24 pmWhere the hell is my hydrogen powered Mazda Rx8?
And this is exactly what we should have been doing all along -- making cars cleaner and more efficient, and exploring alternative fuels. Not only will our air be cleaner, but our dependence on foreign oil will be reduced.
Expect the American car manufacturers to suffer, though. They will kick and scream and drag their feet while they pay tons of money to lobbyists to weaken or defeat any measure toward more efficient cars. In the meantime, the Japanese and the Germans will make the cars that comply with the new laws (of high quality and at a price Americans are willing to pay) and clean up.
July 24th, 2007 at 2:27 pmAn excellent example of post modern liberalism...thank you.
July 24th, 2007 at 2:31 pmFrank J
July 24th, 2007 at 2:41 pmAn excellent example of pre-industrial troglodytist.
An excellent example of post modern liberalism…thank you.
Comment by Frank J
Post modern liberalism? Definition, please, and hold the snark.
July 24th, 2007 at 2:42 pmFrank J,
For someone who hates liberals so much, maybe you should move to N. Korea, or Iran there are a couple of conservative countries. Of course if you're a christian you might have problems, but who cares.
July 24th, 2007 at 2:43 pmEthanol is no alternative fuel answer. It's a joke.
July 24th, 2007 at 2:43 pmIt's very simple. If about half the cars on our roads were plug-in hybrids or electrics, we wouldn't have to import anything from the middle east. The latest study shows that this would not place a burden on our grid (at most, 7 to 8% more usage) and most of the recharging would occur at night during hours that are not peak usage. We do this and we don't need anything from terrorist-supporting states like Saudi Arabia.
July 24th, 2007 at 2:47 pmGeorge? Oh George!? Where the hell is my Freedom Car? You promised!
July 24th, 2007 at 2:48 pmSmug alert!
Come on people now, people now.
People now, come on people now.
Got to drive Hybrids people now.
People now, people now, people now.
Hybrids are for people now, people now.
Good for people driving people now.
Get a Hybrid be good people now.
We have all got to be people now.
People driving Hybrid people now.
People now, people now, Hybrid now.
Hybrid people driving people now.
Come on people let's be people now.
Hybrid people driving people now.
Come on everybody be people now.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smug_Alert
July 24th, 2007 at 2:49 pmComment by MAYTAG Repairman — July 24, 2007 @ 2:49 pm
July 24th, 2007 at 2:50 pmHEyOOOOooooooOOOOOOoooooOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You do understand that biofuel won't get us anywhere.
It's not self-sustaining! It will still take a lot of fossil fuels to PRODUCE that precious biofuel!
All this talk about biofuels is like someone talking about how clean fully electric cars would be. Yeah, sure, but you'd still have to produce that electricity by "dirty" means.
July 24th, 2007 at 2:51 pmHi there, Mr. Prez.
July 24th, 2007 at 2:51 pmHey MAYTAG, nice work with SP song!
July 24th, 2007 at 2:52 pmThanks. *closes eyes*
It fit perfectly in this silly thread.
I wonder how long it will take for someone to accuse us of being the same poster...
July 24th, 2007 at 2:54 pmAll this talk about biofuels is like someone talking about how clean fully electric cars would be. Yeah, sure, but you’d still have to produce that electricity by “dirty†means.
Comment by MAYTAG Repairman — July 24, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
That means you have to find new and/or cleaner ways to produce electricity. Nuclear power, wind power, solar, geothermal, tide-based water power.
There's no easy answer, but that's no excuse to continue using up so much oil (which will get costlier with time anyways) worldwide without looking for alternatives.
July 24th, 2007 at 2:55 pmNot long, MAYTAG, not long at all!
July 24th, 2007 at 2:56 pmAll this talk about biofuels is like someone talking about how clean fully electric cars would be. Yeah, sure, but you’d still have to produce that electricity by “dirty†means.
Comment by MAYTAG Repairman
Waaaahhh, it's too hard, I can't stand changes.
We're not counting on YOUR ingenuity to facilitate any of the needed changes. So why don't you just STFU and let the grownups here discuss the possibilities.
July 24th, 2007 at 2:56 pmI wonder how long it will take for someone to accuse us of being the same poster…
Comment by MAYTAG Repairman
Naw we already noticed the circle jerk and know you're the not missed CT.
July 24th, 2007 at 2:57 pmPost-Modern Liberalism: A disaster that occured in 1972 when this plague took over the once great Democrat Party. An ideology that believes that America is the cause of all problems in the world. That liberty is a curse and human beings are destoying the planet earth.
Took the side of the Communists during the Cold War and the Islamists during today's war against Islamo Fascism. Over the past 25 years PML has evolved into moonbatism....that is characterized by BDS (Bush Derangement Syndrome) a fever that makes a person hate George W. Bush more than Osama Bin Laden or the Iranian mullahs. Similar to what muslims suffer from known as Islamic Rage Boy.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:00 pmYeah, sure, but you’d still have to produce that electricity by “dirty†means.
Comment by MAYTAG Repairman — July 24, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
July 24th, 2007 at 3:00 pm------------------------------------
They don't like to think about things that much, MAYTAG, and as long as there are Hollywood stars telling them what to do, they don't have to think at all!!!
#20: Bzzt. Wrong. And what would it matter anyway? I didn't see you refuting my points. You just resorted to ad hominem attacks.
You said: "We’re not counting on YOUR ingenuity to facilitate any of the needed changes.".
So, you're saying that we should just do away with oil, coal and gas while we're waiting for someone to come up with an ingenious technique to facilitate any of the needed changes?
July 24th, 2007 at 3:01 pmas long as there are Hollywood stars telling them what to do, they don’t have to think at all!!!
Yeah. Watch out for those perfect storms of self-satisfaction. You know they are, after all, so much ahead of the curve.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:02 pmSo the welfare state wants to tell us what to drive, how much money we can make, where we can live, anything else?
July 24th, 2007 at 3:03 pmThere’s no easy answer, but that’s no excuse to continue using up so much oil (which will get costlier with time anyways) worldwide without looking for alternatives.
Comment by Luis M
I can tell you from experience as a pretty decent bookkeep, a few %s here and few few % there add up big after while. Higher gas mileage combined w/ better public transportation combined w/ just a little more car pooling combined w/ a few more trips to the store on foot or bicycle adds up faster and to a bigger number than you might realize.
Seeing how dangerous a commodity oil has become and will continue to be, we're putting ourselves in a hugely risky situation by not making changes now.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:03 pmHey people! You've got drive hybrids!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3UDyuPgEwY
July 24th, 2007 at 3:05 pmSo, you’re saying that we should just do away with oil, coal and gas while we’re waiting for someone to come up with an ingenious technique to facilitate any of the needed changes?
Comment by MAYTAG Repairman
No I'm saying that just because you are not intelligent enough to develop new technology or to even envision that it is possible doesn't make it so. I don't think anybody mentioned doing away with oil, coal and gas. It's pretty easy to see which industry pays your check though isn't it. These are the threads that send you boys running faster than any others. Too funny.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:06 pmFrank J, you should give economic-politics lectures in a KFC.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:07 pmMaytag, not much of a scientist, right? Hows that ark going?
July 24th, 2007 at 3:08 pm#33: Yet another ad hominem. Care to give me a point to refute?
July 24th, 2007 at 3:09 pmhow much money we can make, where we can live, anything else?
Comment by Frank J
You mean corporations. When was the last time the govt built a car you could drive?
July 24th, 2007 at 3:09 pmIf a company wants to build a car that can get good mileage, run on an alternative fuel at a price people will pay then build one. But leave the nanny state out of it, especially the Hollywood morons who tell us to drive golf carts as they head for the limo.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:10 pmSo the welfare state wants to tell us what to drive, how much money we can make, where we can live, anything else?
Comment by Frank J
Nobody expects you backwards hillbillies to make any changes.
They probably don't even make you have that old piece of crap you drive emission tested, do they.
Many of us already drive hybrids and cars that use alternative fuels. Why is it that you care so much if we try to make improvements. Oil companies withhold your check if you don't bitch enough?
July 24th, 2007 at 3:10 pm1942, a jeep.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:11 pmYou have to have a point in order to be refuted, not just blabbering...
July 24th, 2007 at 3:11 pmNo I’m saying that just because you are not intelligent enough to develop new technology or to even envision that it is possible doesn’t make it so
I don't think you're qualified to say that we as a nation (or world, for that matter) are technologically ready to make a transition to unproven energy sources.
Face it. We will be burning oil, coal and gas for decades to come. Solar and water energies will never scale up and you treehuggers have made it sure that fission will never be politically correct anymore.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:12 pmHey people! You’ve got drive hybrids!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3UDyuPgEwY
Comment by MAYTAG Repairman
I already drive an American made Saturn Hybrid. Why do you care?
July 24th, 2007 at 3:13 pmYou have to have a point in order to be refuted, not just blabbering…
My points are very simple: biofuels aren't self-sustainable and solar and water energy won't scale up.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:13 pmSo, you’re saying that we should just do away with oil, coal and gas while we’re waiting for someone to come up with an ingenious technique to facilitate any of the needed changes?
Comment by MAYTAG Repairman — July 24, 2007 @ 3:01 pm
Of course not -- I don't believe anybody said anything that idiotic until you said it.
Making gasoline-running cars more fuel efficient won't eliminate the use of fossil fuels -- we just use less. Even E85 still uses some gasoline.
We need fossil fuels because we haven't developed practical alternatives sufficient for wide-spread use. Fossil fuels are a finite resource, and will eventually run out. Perhaps your strategy is to wait until they are all gone and THEN start looking around for alternatives. Hope your grandchildren enjoy walking.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:13 pm1942, a jeep.
Comment by Frank J
I guess you are still driving one of those. The Gap, Wal-Mart, Banana Republic, Body Shop, GM, GE, McDonalds... mmmm...all that welfare state telling you what to eat, wear and drive...yep.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:13 pmComment by shane — July 24, 2007 @ 3:13 pm
Thanks. **closes eyes**
July 24th, 2007 at 3:14 pmNo, because I'm an American. The left wants to tell us all what to do..but so far thank God they have been defeated at every attempt by the sanity of the American people.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:15 pmI already drive an American made Saturn Hybrid. Why do you care?
Thanks. *closes eyes*
Would you also like to have an empty wine glass?
July 24th, 2007 at 3:15 pmIf a company wants to build a car that can get good mileage, run on an alternative fuel at a price people will pay then build one. But leave the nanny state out of it, especially the Hollywood morons who tell us to drive golf carts as they head for the limo.
Comment by Frank J
Toyota Prius (hybrid) is the number one selling car in Los Angeles. That's where Hollywood is located, in case you didn't know.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:16 pmFace it. We will be burning oil, coal and gas for decades to come. Solar and water energies will never scale up and you treehuggers have made it sure that fission will never be politically correct anymore.
Comment by MAYTAG Repairman
Repairman = NOT rocket science.
The 89 petawatts of sunlight reaching the earth's surface is plentiful compared to the 15 terawatts of average power consumed by humans
You know oil is a solar based fuel, right? So it wont scale, right?
July 24th, 2007 at 3:16 pmThe Gap, Wal-Mart, Banana Republic, Body Shop, GM, GE, McDonalds…
WTF? You've got a problem with all those companies? Geez...
July 24th, 2007 at 3:17 pmFace it. We will be burning oil, coal and gas for decades to come. Solar and water energies will never scale up and you treehuggers have made it sure that fission will never be politically correct anymore.
Comment by MAYTAG Repairman
Theere is no point in trying to discuss future technology with you knuckle draggers.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:18 pmYou mean corporations. When was the last time the govt built a car you could drive?
Comment by Juan C
1942, a jeep.
Comment by Frank J
Pretty funny. You seriously believe the government built Jeeps?
Never heard of Willys? Never heard of Ford?
Typical dum bass troll.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:19 pmMy points are very simple: biofuels aren’t self-sustainable and solar and water energy won’t scale up.
Comment by MAYTAG Repairman
Scale up for what? Electricity production or transportation?
Lets see is solar doesnt scale up: The amount of solar energy intercepted by the Earth every minute is greater than the amount of energy the world uses in fossil fuels each year. Ooops.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:20 pmToyota Prius (hybrid) is the number one selling car in Los Angeles. That’s where Hollywood is located, in case you didn’t know.
Comment by shane — July 24, 2007 @ 3:16 pm
Thanks. *closes eyes*
Here's your empty wine glass.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:20 pmWTF? You’ve got a problem with all those companies? Geez…
Comment by MAYTAG Repairman
Re read what the voice of American sanity (sic!), Frank J, said. Then, please, do intervene.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:21 pmThe 89 petawatts of sunlight reaching the earth’s surface is plentiful compared to the 15 terawatts of average power consumed by humans
Jesus. I knew you didn't get my point. Show me a technology that harvests a sufficient amount of that solar energy (or will harvest it in 10 years) in a way that scales up to power our society. No? I thought so...
I've got a PhD in Physics, you know. I wonder if you even know what order of magnitude peta means (without cheating and looking it up on the net).
You know oil is a solar based fuel, right? So it wont scale, right?
And of course I know that oil is solar based and it's going to run out at some point. The cold, hard fact is, however, is that there is no alternative - we've got to keep on burning that shit. The alternative is to scale down our consumption and that's never going to fly politically.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:22 pmNo, because I’m an American. The left wants to tell us all what to do..but so far thank God they have been defeated at every attempt by the sanity of the American people.
Comment by Frank J
The whining by you people is deafening. The left merely wants people who would like to make change have alternatives they can use. Nobody expects people like you to do anything to help anybody. That's why they've let you keep that old jeep that couldn't possibly pass emission regulations. Nobody wants or needs anything from people like you.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:23 pm#51: See my post #54. Sure the Sun provides a lot of energy, but you can't just harvest it like that.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:23 pmI already drive an American made Saturn Hybrid. Why do you care?
Thanks. *closes eyes*
Would you also like to have an empty wine glass?
Comment by MAYTAG Repairman
Both of you, what is your reason for denigrating people who choose to make changes and don't demand that others do the same? Why do you care that others cut oil usage and emissions?
July 24th, 2007 at 3:25 pm-------
The Global Warming propaganda is so thick it's unbearable.
I cannot believe how easily people are misled.
Whomever is behind this massive brainwashing ... Wow!
They could simply instruct all of you to walk off a cliff and you'd do it.
Amazing.
How do you communicate your message to cows?
-------
July 24th, 2007 at 3:26 pmBoth of you, what is your reason for denigrating people who choose to make changes and don’t demand that others do the same? Why do you care that others cut oil usage and emissions?
Because that's where you fail.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:26 pmI’ve got a PhD in Physics, you know. I wonder if you even know what order of magnitude peta means (without cheating and looking it up on the net).
Really? Doesnt seem so. You would know that the Sahara desert covered by 15% efficiency PV cells could feed the Earth with the energy it needs. Whats your specialty?
Oh, I guess physicists all over the world must cover the greek prefixes in order to get their PhDs.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:28 pmThe alternative is to scale down our consumption and that’s never going to fly politically.
Comment by MAYTAG Repairman
I completely agree. But there ARE alternatives.
"The alternative is to scale down our consumption and that’s never going to fly politically."
Comment by MAYTAG Repairman — July 24, 2007 @ 3:22 pm
On that point, we agree. The last president we had who embraced energy conservation got voted out of office and was replaced by a guy who told the people what they wanted to hear. Didn't solve the problem, though.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:28 pmSure the Sun provides a lot of energy, but you can’t just harvest it like that.
Comment by MAYTAG Repairman
like what?
July 24th, 2007 at 3:29 pmBecause that’s where you fail.
Comment by MAYTAG Repairman
We fail by not demanding people like you and Frank J drive hybrids. How can we demand that people who don't have a pot to piss in buy a new car?
July 24th, 2007 at 3:29 pmWhy do you care that others cut oil usage and emissions?
July 24th, 2007 at 3:30 pmComment by shane — July 24, 2007 @ 3:25 pm
-----------------------------------------
I don't, just keep your hands off my petro!
How do you communicate your message to cows?
——-
Comment by koolmoedee
koolaidee, you really should listen to real news or read a paper sometime. Oh by the way, have you heard about evolution, ever?
July 24th, 2007 at 3:30 pmFace it, the Japanese already have a Mazda Rx8 running on hydrogen gas. Iceland uses it's geothermal power to crack water into hydrogen & oxygen.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:32 pmThese technologies are ready to go, just need some will power and information...
I’ve got a PhD in Physics, you know. I wonder if you even know what order of magnitude peta means (without cheating and looking it up on the net).
You know oil is a solar based fuel, right? So it wont scale, right?
Comment by MAYTAG Repairman
Exactly which type of physics do you have your PhD in?
July 24th, 2007 at 3:33 pmlike what?
You know, even if you get a shitload of energy down on earth, you lose most of it in the process. Simple thermodynamics tells you that you can never collect all of it and currently you can get only a few percent of the total incoming flux. That means, that if you want to power up entire cities, you'd have to span entire deserts with solar panels - and that's assuming that you live in a region where there is plenty of sunshine. It could work in California or Florida, but otherwise it's a pipe dream.
And do you have any idea what kind of environmental poisons are involved in and how much energy it is required to produce modern, high tech solar panels? It's all about a physical/chemical vapor deposition process of semiconductor materials under extreme vacuum conditions. Toxic, energy intensive and not suitable for mass production.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:34 pmFace it, the Japanese already have a Mazda Rx8 running on hydrogen gas. Iceland uses it’s geothermal power to crack water into hydrogen & oxygen.
These technologies are ready to go, just need some will power and information…
Comment by RUCerious
http://tinyurl.com/2bsev4
And wave energy. NOAA says we can provide 10% of our energy needs from harnessing wave power.
What is needed is the will to do the necessary research and development and not allow the whining of the oil companies and the auto companies drag us down.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:36 pm#65: Solid state physics.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:37 pm#48 The Democratic Debates have had absolutely NO SUBSTANCE. The spineless cowards are scared to take on Queen Hillary which will result in her winning the primary only to lose the general.
Democrats are WIMPS. You won’t debate on Fox. You won’t attack each other AND you won’t offer bold ideas with specifics. What a poor excuse for a party.
AND God bless President Bush for not watching the debates. Why would he watch a bunch of skirts attack him and lie about him.
Comment by God Help Us
And you find the Repugs are better???? Like they spend all their time channeling ronnie raygunz because they have nothing better to put up there?
And as to the dress issue, I will have to give you that one......RUDEE does look much better in a dress than any of the Dems.... and he is a bigger wimp to boot!
July 24th, 2007 at 3:38 pmNow if they could figure out a way to plug the generators into these threads. Certainly all this hot air could turn a turbine or something.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:39 pmAnd the methane levels are unacceptably high on this site once the trolls have processed the bean burritos they ate for lunch.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:41 pmSolid state physics.
Comment by MAYTAG Repairman
I think you meant condensed matter physics, CT. And I didn't know you could get a PhD and a two year community college.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:43 pmAnd do you have any idea what kind of environmental poisons are involved in and how much energy it is required to produce modern, high tech solar panels? It’s all about a physical/chemical vapor deposition process of semiconductor materials under extreme vacuum conditions. Toxic, energy intensive and not suitable for mass production.
Comment by MAYTAG Repairman
Im gonna guess you are being hypocrite about the issue, cuz, please explain me all the trillions of dollars spent by oil/chemical companies to perform with almost the same degree of efficiency (energy and exergy) processes that are the most toxic ever found.
Ok, a LCA is needed in order to compare them (Im sure there are a lot of them already), but it is like saying: hey, fission power does not produce greenhouse gases.
Really? What about the extraction of fissile material? What about the facilities built in order to manage it, to enrich it, and finally to depose it? Did these facilities and ALL of the processes indirectly use clean power to achieve them? Nope. Im not saying SOLAR is the ONLY solution. No. We need an integral system of energy.
I would like to know what do you mean by Simple thermodynamics tells you that you can never collect all of it and currently you can get only a few percent of the total incoming flux.
First, simple thermodynamics? Does that exist? (It is an engineer joke) How much percentage are you talking about? A solar still has a 35% energy efficiency, pretty much like a Rankine cycle...so? What solar technology are you addressing in these few percents? OTEC systems are very inefficient, but parabolic troughs can achive 60% energy efficiency...
And I have a Master´s Degree in Mech Eng. So?
July 24th, 2007 at 3:45 pmI believe the maytag wannabe ran away and hid. Where are you CT?
July 24th, 2007 at 3:46 pmSolid state physics.
Comment by MAYTAG Repairman
I dont envy you. I never got band gaps and stuff.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:47 pmHeh. That was just lame. Condensed matter physics is another name for Solid State Physics, so your effort at denigrating my grade wasted there. Yet another liberal attempt at an ad hominem attack when you can't argue objective physics.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:47 pmAnd I have a Master´s Degree in Mech Eng. So?
Comment by Juan C
I truly believe that is CT who attends a two year junior college claiming to have his PhD in physics. Ironical isn't it?
July 24th, 2007 at 3:48 pmMaytag guy ~ then how is this possible???
July 24th, 2007 at 3:48 pmhttp://www.hydrogenassociation.org/newsletter/ad72rem.asp
Yet another liberal attempt at an ad hominem attack when you can’t argue objective physics.
Comment by MAYTAG Repairman
So you can get a PhD at a community college CT?
July 24th, 2007 at 3:50 pmShane, it is very likely.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:50 pmI truly believe that is CT who attends a two year junior college claiming to have his PhD in physics. Ironical isn’t it?
Comment by shane
All of our trolls are geniuses with advanced degrees. Just ask 'em.
Also, they are too old or have convenient physical problems that prevent them from going off to war.
That's part of why it's so hard to tell them apart.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:53 pmI gotta wonder what dose of bozonium Maytag guy takes in the morning.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:57 pmmmmm...I get all excited talking about these things and after some minutes they just go.
Now, I understand women. :D
July 24th, 2007 at 4:00 pmI gotta wonder what dose of bozonium Maytag guy takes in the morning.
Comment by RUCerious
His bozonium levels are at critical mass. You'd think his physics PhD should have warned him.
July 24th, 2007 at 4:05 pmAmericans amuse me. They have all the time to rant about high gas prices. Don't they know there are folks in Africa who can't afford a single meal. C'mmon Americans! Auction all your cars and get into the bus or train like that poor folk in Africa. Spend the quids saved to promote farming in that poor of the world.
July 24th, 2007 at 4:06 pmmmmm…I get all excited talking about these things and after some minutes they just go.
Now, I understand women. :D
Comment by Juan C
You could be talking about so many possible things I'm left here scratching my head and chuckling to myself. Thanks Juan.
July 24th, 2007 at 4:08 pmYou could be talking about so many possible things I’m left here scratching my head and chuckling to myself. Thanks Juan.
Comment by shane
:)
July 24th, 2007 at 4:13 pmOther than folks who are profiting from high oil prices, I don't know anyone who doesn't want cheaper alternative fuels.
However, how much more forest land are you folks going to allow the United States to plow under to grow enough corn to keep us mobile? Or were you figuring we could make the ethanol directly from trees?
Mathematically, ethanol doesn't work...unless we all plan on drinking plenty of it so we don't have to worry about the dwindling food supply.
Ethanol does one thing, and one thing only: It does get the discussion rolling, and demonstrates the possibility of alternative fuels. But unless you all can accept the clear-cutting of our trees at near rain-forest levels, ethanol is simply a red herring.
July 24th, 2007 at 4:15 pmIt always is amazing to see conservatives come out of the woodwork with dozens of half-baked reasons why we CAN'T do something. Interestingly, the things they claim we CAN'T do usually are things which would negatively affect the profits of entrenched large corporate interests. Again, if 50% of the cars on the roads of our country were some form of plug-in hybrids, we wouldn't have to import 1 gallon of oil from terrorist-supporting states like Saudi Arabia. We wouldn't need them. That's enough of a reason to shoot for that kind of market penetration for plugin hybrids alone. The republican congress gave huge tax incentives for people to buy gas guzzlers and none of these "can't do conservatives" had a problem with that. But, the government offering tax incentives to go green is some sort of "nanny state" thinking to "can't do conservatives." I always wonder if these brainless knowitalls will ever tire of being tools for large corporate interests.
July 24th, 2007 at 5:22 pmHahahahaha!
Tom Harkin and this bill?
Let's see...Tom Harkin blocks the reduction of the ethanol tariff to prevent importing cheap ethanol, Tom Harkin proposes subsidies to ethanol makers, and now Tom Harkin wants an mandate of ethanol consumption.....
Pork, pork, pork, for the farmers!
July 24th, 2007 at 6:05 pmIt’s very simple. If about half the cars on our roads were plug-in hybrids or electrics, we wouldn’t have to import anything from the middle east. The latest study shows that this would not place a burden on our grid (at most, 7 to 8% more usage) and most of the recharging would occur at night during hours that are not peak usage. We do this and we don’t need anything from terrorist-supporting states like Saudi Arabia.
Then you drive one.
July 24th, 2007 at 6:05 pmThe republican congress gave huge tax incentives for people to buy gas guzzlers and none of these “can’t do conservatives†had a problem with that
No, that was Bill Clinton.
July 24th, 2007 at 6:08 pm- corn has huge pesticide and fertilizer requirements.
- corn ethanol's energy consumption for farming, distillation, and distribution is many times that of oil. Most large new corn processing plants are being designed to burn dirty coal.
- corn ethanol cannot be inexpensively distributed via the oil pipelines, it's too corrosive - it must be trucked. Separate storage facilities for ethanal must be built and that drives up the true cost.
- the corn ethanol industry lobbied congress heavily and has recieved billions of dollars, it's controlled by big-money interests, not the farmers. The true cost of ethanol is closer to twice the pump price.
Reagan killed Carter's solar tax incentives, we need those back even more strongly - places in Europe buy back solar-produced electricity for 8 times the rate since it would cost them that much to build new plants.
Research in cellulosic alcohol production needs to increase greatly - energy from bacteria and yeast can be produced without requiring huge chunks of arigable land.
Programs need to be put in place so that neighborhoods and communities can build small solar and wind generating stations at little or no cost that can serve many households.
Being anti-corn ethanol is not being right-wing or reactionary or anti-progress. I've spent many hours researching corn ethanol, I used to be a big supporter. I'm as rabid a liberal as you can find. Focusing on corn ethanol distracts from implementing real alternatives, we don't have the time to afford.
July 24th, 2007 at 7:43 pm@93 - review your history - congress WAS controlled by the republicans, clinton was not a fan of that bill
July 24th, 2007 at 8:01 pmWhy complain about expensive gas? Isn't that the point of carbon taxes? Make it more expensive and people will use it less?
Make gasoline $10 a gallon and you'd see a sharp reduction in CO2 emissions.
July 24th, 2007 at 9:17 pmJesus Center for American Progress.
Ethanol will solve NO energy problems and solve NO emissions problems.
Why are you advocating it?
July 24th, 2007 at 9:21 pmEthanol is a scam by oil companies to use more energy in the process of making it.
You might as well just use gasoline because you're burning less oil into the biosphere.
Ethanol also gets less MPG and creates smog that might be potentially more life threatening (or retain more UV rays).
How about the electric car?
You guys shouldn't suppress technology like Big Oil.
July 25th, 2007 at 1:15 amIt's all about reducing the amount of petroleum that vehicles use," said Dave Barthmus, GM's spokesman for environmental and energy matters. He said GM's calculations show that over 15,000 miles, "a small [gas/electric] hybrid car" will consume 120 more gallons of gas than an E85 ethanol flex-fuel Tahoe full-size SUV with a V8 engine.
Overall, using E85 reduces fuel economy by about 20 percent. In other words, a tank of E85 ethanol will take you only about 80 percent as far as a tank of conventional gasoline. Running on conventional gas, the V6 Chevy Impala, for example, is rated at 21 mpg city/31 highway. Running on E85, the same Impala is rated at 15 mpg city/22 highway.
Not only will you consume more fuel using E85 ethanol, you may pay more per gallon. Rising demand, limited supply, and extra costs associated with the transportation of E85 all play a role in its pump price.
All this while Congress in thier infinite wisdom passes higher fuel standards while supporting E85 ethanol... you gotta love this group of bungling idiots. Plus I just want all of you who drive hybrids and hate BIG OIL to sell your Gas eating death traps and go get yourself a safe E85 Tahoe.
July 25th, 2007 at 1:48 am@93 - review your history - congress WAS controlled by the republicans, clinton was not a fan of that bill
Who was the President at the time?
July 25th, 2007 at 4:47 pmAwsome campaign! It's time to wake up! I hope everyone keeps posting and re-posting until we get the message across. I opened a chat on Babbledog about it!
August 2nd, 2007 at 5:00 pmForgot the link :)
August 2nd, 2007 at 5:16 pmthis proposal must be passed in the US congress and be approved as a law..this can really minimize oil consumption and at the same time prevent further global warming..i from researches ethanol fueled engines require less maintenance than gasoline fueled, because it produces less heat thus preventing the engine to overheat..this can help my volswagen rabbit radiator from consuming so much water..
August 10th, 2007 at 2:21 amthe comment that biofuel requires more energy to produce than it itself can produce is only because the infrastructure for biofuel production and transportation is not established, and initial research and investment is necessary.
also, subsidies for ethanol do not properly distinguish between E30 and E85. subsidies could be based on ethanol content so that E85 is cheaper to produce
August 15th, 2007 at 11:57 am