The Roanoke Slant

Roanoke Times, 2/12/09, Pg 17, BIG opinion article with BIG Graphic:
“Mandate renewable energy” by Al Weed, former Democrat candidate for Congress in 2004 & 2006. Al is the Public Policy Virginia organization with intellectual assistance by Bobbie Joe Gardner.
-
“Virginians want immediate government action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
Survey by UVA found that 55% of (Virginians who see man-made CO2 as a problem) strongly support mandated renewable power.
-
That’s 55% of what number? Oh, it’s the 30% who believe the Gore-hypothesis that current warming is caused by people! So that’s really like 16%! And that’s without asking them if they are willing to double their electric bill!
-
“Back in 2007, it became clear that deregulation was not going to bring down the cost of energy in Virginia”.
Perhaps that’s because Virginia has some of the lowest electric rates in the East based on hydro-power and coal-power and good companies like AEP!
Rates in the northeast are well above 15 cents while here in Franklin Co they’re about 5 cents per kilowatt-hour. It is very clear that stopping the use of coal and introducing renewable sources will be much more expensive than today’s costs.
-
“If Virginia is going to respond to the challenge of climate change, the rules must be changed to MANDATE development of renewable energy.”
-
If so, let there be green on earth and let it begin with Mr Weed and his Public Policy Organization and his wine business interests. Also let’s start with the Roanoke Times a major manufacturing facility with a very big carbon-footprint.
-
Here’s how to start Mr. Weed:
1. AEP allows and supports net-metering. That means if you generate power at your site you can not only displace AEP electricity, you can utilize your excess electricity to run your electric meters backwards, thereby getting utility credit. What a deal!
-
2. AEP also supports a “green pricing” program. You, Mr. Weed, and your friends at the Roanoke Times and associates in The Virginia Vineyards Association can all purchase “green energy” from AEP! The program is targeted at environmentally conscious customers who want to put their money behind the renewable energy movement.”
Basically they means: put-up or shut-up!
-
After you have implemented these programs, you clearly should be able to make the case to the residents of Virginia that this is the way to go without resorting to USSR MANDATES!
-
In the meantime perhaps you can talk to your buddy Tim Kaine and have him address the gross hypocrisy of the regulatory roadblocks he is supporting that prevents building the green and renewable Virginia Highland Wind Farm.
-
http://roanokeslant.blogspot.com/2009/02/more-kaine-green-hypocrisy.html
-