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Why Has Bush Placed A Freeze On Solar Energy? Bureau of Land Management has ordered a freeze on all solar projects on federal land for a two-year environmental impact study. - RI10 VICTORY 7308
Why Has Bush
Placed A Freeze
On Solar
Energy? Bureau of
Land Management
has ordered a freeze
on all solar projects
on federal land for a
two-year
environmental
impact study. - RI10
Tabacco: CNN asked an interesting question, “Why did Bush place 2-year freeze on Solar Energy?” Then they proceeded to ignore their own question. This is typical of CNN. But at least CNN asked the question. It is left to others to find the answer. Tabacco does have a theory. The Tabacco Solar Theory is based, like almost all Theories based on Bush and the QuasiCons, on FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS. As Deepthroat said during Watergate, “Follow the money”.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0806/27/ldt.01.html
LOU DOBBS TONIGHT
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama Join Forces; Seeking Independent Votes; Salmonella Outbreak Still Unknown; Your Government at Work; Solar Energy Freeze; Mexico Drug War
Aired June 27, 2008 - 19:00 ET
ANNOUNCER: This is LOU DOBBS TONIGHT: news, debate, and opinion for Friday, June 27th. Live from New York, sitting in for Lou Dobbs, Kitty Pilgrim.
PILGRIM: And the Bush administration puts a freeze on solar energy projects. We'll have a special report on that. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: If there were ever more stark evidence that our planet is warming at an alarming rate and a dangerous rate, it's this. Before the end of summer, the North Pole might be completely ice free, melted away by global warming. That's according to scientists with the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Colorado.
Last September, the ice retreated to a record low. That's when the Northwest Passage through the Artic Ocean opened up briefly for the first time on record. Unfortunately, the disappearance of ice at the top of the world would be too brief to bring any immediate consequences, but scientists warn the sea ice at the North Pole could be lost through the entire summer season within the next quarter century. The presidential candidates are calling for energy independence in response to skyrocketing oil prices. But instead of developing energy alternatives, the Bush administration is putting a freeze on solar energy projects. Bill Tucker has our special report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BILL TUCKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is one of only two commercial solar generating plants in the United States, (INAUDIBLE) Nevada, the other is in California. Solar's appeal is simple. It is clean, plentiful, widely available, but cost is a factor. Solar is still expensive.
Solar costs roughly 15 cents per kilowatt, wind 78 cents per kilowatt, compared with coal at 5 cents per kilowatt. To help bring down those costs to help develop solar energies supporters of the technology argued the federal government ought to be aggressively and fully supporting its development.
PAUL SIDLO, SUNRGI: There's many things to look at to get our dependence off of fossil right now. And one of them is solar. And we certainly should be spending the billions of dollars that they're spending on oil and coal to do research on solar.
TUCKER: Instead, the Bureau of Land Management has ordered a freeze on all solar projects on federal land for a two-year environmental impact study. The bureau is under pressure from environmentalist, 150 applications already on file will be evaluated and cleared for development. No new ones will be accepted.
Despite appearances, a BLM spokeswoman insists quote "We are going full speed ahead with solar development. The existing applications are for land with the greatest potential for development". The new applications would cover 1,000,000 acres. There are currently no solar projects on any federal land.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TUCKER: Now, supporters of the technology hold out great hope for solar electricity generation. And there are tremendous technological advances being made with solar energy that are driving down dramatically the cost of solar generation, but critics of the BLM's policy say, Kitty, it's just sending the wrong message at the wrong time, when we are talking about energy independence and appearing to be shutting down the development of a key energy source.
PILGRIM: Well it certainly does. You know, Bill, the environmentalists should be on the side of solar power, correct or am I...
TUCKER: You would think so, but no, they're not. I mean there are a group of environmentalists who when it comes down to it basically, they don't want anything moved. They don't want any dirt moved in the desert. They don't want any land disturbed. And they seem to be, at least in my opinion, in denial about energy needs. They don't seem to balance their environmental concerns with our energy needs, so it creates an interesting dramatic tension.
PILGRIM: It certainly does. Thanks very much. Bill Tucker.
TUCKER: Yeah.
PILGRIM: Now most of the land currently under Bureau of Land Management is not available for use in developing solar power, 72 percent of California's desert is unavailable. More than half of that land in Nevada cannot be used. Almost a quarter of the land in Arizona is off limits. Now this land is used for national parks, wildlife reserves, or military bases.
Solar power accounts for only a fraction of one percent of all the electricity generated in the United States. Now according to the Energy Department, coal provides 49 percent of our electrical power. Natural gas, 20 percent, nuclear power 19 percent, and hydroelectric 7 percent. Other renewable and miscellaneous sources such as wind power make up most of the remaining 5 percent of the country's power production.
First, Environmentalists can be bought like most other organizations in this Capitalist environment. Just look at the ACLU!
But even if we allow, for the sake of argument only, that Environmentalists have stumbled honestly and naively, but without malevolent intent, into their Solar position, we know that George W. Bush doesn’t do anything he doesn’t want to do. The Environmentalists’ position makes a fine Excuse, but in no possible investigative endeavor could it be the Reason.
Now we talk Money, which is at the root of almost all Bush initiatives or retrenchments. What is there about Solar Energy, which differentiates itself in a profit-oriented world, that does not apply to Nuclear Energy, Coal, Oil & Ethanol?
Private organizations alone can initiate, develop and sell electric power, produced by Nuclear Energy plants. The selling process will be perpetual just as it is with electricity produced by coal, hydroelectric or any other carbon-based fuel. Therefore the profit motive is safe with Nuclear Energy. Somebody will make profits, and some politicians will get their share of those profits.
The same applies to Coal production, conversion and use. No individual can displace the Profit Chain controlling Coal.
And obviously those same criteria apply to Oil. Is your name Exxon, British Petroleum etc? No? Well, Profit is more than secure, it is exploding – at least until the Oil runs out or becomes too rare and too expensive to even produce. I note that the Saudis, among other OPEC members, are preparing to become a Money Lender. They know the Gravy Train known as Petroleum will not last forever.
Corn for Ethanol is grown by farmers, transported by the middlemen, and Ethanol ends up being sold to the public. No individual can grow enough corn to make the production of Ethanol for himself feasible. To be honest, Corn Ethanol itself isn’t feasible, but if you want Iowans to vote for you, you’d better support Corn Ethanol. They can’t grow sugarcane in Iowa. If they could, Sugarcane Ethanol would make sense. But the Ethanol Profiteers are protected.
That brings us to Solar Energy. We need companies to manufacture the Solar Cells; we need tradesmen to install them on your roof. But after the initial layout of money, no it isn’t an insignificant amount, the Profit stops. Not only can’t you continue to gain residual profits, the Electric Company has to start paying you, which increases their product but decreases their income. Electricity itself will, in time, cease to be a CASH COW!
That’s the difference between Solar Energy and the alternatives listed above.
Solar Energy is therefore not something that Capitalists will be in love with unless they can figure out a way to make the Solar Cells become ineffectual or stylistically obsolete like automobiles within a few years. Not much chance of that!
You and I look for methods to produce Energy, which will be cheap and renewable FIRST. Capitalists look for Alternative Energy Sources, which will be Residually Profitable FIRST! That’s why they killed the Electric Car! How much profit is there in a Rechargeable Battery!
7/3/08 Update
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0807/03/ldt.01.html
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SYLVESTER: The popular tourist region of Big Sur, California is nearly evacuated tonight as a massive wildfire continues to spread. The fire is burning in the hillside along the Big Sur Coast. So far, it has burned nearly 65,000 acres in the Los Padres National Forest.
The Big Sur blaze is one of 600 active fires. Most of those fires were started by lightning two weeks ago. At least 17 homes have been destroyed.
A major shift on energy policy. Solar power advocates today cheering a reversal by the Bush administration. The Bureau of Land Management this week changed a policy that halted solar energy projects on federal land.
Bill Tucker has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BILL TUCKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A weak economy, soaring gas prices and urgent calls for energy independence have worked their magic on Washington. That along with public outcry and old-fashioned political muscle; they all combined to create a change of mind and police at the Bureau of Land Management.
BLM had frozen all solar projects on federal lands to allow for a two-year environmental impact survey. Late Wednesday, the BLM director issued this statement -- We heard the concerns and we are taking action. By continuing to accept and process applications for solar energy projects, we will aggressively help meet growing interest in renewable energy."
Senate Majority Leader Senator Harry Reid of Nevada spoke out against the freeze while on a tour of the solar manufacturing plant on Monday. Congressman Mark Udall of Colorado also voiced objections.
Now BLM welcomes more project applications. The solar industry, understandably is happy with BLM's reversal of its policy.
FRED MORSE, AMENGOA SOLAR: I think that BLM is trying to do the right thing. Land is essential. So it's extremely important that federal lands be made available because they are in many cases the ideal locations for these large, clean, carbon-free power plants.
TUCKER: BLM currently has roughly 125 projects under consideration which potentially could provide power to 20,000,000 homes. What the bureau lacks now, in the opinion of the industry is the manpower needed to process the applications quickly enough.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TUCKER: One other item on solar's wish list is the extension of the federal solar investment tax credit. That tax credit expires at the end of the year. And the industry says it needs the credits in order to attract investment, Lisa, and to help develop the technology in bringing the cost of generation down.
SYLVESTER: Bill, why does it seem that we -- it seems like we're seeing this reluctance to really push for renewable energy. What's going on?
TUCKER: Incredible as it seems, the tax law and the tax incentives still favor the oil industry. This is the first time that I can recall a policy being made and then changed so quickly in Washington, D.C. And I don't think they anticipated the outcry the people generated when they said you can't develop solar power.
SYLVESTER: $4.10 a gallon for gasoline will do that.
TUCKER: Will change a lot of things.
SYLVESTER: All right thanks for that great report.
Now, solar power today accounts for only a fraction of one percent of all of the electricity generated in the United States. The three primary fuels: coal, natural gas, and nuclear according to the Energy Department coal provides 49 percent of our electrical power; natural gas 20 percent; nuclear power 19 percent and hydroelectric only 7 percent.
Other renewables and miscellaneous energy sources such as wind power make up most of the remaining 5 percent of the country's power production.
State workers in Utah will begin working a four-day work week next month in an attempt to conserve fuel and cut commuting costs. Utah now joins Birmingham, Alabama and many other communities across the country in cutting the work week. Birmingham City workers began their four-day work week on Monday.
The problem, as perceived by Neocon Capitalists, is not the Solar Energy Projects on Federal Land. After all Solar Power accounts to only a fraction of 1% of all electricity generated in USA. But publicity, even bad publicity, could spur homeowners to add solar panels to their domiciles, which would be counterproductive for all Capitalist organizations, relying on Residual Profits.
Tabacco does not recommend Solar Panels in 2008 because they are highly inefficient, 15-25% efficiency, whereas NASA’s Solar Panels are somewhere near 70+% efficient. Unfortunately they are cost-prohibitive at this time. I recommend homeowners wait until the NASA-type Solar Panels are available at reasonable cost. If you buy them now, you may have to buy the better ones in 5-10 years, which would subvert your savings goal!
Even if homeowners start investing in home Solar Panels now, the electricity business could become as unprofitable, as public water is, to electric companies and their investors. So on all counts, it wasn’t worth the potential loss of profits, in view of all the publicity generated by Bush’s initial 2-year freeze. After all, the best Excuse they could come up with was an “Environmental Impact Study”.
Sometimes it’s best to “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie” or “Cut Your Losses”! Now if only they could blame Solar Panels on Osama or Saddam!
Tabacco: I consider myself both a funnel and a filter. I funnel information, not readily available on the Mass Media, which is ignored and/or suppressed. I filter out the irrelevancies and trivialities to save both the time and effort of my Readers and bring consternation to the enemies of Truth & Fairness! When you read Tabacco, if you don’t learn something NEW, I’ve wasted your time.
In 1981's 'Body Heat', Kathleen Turner said, "Knowledge is power".
T.A.B.A.C.C.O. (Truth About Business And Congressional Crimes Organization) – Think Tank For Other 95% Of World
