Jul 23, 2010

Energy Bill - FAIL

Boing2 A lot like the Holy Roman Empire, in a way. Word came out today on what's going to be in the final Senate Energy Bill. It's ... disappointing. Basically, just some BP/oil-spill targeted stuff, and funding for natural gas truck fleets, energy efficient homes, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. No, seriously. That's it. No cap and trade. No funding or policy aimed at actual energy generation.
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Nothing for energy infrastructure development and much-needed improvements. Nothin' for future tech. Nada about energy efficiency in commercial buildings, industry, engines, etc.

Boing2 - "Those in the House and Senate who were Serious about tackling the climate crisis chose to follow a path of deal making. And of course the Republicans and moderate Democrats followed the path Lucy does with Charlie Brown. Putting down the football then jerking it away when they tried to kick it. So concession after concession after concession won nothing, just as it has in other cases. At some point you would think someone would notice."

Related?
Gallup poll finds Confidence in Congress ranking dead last
 
Gallup’s 2010 Confidence in Institutions poll finds Congress ranking dead last out of the 16 institutions rated this year. 

Underscoring Congress’ image problem, half of Americans now say they have “very little” or “no” confidence in Congress, up from 38% in 2009 — and the highest for any institution since Gallup first asked this question in 1973.