The CBS news show “60 Minutes” sports a history of hatchet-jobs that goes back almost half a century. They’re phenomenally good at selecting a certain conclusion and then supporting it with misleading reporting, trick camera-work, and quotes taken out of context.
Post grad work in the field of cleantech education has widened in the past few years. While still a niche program, universities are catching on to the importance and need for higher education within the field. Currently, according to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, many institutions are making
Vote Solar recently intervened in a proceeding (pdf) on electric vehicles (EVs) at the California Public Utilities Commission.
Why EVs and why are we — a solar organization — so excited about this effort?
Couple of reasons. The first has to do with the grid-integration of renewables. EVs represent
On December 30th, the Environmental Protection Agency took final action amending the “All Appropriate Inquiries Rule” to now reference ASTM International’s E1527-13 “Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process.”
In the guidance that accompanied the new
Compost is a popular way to dispose of household organic waste, at least during the summer. Composting your household waste helps to speed up the natural process of its decay through the growth of aerobic bacteria. These aerobic bacteria eat away within your compost, and while doing so the bacteria become a type of natural heating force within the
Solar energy is powering so much of our daily lives, so why can’t it help power your car too? Before you get your hopes up, this is not a solar powered car similar to what engineers the world over compete each year in the World Solar Challenge with vehicles powered exclusively by the sun. This is a breakthrough nonetheless. Ford, SunPower, and
New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan (EMP), last revised in 2011, sets out the Garden State’s strategic vision for the use, management, and development of energy in our state over the next decade.
The EMP puts an emphasis on keeping energy costs down and continues to promote clean, alternative energy production and preparing for a challenging
Here’s a good article that discusses a few different vicious cycles in which the investor-owned utilities (IOUs) find themselves. As more people install solar (or whatever) on their properties, the infrastructure by which power is generated, transmitted, and distributed must be amortized over a smaller base,
President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2014 in Honolulu last Thursday and while most observers noted that the bill cracks down on sexual assaults in the military and eases restrictions on transferring detainees from Guantanamo Bay, the bill also is a huge win for the U.S. Green Building
Companies have long engaged in risk assessment and mitigation as a core business practice. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in its 2012 report “Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation” observes that heavy precipitation, heat waves, and droughts have increased over the last
In a recent Op-Ed in the New York Times, Professor Michael Webber of the University of Texas addresses the very real problem of financial shortfall to the Highway Trust Fund, which is funded by the federal gas tax. Federal level gas taxes have not changed since 1993. As cars become more fuel efficient, we go to the gas station less, and thus we pay less in gas taxes. As a result, we have a decline in the conditions of many of our roads, bridges, and highways.
Professor Webber suggests that an increase in the gas tax may be politically untenable. He may be right, though faced with objective reality, politicians may eventually agree to an increase in gas taxes. This is because driving on poor roads, bridges, and highways creates an inherent tax on you and me as the driver. This inherent tax comes by way of increased wear and tear on our cars, which means more time and money spent at the mechanic. Either way, we’re paying for it already.
The solution, according to Professor Webber is a “ton mile” fee based on how far cars travel and how heavy they are. He suggests that this fee could be assessed during an annual sticker renewal or inspection that is conducted at the state level. While Professor Webber’s proposal adequately addresses the issue of the user pays principle, the reality in implementing such a proposal at the state level would be complex and create a potential administrative nightmare, thus violating one of the key tenets of good tax policy.
The reality is that every state has different laws governing inspections. Some states may require inspections for all vehicles every year, while many states grant exemptions for new vehicles. Some states also exempt vehicles that are 25 years and older. Implementation of Professor Webber’s proposal would create an administrative nightmare from a state perspective, but also require some level of self-reporting by those who are exempted. More paperwork in this day in age is not a good thing.
Professor Webber also fails to mention that the trucking industry already pays a user fee in the form of a heavy vehicle use tax, which was largely designed to compensate for the effect of heavy vehicles on roads, bridges, and highways. Under Professor Webber’s proposal, would the trucking industry be exempt from the “ton mile” fee?
The “ton mile” fee is a good idea. Implementation, especially at the consumer level as proposed by Professor Webber would be complex and create an administrative burden. Perhaps, a good solution would be to have a “ton mile” fee collected each time we renew our annual auto insurance policy. What do you think Professor Webber?
Can you handle a little good news? This article just in from a frequent commenter: It appears that nuclear reactors based on thorium (vs. uranium) may be closer than we think. There is very little not to like about thorium: it’s far safer operationally, and it’s not capable of being turned into weapons – thus any progress is good.
And check this out: the U.S. Oak Ridge National Lab is teaming up with the Chinese government to make this happen. That’s really good. As I always say, any energy solution that doesn’t get China out of the coal-fired power plant business isn’t really a solution at all. And it sure is good to see international cooperation from two parties that are potential adversaries.
Tonight, I urge you to find someone you like, and offer a toast to a saner, cleaner, safer world.