Energy Charade

Can't resist commenting on W.'s energy conservation comments because of the policy direction that it reveals. Bush wants to make electricity and heat. This would be because Electric utilities are usually 25% efficient. (You guessed it, the other 75% is lost as heat. ) Did I mention that this would be the same as turning one barrel of oil into 1/4 barrel of oil. Magic! When W. talks about using this heat, it will all sound logical (sound bytes). The fly in the ointment is that W. wants to maintain the same centralized distribution system which is the real problem. "Centralized Collection Of Money" is the reality here. This system works like arcade video games for the very, very rich. The money flows, especially when the spigots are squeezed.

Let's propose Fagan's Alternative. New industry making electric generating units for individual homes, that use the exhaust heat to make hot water (potable or baseboard) for the home. Millions of small generating units for millions of homes. Eliminates the high loss of transmission lines, and would probably increase the value of the home in which it is installed. Then sell millions of these worldwide because if it works here it works everywhere.

The Electrical Discos(electrical utilities that have no generating capacity, just buy and sell excess kwh's) might not like this, but the Californians will. Did I mention that Nuclear plants hook to the central distribution lines. Think about that nuke as a big arcade game collecting coins for the owner that can afford it. Who would you commission to build one? Would this make big money for construction companies with poliltical clout (Bechtel, for example)? This country cut it's energy use 30% under the guidance of Jimmy Carter. We can do it again. The Republicans just hate to admit that Jimmy Carter was right. That energy savings that Reagan/Bush inherited is the only thing that kept voodoo ecomomics from bankrupting this country. On the other hand, it's about paper money and money by fiat.