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Related: About this forumMitch McConnell admits we have to pick between “brownouts” and coal dependency
http://smirkingchimp.com/thread/gaius-publius/56245/mitch-mcconnell-admits-we-have-to-pick-between-brownouts-and-coal-dependencyMitch McConnell admits we have to pick between brownouts and coal dependency
by Gaius Publius | June 5, 2014 - 8:34am
Its interesting to see the coal & carbon politicians and Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell is deeply carbon-centric admit that were past the point of a smooth transition to a non-fossil (non-carbon) energy economy.
In this, McConnell is echoing a point Ive been making lately, that the only path to effective decarbonation includes some form of temporary energy rationing.
~snip~
EPA: Sources of Carbon Emissions
McConnell: Were burning coal cleaner and cleaner and cleaner. Theres really a war on fossil fuel across the board by these guys. And its important to also recognize that 40% of our electricity in America comes from coal-fired generation, 90% in Kentucky. They have no plans to replace it [coal-generated energy].
Were looking at potential brown outs in the not too distant future if they continue down this path. So we all want a cleaner environment. I think America has made incredible strides toward a cleaner environment in a variety of different ways over the years. But this is an economic disaster for us and a power supply disaster for a lot of the rest of the country.
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Mitch McConnell admits we have to pick between “brownouts” and coal dependency (Original Post)
unhappycamper
Jun 2014
OP
Turbineguy
(37,412 posts)1. How about we elect Democrats?
That might help.
Blue Owl
(50,567 posts)2. Brownouts: So much GOP bullshit thrown at you that you're momentarily blinded
At least that's the definition I'd go with...
Nihil
(13,508 posts)4. That's certainly the most relevent definition to the subject of this thread! (n/t)
bananas
(27,509 posts)3. This BS is debunked at the original blog.
At the bottom of the article it said it was originally posted elsewhere, so I followed the link and was pleasantly surprised to read some of the comments:
http://americablog.com/2014/05/mitch-mcconnell-admits-pick-brownouts-coal-dependency.html#comment-1411605846
pvequalkt 9 days ago
I am disappointed in GP here.
mitchie mcturtle is admitting nothing here. he is, as noted below, THREATENING us with brownouts.
And GP, in conceding mcturtle's false point, falls into the same trap.
We (as in humanity) are doomed... TRULY... if we accept the premise, as GP does here, that we're stuck with the status quo... because we accept the corporate postulate that government SHALL PLAY NO ROLE WHATSOEVER in moving us/US off of burning and toward renewables.
If this were some new wonder weapon to kill BILLIONS of our enemies, we'd throw another Manhattan Project (times 1000) at it and spend whatever it took.
But this is energy... and we are all inculcated post-hypnotically with the corporate fomented premise that government cannot and should not have any part in converting away from the obscenely profitable extraction and burning industries.
<snip>
pvequalkt 9 days ago
I am disappointed in GP here.
mitchie mcturtle is admitting nothing here. he is, as noted below, THREATENING us with brownouts.
And GP, in conceding mcturtle's false point, falls into the same trap.
We (as in humanity) are doomed... TRULY... if we accept the premise, as GP does here, that we're stuck with the status quo... because we accept the corporate postulate that government SHALL PLAY NO ROLE WHATSOEVER in moving us/US off of burning and toward renewables.
If this were some new wonder weapon to kill BILLIONS of our enemies, we'd throw another Manhattan Project (times 1000) at it and spend whatever it took.
But this is energy... and we are all inculcated post-hypnotically with the corporate fomented premise that government cannot and should not have any part in converting away from the obscenely profitable extraction and burning industries.
<snip>
http://americablog.com/2014/05/mitch-mcconnell-admits-pick-brownouts-coal-dependency.html#comment-1407416704
emjayay 11 days ago
That headline is terrible. McConnell isn't admitting to anything. He's threatening people with it, based on a bunch of lies. And by the way Mitch, if coal is being burnt cleaner now, why exactly is that? Oh that's right THE EPA. And cleaner is still horribly dirty, and still produces more carbon than natural gas. Or you know, wind and solar and hydro.
emjayay 11 days ago
That headline is terrible. McConnell isn't admitting to anything. He's threatening people with it, based on a bunch of lies. And by the way Mitch, if coal is being burnt cleaner now, why exactly is that? Oh that's right THE EPA. And cleaner is still horribly dirty, and still produces more carbon than natural gas. Or you know, wind and solar and hydro.
http://americablog.com/2014/05/mitch-mcconnell-admits-pick-brownouts-coal-dependency.html#comment-1406714251
GarySFBCN 12 days ago
Bullshit. California's per capita electricity use has not increased since 1970, and our per capita electricity consumption is the lowest in the nation. Kentucky's is almost 4 times of what each of us uses in California. Why? Because we work at being green.
The idea that we need brownouts is ridiculous.
http://energyalmanac.ca.gov/electricity/us_per_capita_electricity-2010.html
http://www.nrdc.org/energy/files/ca-success-story-FS.pdf
GarySFBCN 12 days ago
Bullshit. California's per capita electricity use has not increased since 1970, and our per capita electricity consumption is the lowest in the nation. Kentucky's is almost 4 times of what each of us uses in California. Why? Because we work at being green.
The idea that we need brownouts is ridiculous.
http://energyalmanac.ca.gov/electricity/us_per_capita_electricity-2010.html
http://www.nrdc.org/energy/files/ca-success-story-FS.pdf
http://americablog.com/2014/05/mitch-mcconnell-admits-pick-brownouts-coal-dependency.html#comment-1406792988
GarySFBCN 12 days ago
GP, just in case, my 'bullshit' remark was directed to McConnell, not you.
Also see below that California's energy which is coal-based is 7.5% of the total. Almost 60% comes from natural gas and renewables. And these statistics do not include the latest figures from two solar facilities that recently opened, one being the largest in the world.
And it isn't just power generation. We've been pretty strict about Energy Star (lower energy use) compliant products. Everything is rated and discounts are often available for choosing a green product. Even with cars - hybrids and electric vehicles are often permitted to drive in car-pool lanes even if there is only one occupant.
In 2012, Apple decided that they were no longer going to comply with green standards (EPEAT). They were scolded that the University of California and other state schools would no longer purchase Apple products because of this. The city of San Francisco froze all pending purchases of Apple products. Apple acquiesced, which is amazing, considering how much political and economic power Apple has.
We may not do everything right here in California but somethings we do really well, and this is one of them. Now if we can convince our governor that fracking is bad...
http://energyalmanac.ca.gov/electricity/total_system_power.html
http://www.cultofmac.com/178892/apple-admits-they-were-wrong-to-abandon-epeat-environmental-standard/
GarySFBCN 12 days ago
GP, just in case, my 'bullshit' remark was directed to McConnell, not you.
Also see below that California's energy which is coal-based is 7.5% of the total. Almost 60% comes from natural gas and renewables. And these statistics do not include the latest figures from two solar facilities that recently opened, one being the largest in the world.
And it isn't just power generation. We've been pretty strict about Energy Star (lower energy use) compliant products. Everything is rated and discounts are often available for choosing a green product. Even with cars - hybrids and electric vehicles are often permitted to drive in car-pool lanes even if there is only one occupant.
In 2012, Apple decided that they were no longer going to comply with green standards (EPEAT). They were scolded that the University of California and other state schools would no longer purchase Apple products because of this. The city of San Francisco froze all pending purchases of Apple products. Apple acquiesced, which is amazing, considering how much political and economic power Apple has.
We may not do everything right here in California but somethings we do really well, and this is one of them. Now if we can convince our governor that fracking is bad...
http://energyalmanac.ca.gov/electricity/total_system_power.html
http://www.cultofmac.com/178892/apple-admits-they-were-wrong-to-abandon-epeat-environmental-standard/
http://americablog.com/2014/05/mitch-mcconnell-admits-pick-brownouts-coal-dependency.html#comment-1406698231
Silver_Witch 12 days ago
The problem with your argument Gaius is that the rationing will only apply to the poor and the middle-class. The wealthy will "buy" their energy at any cost and the government will not stop corporations that need the energy to keep the "job creators" going.
<snip>
Silver_Witch 12 days ago
The problem with your argument Gaius is that the rationing will only apply to the poor and the middle-class. The wealthy will "buy" their energy at any cost and the government will not stop corporations that need the energy to keep the "job creators" going.
<snip>
http://americablog.com/2014/05/mitch-mcconnell-admits-pick-brownouts-coal-dependency.html#comment-1407037533
Houndentenor 12 days ago
Back in (sorry I can't forget what year it was...1999?) NYC decided to cut off Washington Heights and Inwood so they could continue to power midtown and Wall Street. No one up there "matters" anyway so they went without power (for about a week during a horrible heat wave).
<snip>
Houndentenor 12 days ago
Back in (sorry I can't forget what year it was...1999?) NYC decided to cut off Washington Heights and Inwood so they could continue to power midtown and Wall Street. No one up there "matters" anyway so they went without power (for about a week during a horrible heat wave).
<snip>