Feinstein Wants to Take California TV Crackdown Nationwide

[The Straight Story]

Feinstein Wants to Take California TV Crackdown Nationwide


WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sen. Dianne Feinstein is encouraging the Obama administration to adopt new energy efficiency standards for televisions, similar to those just approved in her home state of California.

California's new TV regulations approved Wednesday will require all new televisions up to 58 inches to be more efficient, beginning in 2011.

Feinstein told Energy Secretary Steven Chu in a letter that Congress authorized his department to set energy standards for household appliances, but that the department has not done so for televisions. Energy consumption for appliances with energy standards has steadily declined over the past few decades, while the energy consumed by televisions has risen, especially in recent years.

The Democratic senator said increasing the efficiency of televisions would be one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce energy consumption.

http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=70607&catid=2

[dana_b]

1. good bye plasma screen tvs!!

most plasma screens are inefficient so until the industry catches up with the new standards, LCDs will become more popular here in California, at least.

[Tesha]

8. No, it just means all plasma sets will be 59" and bigger.

So even more outrageous energy hogs than they are today. ;(

Tesha

[Richard D]

2. Yes, well . . .

About those cars and trucks . . .

[anonymous171]

3. I really don't like her. nt

[slackmaster]

4. Nationwide is where such a policy MUST be implemented if it is to have any effect at all

One state unilaterally imposing energy restrictions will simply result in people who want the disqualified models buying them in other states.

[dana_b]

7. I agree

however I was listening to the local news about this the other day (I live near San Francisco) and they were saying "as California goes, so goes the Nation" and I thought "my - aren't we full of ourselves!".

[Johonny]

19. It didn't work that way for cars

California came out with tougher emission standards and then placed fees to make it tougher to buy them out of state and then register them in California. The result was emission standards of cars got better. Now a TV is harder to do this with than a car, but the California market is huge and if a few large market states follow... well so then will go the industry.

[slackmaster]

27. It's a whole lot easier to enforce state fees and restrictions on cars than it would be on TVs

You have to register a car in order to drive it on public roads. They're fully traceable.

TV sets, not so much.

...the California market is huge...

Yes, something like $3 billion per year. That translates to potential loss of a whole lot of sales tax revenue if even a small fraction of sales are diverted to other states.

[MidwestRick]

5. I sure am glad I didn't vote for her

...oh wait, that's right, I don't live in California. Wish she would stop trying to push this on other states. Not that I own a big screen, but that shouldn't mean they should be taken away from those who do.

As another poster mentioned...why isn't she pushing the CA emmissions standards on the rest of the country?

[anonymous171]

9. Because that would offend her corporate masters?

:shrug:

[OffWithTheirHeads]

6. I've got a better idea. Turn the fucking things off!

Nothing but mindless drivel.

[Arctic Dave]

23. Couldn't agree more.

[krabigirl]

29. +100

[Codeine]

10. I just love DU!

You're all so environmentally correct until you actually have to make some kind of minor sacrifice. Jesus. Imagine the horror of not having a plasma TV. A world where people starve and you're bitching because you'll have to buy LCD instead.

Ye gods. :eyes:

[anonymous171]

11. A world where people starve and Diane Feinstein is worried about Plasma TVs.

Ye gods indeed.

[The Straight Story]

12. Actually I think it is about being for choice, not having the govt limit choice

but then some are all for less choice in life, I usually refer to them as rw fundie moralists who want to impose their ideals/beliefs on others through force of law.

[Codeine]

13. And Libertarian Underground chimes in. nt

[The Straight Story]

14. And someone chimes in with a label and no other argument. Is being pro-choice libertarian? (nt)

[Codeine]

15. Will you be arguing against

automobile emission standards next? Laws that prevent you from pouring your used oil in the gutter?

Good grief, all this is about is energy efficiency.

[Gormy Cuss]

30. Federal energy standards challenge manufacturers to produce more efficient products.

Without that incentive manufacturers are more inclined to make choices based on reducing their own cost to maximize profitability without regard to energy efficiency. That's the kind of choice you're advocating.

It's an appliance, not a moral choice.

[dana_b]

16. I don't think most people on this thread

said they were sorry about this. It just seems odd that this is what she is choosing to focus on when there is sooo much more going on. Whatever though. I'm happy with my 1992 old Zenith.

[SoCalDem]

25. oops.. we're behind the times.. I watch on my 13" tv on my desk

We are still watching tvs that are O L D.. One RCA was bought in 1993..just gave it to my friend when hers pooped out.. none of our tvs are newer than 8 yrs old..

Our first color tv was in 1975:)

[MidwestRick]

26. It's easy for those who

do not have to "sacrifice" as you put it, to tell other who do to get over it.

[Codeine]

28. When your "sacrifice" is the difference

between a flatscreen plasma and a flatscreen LCD then yes, you need to get over it.

[TransitJohn]

17. That'll make a hell of an economic stimulus.

Not quite as big as a personal health insurance mandate, but still.

[wuushew]

18. I support greater energy efficiency standards

the free market has shown time and time again that fails in all things environmental related.

These standards are actually quite modest and many tv manufacturers are already capable of meeting them.

[mitchtv]

20. +1

they said on tv last nite that it can save enough electricity to power all the homes in Oakland and Anaheim.

[Codeine]

22. But choice, man -- CHOICE!

People have the god-given Constitutional right to a plasma teevee and if you argue against that you're anti-choice! :sarcasm:

[mitchtv]

24. gotta rush

My Hummer is waiting

[marmar]

21. This is the same DiFi who wants to open the door to privatizing social security....

..... and has dithered on health care.

She has a credibility problem.