Is Cap and Trade worth it?

I will concede that reducing CO2 emissions is a laudable goal. While most scientists do agree that CO2 emissions have an impact, there is still disagreement on the extent of that impact. Remember all that panic over Y2K? You really didn't what was going to happen until it happened. On January 1, 2000, most of us either breathed a sigh of relief or said "I told you so!" And there were some that were disappointed that the world didn't come to an end. There were some minor problems associated with Y2K, but it wasn't as devastating as many had feared.

Like a millennium prophet, Al Gore will have the privilege of getting to see first hand if he is right. Because CO2 levels will go up, and it is beyond the power of Congress to stop it. If it costs too much for a company to emit CO2 in the US, they will simply move elsewhere. As China, India, and other countries start to develop, there will be a massive increase in CO2.

If the worst case predictions are correct, then it won't matter what we do since we're all doomed anyway. On the other hand, if conservative talk show hosts are right, then we have nothing to worry about. But for the sake of argument, let's assume that the truth is somewhere in between. Even without human activity, the climate still changes from year to year, century to century, and eon to eon.

So here are my predictions:
1. Congress will either repeal "Cap and Trade" or grant exemptions to "vital" industries.
2. The climate will change, and we will adapt.
I feel rather confident about the second prediction, since there won't be anyone around to tell me that I was wrong.

What should the government do then? Everyone, including the government, should look into ways to reduce consumption of resources. Maybe I should start riding a bike to work, and maybe some wasteful government programs should be cut.

What I spent on Gas

To All,

Since 2003 I've recorded what I've spent on gas and driving. 2003 & 2004 were incomplete. 2005 got better as did 2006. 2007 was almost 100% along w/ 2008.

I just thought I'd share a little w/ you.

In 2007 I drove 12,595 miles and spent $1,615.05 on 559.468 gallons of fuel. This was in my 2002 Focus and I used premium fuel from mid August to the end of the year. I did this to see whether the use of premium fuel would significantly improve my vehicles mileage.

My Focus was destroyed in my Christmas Eve accident.

My new car is a safer 2002 Volvo S80.

In 2008 I drove 15,297 miles and spent $2,395.12 on 707.452 gallons of fuel. My Volvo requires premium so that would equate to about $100 over the Focus.

Fuel efficiency is almost the same. My Focus averaged 22.65 MPG and my Volvo averaged 22.12 MPG.

The cheapest gas I bought in 2007 was $1.88 on Jan 18th and the cheapest gas I bought in 2008 was $1.54 on Dec 27th.

Just sad to see where fuel prices have gone.

Doug

F6 FWD: HOW MANY WAYS CAN WE GO GREEN IN '09

EDITOR: This is an excerpted forward from my original post on my personal blog F6 for your perusal. You may read the information in full context by clicking on the above previous link.

1. Commit to using less power by switching to CFL or LED lighting. They are going the way of the dinosaur and the 8 track cassette tape, oblivion in 2011. The Enviromental Working Group released the results of their study into the best, least toxic, long lasting CFL bulbs on the market. Listing in the top seven were: Earthmate, Litetronics, Sylvania, Feit, MaxLite and Philips. (Photo: Towle Road)

2. Claim your tax credits for 2009 by making your home more efficent now. One of the things accomplished by the Wall Street Bailout was the restoration of the home energy efficency tax credits that had expired in 2007. For more information and a detailed list of tax credits, visit the US Government's ENERGY STAR website.

3. Attend workshops at Allen Co. Public Library to learn how to make your home energy efficient. The Indiana Office of Energy Development (OED) is hosting monthly workshops on different areas that affect Hoosier Homeowners. There are two remaining courses Basic Photo Voltaics on the 4th of February and Introduction to Residential Wind on the 17th of March this quarter. To register for the free OED workshops contact: Chris Dorman (info is @ bottom of page), as space is limited. Once you register, more detailed information will be sent to you.

4. Watch the Docu Drama LIQUID ASSETS when it rebroadcast in February on PBS 39. "Liquid Assets" tells the story of essential utility systems: drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater. These complex and aging systems-some in the ground for more than 100 years-are critical for basic sanitation, public safety, economic development, and a host of other necessities of life. The documentary highlights communities from across the United States, providing an understanding of hidden water infrastructure assets, demonstrating watershed protection approaches, and illustrating twenty-first century solutions. On the 28th of January Fort Wayne City Utilities is hosting a screening and discussion at the Allen Co. Public Library.

5. Get a little dirty for clean rivers and water. Participate in Save Maumee and other organizations river clean up projects. For now the fourth year in a row, Abi and Ryan Bailey are planning putting together Save Maumee's Earth Day Project this year it will take place on Divine Mercy Sunday, the 19th of April, 2009 from 11A-4P.

6. Insist that the City uses pedal power for all concerts and events Downtown. We have all heard of Rock The Vote initiatives since the early nineties to get people out to exercise their civil duties and participate in the political process. Do you want to see something really cool and a way to literally return the power to the people? Then check out Rock The Bike and these soon possibilities of people generated power supplies coming to a concert venue near you.

SoyLent Green, Here We Come! This is just the beginning of the list to find out the last three and view more detailed information and analysis check out this post on F6 at your leisure.

Finally all the hot air coming from Washington D. C. can power your car

Opportunity to make the City beautiful begins again on 4/20

Please Note: Before I begin this post I need to reveal to all of our readers that I also serve on the Board of Heartland Communities which is the fiscal agent for and is partnered with Save Maumee.

We have a strong effort to clean and rehab the rivers.

THIRD ANNUAL EARTH DAY CLEAN UP SERVICE PROJECT
SUNDAY APRIL 20, 2008 NOON - 6PM

Please Join Save Maumee Grassroots Organization on Earth Day to celebrate the cleansing of the riverbanks. Our goal is to pick up ALL trash between mile marker one and two, reseed and pole plant the riparian area on the riverbanks and rally the community's awareness about our three rivers' condition in Ft. Wayne. Visit www.savemaumee.org to check out our website to see past projects and information.

Educational Info, Old Crown Coffee and Health Food Shoppe snacks will be provided all we need is you! We will be located on the N. Anthony Blvd. bridge over the Maumee River area. (Hosy Dam) Directly on Niagara Drive. You won't be able to miss it! Participation will be fun and easy for everyone! Our rivers need OUR help!

Donations are appreciated but not expected. All donations will go directly to community service projects like this one. We are establishing projects to clean up the Maumee River. These self-supported community projects will raise awareness about the unsanitary conditions and begin the slow process of reversing years of pollution. River Restoration is a necessity, NOT a luxury. U.S. citizens depend on the services that healthy streams and rivers provide! Please invest in Natural Capital!

To help, bring what you can:
+ All children, family, friends
(adult accompaniment for persons younger then 18 years old)
+ Garbage bags
+ Muddin' shoes/boots
+ Rumble Clothing
+ Gloves
+ Your able body (if you don' have anything on the list, Save Maumee will provide these things until supplies are gone!)

Abigail Frost
Founder
Save Maumee Grassroots Organization
www.savemaumee.org



Click here for the map and past riparian accomplishments

Note from Fr. Fozy part duex
This is a great opportunity for High School and College Students and members of Scouting Organizations to get some of your Community Service or Environmental Stewardship Credits/Merits taken care of also. Make sure to check with your Troop/Pack Leaders, Resident Assistants, and Fraternity/Sorority Outreach Chairs or Presidents, and Guidance Counselors, to verify and provide accountability!!

For more info about Heartland Communities, Inc.:

Heartland Communities is a Nonprofit based in Fort Wayne, Indiana that works in sustainability in the environment and community. Within our Federal designation we create, develop, and umbrella other Nonprofits or Cooperatives that work with in those guidelines. Many of our programs and projects can be made within sustainability in the environment and community. We want to create and live in a new paradigm. We collectively envision a new way of operating in our work life and community life that expresses our deepest values. The Organizational Cornerstones and By-Laws are about cooperation and sustainable living. The founders intended to work toward an intentional community / eco village, and to practice right livelihood. Just about any project that promotes sustainability in any way could be done under the auspices of the organization. It is set up to spin off other for-profit and non-profit ventures that are worker-owned.