Thursday, 17 July 2008
Beshear Gets B On Energy Policy
« Congressional Money Game | Main | Scorsone Out Of Senate »Beshear released his energy policy today and it was surprisingly good. I have probably been one of the sharpest critics of this administration, but when he gets something right I want to congratulate him on it.
His plan proposes the following:
- More mountain top removal for coal mining. A practice that has made it possible to repopulate elk in Kentucky
- Look at nuclear energy. This is an excellent and clean source for future energy needs of the state.
- Reduce carbon emissions from electricity generation. Nothing wrong with that as long as the regulations aren't draconian
- Generate biodiesel from algae production and other non-food biomass. I don't have a problem with this since it isn't raping our crops. I am dubious about the sustainability of it in the free market.
- More fully use wind, solar and other renewable energy resources. The reason he didn't get an A is his insistence on using "renewable" energy resources. These are a joke. Solar power has never proven to be useful for energy needs on any scale. Wind power is the bigger joke. Since wind doesn't blow 100% of the time, it can't be used to completely power a grid. It has to be backed up by traditional energy sources at 90% of the power wind uses. The benefits from wind are minimal and the eye sore factor is high.
Overall it is a good plan. I hope he actually moves forward on these initiatives.
Posted by at 10:01 PM in Kentucky Politics
