PURPA is the way a politician says Tequila

I have to have a sense of humor about trying to play any kind of politics because like many before me I am not the cleanest person around. I've left a trail of secrets behind me so that if anyone who wants to can deny any argument I put forward just by issuing a judgment about the one night I got drunk at a party and ralphed in my buddy's bathroom. Word of warning. Avoid Tequila at all costs. Do not drink an entire bottle.

You begin to realize very quickly that even if you believe in redemption you are still the person you were before any sort of transformation took place. The reek of it remains long after the cleanup as it were.

Those partying days are behind me now you'll be happy to know. Going forward, the bright energy future is on the horizon. Together we will someday raise a clear glass of 'imported' spring water or tailpipe emissions to our mutual triumph... (I'll have wine with my cheese, thanks). Or will we?

Technically, the climate seems right to squeeze more efficiency out of photovoltaic panels than ever before. Designs hitting the market can now be built with 25 per cent efficiency with roughly 35 per cent uptime. And in wind turbines bearingless designs can peak out at 40 per cent efficiency with similar uptime. But the political climate, particularly in the US, took a turn in 2001 when the Bush administration killed one of former President Jimmy Carter's last remaining Energy policy amendments dating back to 1978.

PURPA Refrom Group Applauds 2001 Decision

According to one source Carter's energy policies were estimated to have cost an extra $8 Billion per year in the United States. What would be interesting to find out is if anyone knows whether energy costs were $8 Billion less following the 2001 repeal of the PURPA amendment?

Scientists Express Concern Over PURPA Void

"Technically, PURPA only calls for renewable energy if it is cost competitive with conventional polluting resources. Many of the benefits of renewables are not included in the price, such as clean air, but PURPA makes no provision for including these. By strictly interpreting the law, FERC has expressly forbidden non-price factors in PURPA decisions."

Politically, these scientists, who guys eat, breath and sleep study are like the unredeemed who everybody remembers had too much to drink at the party and fell down in a pool of their own vomit.

Nobody really knows what scientists are saying, nor do the people who do listen have much time to figure out the message. All a scientist is really good for is to make chemicals and derive killer products to pollute the environment for his or her 15 per cent per annum wage increase. My vision of the scientist is of the person who is always amiable but somewhat bumbling. She can never find her purse and doesn't know anything about money. But she knows where to find a great party and she can screw the little plastic top off the Tequila bottle no matter how tight it is.

I hope you don't share this stereotype.

-- in no way do I endorse my own opinion --