June 11, 2008
Apollo Feedback
Hey Barack, John! How ‘Bout These Ideas?
Apollo nation suggests how to solve energy woes

The Apollo nation is informed about energy. That’s for sure. In response to our question last week, asking what people would do about energy if they were president, we received dozens of proposed fixes. Policy. Practice. Information. Advocacy. Common sense. And, of course, some useful URLs. Take a look.

Good Plan
The problem is a little big for succinct, but I'll try:

1. Bring home the troops from Iraq.

2. Terminate "no-bid" contracts and renationalize our military.

3. Rapidly take the personal and corporate tax structure back to Clinton years and phase out "corporate welfare."

4. Create a WPA-type program to rebuild and retrofit green our infrastructure, with training.

5. Create a CCC-type program to weatherize low/lower income homes and replant watershed-protecting vegetation.

6. Create a "green bond" or green venture capital program for building/retooling manufacturing plants to generate products with triple or better efficiency (over what we're using now), the parts for renewable energy generation facilities, and the renewable energy generation facilities themselves.

7. Create an "at the register" rebate program for purchasing energy efficient products.

8. Fully fund and re-empower the oversight people (EPA, etc) to do their jobs.
   As soon as the renewable energy facilities start coming online, decommission the fossil fuels users.

Barbara Fitzpatrick
Fayetteville, North Carolina

It’s All About Transportation
The first thing any president should do would be to consider a return to the speed limit reduction as we had in the 1970’s, during the oil crisis. Interstate speeds were reduced to 55 mph and they were enforced. Sixty mph might be more reasonable now, but from the research I have read, this is the maximum speed at which fuel economy is achieved. Higher speeds than that, such as the 70 mph we have along interstates in NC and other states, consumes a higher proportion of fuel for the difference in speed.

Another point to think about would be some way to encourage long-distance freight hauling be moved to railroads and less to trucking. I realize this a political “hot potato”, what with the Teamsters probably not supporting this. It is also complicated by the fact that locomotives contribute pollution as well. But the idea should be explored and changes made where possible. At the same time, more support for our railroads and less for the highway system should be encouraged. 
Ken Burleson
Lenoir, North Carolina

In New Mexico A Shift Backwards
I am enjoying the "new" Apollo Alliance emails. Gas here? $3.89. We have our own version of the renewed push to drill. There's a place called the Galisteo Basin - south of Santa Fe and northeast of Albuquerque, where local folks are battling to prevent the drilling of new wells in a virtually pristine area. They are hamstrung by ancient federal law, and poor county and state law, too. Same happening all around the state. Also, unbelievably, renewed efforts to dig and reopen uranium mines in the northeast part of the state, despite the fact that the Navajo nation outlawed it years ago. Typical: blue collar towns down on their luck think this looks like a godsend; environmentalists (and aging cancer victims from earlier mining) aghast at the immediate popularity of this crazy development.
Doug Richardson
National AFL-CIO staff, retired
Albuquerque

No It’s About Cars
If I were President I would create an energy strategy that would include the following:

1. Require all foreign and domestic automakers to comply with vehicle mileage averages of 35 mpg for all fleet vehicles by the year 2010.

2. Require automakers to produce 50 percent of their fleet vehicles to run on ethanol and be considered hybrid.

3. Create government subsidized manufacturing of ethanol to compete with oil companies to encourage new domestic land oil exploration.

4. Create government subsidized nuclear energy plants, ear marked for operation by the year 2010.

5. Increase industrial clean coal usage by replacing oil and natural gas.

Frank Anzalone
Hillman, Michigan  

Invent and Innovate
Congress should build a framework for the innovative energy-saving ideas that our creative inventors can produce. This framework should provide grants or subsidies for inventors to prove their ideas can work, and start-up money for green businesses to begin. The other part of the framework should enforce hefty fines for polluting companies to discourage the status quo, and encourage current businesses to buy into innovation and thus a move to green!
Ardeth Weed

Opposes Renewable Tax Credit
We in West Virginia are dealing with the windmill question and it is yielding some really interesting findings. The only reason the wind industry is coming to impact our mountains, our streams, and our culture is because of the tax credits the Apollo Alliance is supporting and lobbying the grassroots to support.

I am of the opinion that these tax credits should be focused toward decentralized power applications. Small energy units, which are remote yet grid-interconnected seem to make more sense from a disturbance, security, ecology and, from the point of the common person, economic perspective.

As it stands today, the tax credit policy guides wind power to the rural, and in West Virginia, the ridge top application. This is wrong. We should first start with turning off the lights and reducing our consumption. Then, if it becomes a national priority to watch 'dancing with the stars' or 'beauty and the nerd' we can start to discuss the application of tax credits to widespread wind farms. The consequence of the current policy is short sighted and impinges upon our ecosystems.
Gary Berti
Davis, West Virignia

Efficiency Programs That Work
You might want to consider adding 3 programs to your list for federal appropriations:

1. Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program, which helps poor people stay in their homes by improving the energy efficiency of those homes. The administration requested zero and the House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee put in $250 million.

2. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps poor people pay electricity, natural gas, heating oil and propane costs. Last week the House Labor, HHS Appropriations Subcommittee provided $2.7 billion for it.

3. State Energy Program; this is also in the Energy and Water Bill and is just funded at about $44 million to $50 million. An Oak Ridge study of a few years ago showed that for every federal dollar almost $11 non-federal dollars was invested and the energy savings -- in 2002 before the big price spike -- was on the order of $7.22 for every federal dollar invested.

I work with all three programs. State energy officials also strongly support the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant and the Green Jobs program.
Jeff Genzer
Washington, DC

Apollo On Right Orbit
I would establish energy systems policy and executive action based on the Alliance's immediate goals: Clean, renewable and economically sensible and beneficial energy programs. And two longer-term goals: Solutions to energy system contributions to the global climate change threat, and sustainable patterns of energy production and energy use.
John Lefevre
johnle@oz.net

Helpful Links
If I were president, I'd invest in the development of wave and tidal technology:

http://www.hydroreform.org/news/2008/02/26/tidal-wave-hydrokinetic-projects-on-the-move-in-the-pacific-northwest

Solar :http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/01/BUA1VTCJT.DTL)

Wind:http://ge.ecomagination.com/site/index.html?c_id=googwifeb5#wind

Nina Vought
Westminster College
Salt Lake City
Email: nvought@westminstercollege.edu

More Good Sites on Wind
I thought I'd send this bit of info to you regarding wind power in Oregon. You may already know of it, but here goes:

http://www.windpowermaps.org/pdf/ORwindpower50.pdf

http://www.greenjobs.com/Public/IndustryNews/inews02621.htm

http://www.vestas.com/

Nancy Rimmel
Portland, Oregon

CNN Links
I live in New Jersey and there is a series that has been airing on CNN with Steve Adubato called One on One dealing with the subject of living green. Here is the URL for information on the series: http://www.caucusnj.org/results.asp?qt=Living+Green&go2=GO.

Supermodel,  author, and PSEG Global Green Expo presenter Emme is back on One-on-One! Emme shares her amazing story about going and staying green! For  more information, www.GlobalGreen2008.com

Karen Halo, partner-owner of Frankly Green describes how paints, stains, varnishes and stucco can be eco-friendly. For more information, www.Frankly-Green.com.

Here is the URL to get to that show description and related topics:

http://www.caucusnj.org/results.asp?qt=Frankly+Green&go2=GO

Larry Siegel

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Tax
One idea I've been advocating has been a greenhouse gas emissions tax, with 100% rebate. There is a way to make a Greenhouse Gas tax palatable:  sell it as a GHG Credit, funded by a GHG tax that would be used exclusively for the GHG Credit. All income from the tax must be rebated back to all Americans. This credit could be in the form of a monthly check or direct deposit, perhaps delivered by the Social Security Administration. All legal residents of driving age would receive a full share, with those younger getting a half share.

The tax could be phased in, starting with, say, 50 cents per gallon of gasoline equivalent, then keep raising it until our economy is GHG-free. For each $.50 of tax increment, every child would receive approximately $415 per year, and each adult would get $830 (based on current USA carbon emissions and population). To keep the USA competitive, there would need to be a GHG Tariff applied to imported goods from non-GHG-taxing countries to cover the GHG emitted during their production and transport.

People could use their GHG Credit as they see fit - using it to offset the increased cost of fuel, to buy more energy-efficient devices, to move closer to where they work, to pay for public transportation, etc. At some point, families might decide that stack of monthly rebate checks makes it practical to keep one parent home to look after their children.  This could reap additional benefits to society - less crime, better students, etc.  As GHG-based fuel demand destruction set in (such as happened post-Katrina), fuel suppliers would lower their prices, so the GHG tax would be partially offset.  Demand would increase for alternatives, which would stimulate research and development.

As we become more energy-independent, we would be less reliant on our military to protect our fuel supply, with resulting savings in the federal budget.  By having fewer carbon-related pollutants, our medical bills would decrease. As our economy became more efficient, our products would be more competitive in the world market.

This proposal would provide a simple market-based solution that would not involve the political and practical complexities of Cap and Trade or mandating vehicle MPG limits. We should also do away with all energy-related subsidies, and let the markets decide which solution is most effective.  This is something that we can do right now.
Rick Butzberger
Kirkland, Washington

Green Public Transit
If I were President, what energy strategy would I advocate? Green public transportation for all people. Make sure that all cities have a green and available public transportation system. Make sure that mass interstate travel -- planes, buses, and trains-- are as green as possible. To do this, provide financial incentives to companies that design or sell green public transportation equipment. Definition of green public transportation equipment:  Any vehicle that uses fewer vital resources with less pollution while providing an equivalent service or better to a product currently on market. The purpose is to spur innovation and make a market available for these beneficial innovations.
Miriam Breslauer

Carter Was On To Something
President Carter urged the "moral equivalent of war" to conserve energy. The best parts of his efforts concerned land use and transportation. He cut off federal subsidies for suburban infrastructure that would promote sprawl and steer investment away from existing communities. President Reagan reinstated the highways that were dropped and reduced the environmental scrutiny of suburban infrastructure programs.

Carter increased the federal subsidies for transit operation and transit construction. Reagan eliminated operating subsidies and reduced assistance for construction.

Carter, under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act, provided funds for municipal employment, including police officers. Reagan cut this at a time when unemployment soared, especially in the cities. 

Because suburban sprawl is inherently ‘fuelish,’ becoming sustainable means massive reconfiguration of our metropolitan areas to encourage walking, cycling and transit. Suburban sprawl should be taxed, not subsidized -- no more Clean Water Act grants for sewer interceptors that enable sprawl, no tax-free municipal bonds for other sprawling infrastructure. 

Motorists should pay all the costs of roads, including the cost of draining the 4,000 square feet of pavement for each vehicle, the traffic cops, the health care for accident victims that is now billed to HMOs. Suburban sprawl is the enemy. It was a factor in the S & L crisis during the late 80s, the current mortgage crisis, and the current oil crisis. 

I just signed a petition to urge our political leaders to sign a treaty to solve the climate crisis. If you add your voice to this issue, we can have an even greater impact and help stop global warming. Please join me by signing:

http://wecansolveit.org/page/s/globaltreaty

Jim Bush 

Local Power Industries
I would encourage energy independence by supporting the growth of local power industries, which produce energy from local, renewable resources. I would try to implement the development and installation of on board steam reformers in all internal combustion vehicles. This would cut CO2 pollution by 60 percent and obviously help to achieve goals in relation to climate change as well as making us more energy independent. Finally, energy production will be a need of human civilization forever and so try to fund development of long-range solutions to current problems.
Mike Johnston

Biodiesel
There's room for a green economy to generate jobs. State and municipal governments can help by encouraging food businesses to give their waste vegetable oil to biodiesel manufacturers rather than to a plain waste hauler. I'm in the process of setting up my own manufacturing plant but depend on a steady supply of waste vegetable oil so that I'm not touching the national feedstock problem. This is sustainable use of waste. I'm hoping eventually that I will be able to manufacture from algae, which is a new and exciting direction for biodiesel. 
Matt Topas
Atlantic BioFuels
Email: mtopas@comcast.net

Plug-Ins
Accelerate the production of electric plug-in cars plus super efficient batteries. Use federal land in Nevada (and elsewhere) to build 92 sq. miles of solar generating capacity that will be a public utility  - not to be privatized. Build rapid light rail across the nation, connecting our cities. Accelerate the research and development of cleaner sustainable fuels for air travel.
Brent McFarlane
Seattle

Planes, Trains, Efficiency and Other Thoughts
The most immediate returns will come from conservation, and much of that can be done by public relations, e.g. getting out the word by e-mails and releases utilizing a local tie-in. For example, ask the on-line distributors of reel-type push mowers for a customers list, then send out news releases tailored to a local customer because all news outside of Washington, New York and LA is local. So if you send out a release to a paper or TV station in Long Island saying "Ipswich man loves his push mower," it will get fantastic play.

I did a column in the Johnson City Press about doing our three acres with a push mower as part of an exercise program and found I could cut it weekly on 30 minutes a day. I've never gotten so much mail asking where readers could buy one. Virtually all the news releases we get on the environment is centered on the West Coast. For Johnson City, Tenn., it might as well be Mars. The home towner news release is a guaranteed story placement.

The second area of conservation is improved efficiency. Do you know that you literally cannot buy a medium-size truck without an automatic transmission? On a truck? Owners can't find drivers who can drive a manual. What happened to "four on the floor" as a performance option? Shifting needs to be cool. I was able to milk 40 mpg from a Mitsubishi Mirage by shifting into neutral on downhills (50 percent of the terrain around here). That was about a 25 percent increase in efficiency.

Most people are not good enough, or attentive enough drivers to do this safely. What ever happened to driver training in school, and what skills are they teaching? We need to make shifting cool again. A manual improves fuel efficiency 10-15 percent in just regular driving.

Cities need to do more to synchronize traffic lights. In an urban environment we actually spend more time idling at a light than we do moving. Federal and state help for traffic lights should require synchronization. All areas of an urban environment should require sidewalks.

The most efficient means of moving freight is a steel wheel on a steel rail, yet our railroads are so overtaxed that a 10 minute train delay in Chicago can back up trains all the way to Los Angeles, and in the east it's far worse because most of our lines are single-tracked. The federal government needs to fund or loan the money for the railroads to double track their mainlines throughout the country, much like the initiative to install the Interstate highway network in the 1950s. If the railroads are too proud to accept federal investment, then the government could fund the Social Security fund by buying stock in the railroads on the grounds that they must modernize.

As for the airlines, as a pilot I believe they are a lost cause. High-speed rail is the only viable answer except for international travel. My wife and I are driving to Newfoundland for our summer vacation this year because flying is too expensive and too unwieldy.
James Brooks

Windfall Profits
As far as energy policy, I’d rather give my money to Hugo Chavez in Venezuela than the Middle East. Also:

• U.S. should tax or limit windfall profits of oil companies.

• Punish owners of fuel guzzling vehicles.

• Encourage ownership of fuel-efficient vehicles.

• Encourage alternative energy sources such as windmills, solar collection.

I’m the head of a group of internet liberals, former speechwriter for Sen. Gaylord Nelson (head of Earth Day/Environmental Teach-In), former head of the New Party (candidates Gore Vidal, Ben Spock), former feature writer for the Washington Post. 
Bob Terpsta

Conservation Rewards
First, encourage and reward conservation of energy. It is the most cost-effective way. Then, encourage with tax incentives green alternative energies. For example I just read about creating ethanol directly from yeast. At the same time, make an effective and business-friendly carbon tax, maybe cap and trade. Investigate what works well in other countries that are so ahead of the U.S. in this area. 
Sara Bhakti, Ph.D.
Kirkland WA

After Success, Then What?
If I were President I would make the sustainable survival of the species priority #1, reinstitute regulations on Wall Street,  bring our troops home, and end our imperialist aspirations around the world. But then I would have gigantic problems: What to do with the war mongers, the greed merchants, and those citizens motivated by bad faith and personal interest?
Michael Crane
Ashland, OR

Water Rules
I would go back to harnessing water power on our rivers. With new technologies I am sure we could have many small generation plants. We founded this country’s industry largely from water power. We should not forget that! Wind and solar should also play their parts in our clean and renewable future.
Nathan Blanchard
Southborough, Massachusetts

Congress Focus
I can describe how we can provide all the electricity we need from solar, wind, or decentralized and democratic renewable resources right now. I can describe that Chevy Volt or the Phoenix SUT and how we should be promoting electric vehicles, plug-in vehicles.

As critical as these things are, no president is going to advance them to the degree that we want or need to until we take on that 600-pound gorilla in the room. As long as we have an army of lobbyists and a corporate plutocracy that has stolen our government it is going to be very difficult to get done what we need to get done. That is why, in the very email you asked us to answer the question about what we would do if we were president, you start off by discussing "the Legislative inability to approve an appropriation for green-collar job training, or to renew tax credits for wind, solar, and other clean energy technologies."

We have to end the domination of our government by the rich and the corporate plutocracy. The Catch-22 is, of course, Congress, the only ones that can make the systemic fundamental changes we must have, won't act because they are slaves to the very slave masters that pull their strings. How else do you explain the House passing every war budget when we voted to end this war that has gone on longer than World War Two?
Larry Siegel
Plainsboro, New Jersey

Check Out Germany
I’d send people to Germany, where that country is working to actually free itself from outside energy via solar and other technologies. See what they are doing. Take back the tax cuts that the oil companies have been given, and reallocate them to wind, solar, and other renewable energy source companies since obviously the oil companies, despite their rhetoric, aren’t in the least interested in renewables.
Mike Crookston
Salt Lake City

Law of Supply and Demand Still Fits
You must believe that the Law of Supply and Demand has been repealed if you honestly believe that creating more domestic supplies will have absolutely no impact on the price of oil and natural gas.

Lifting the moratoria on the Outer Continental Shelf of the United States (not including ANWR and the Alaska OCS) will increase domestic reserves of oil by 95% and domestic reserves of natural gas by 56%. It will also create hundreds of thousand high-paying jobs in shipbuilding, rig building, equipment manufacture, seismic survey companies, crews for OSVs, crews for drill rigs --- and for the thousands of lawyers, engineers and economists who will have to be hired to help companies get through the maze of regulations and permits.

Here in Savannah, we expect a shipyard that failed building mega-yachts to be acquired by a major offshore oil and gas support vessel builder and operator, bringing over a 1,000 direct jobs back into the community.
John C. Snedeker
Chairman & CEO
SYNERGISTIC DYNAMICS, INC.
Savannah, Georgia
Email: JohnCSnedeker@cs.com

New Tax Needed
I know that we have the technology to get people traveling with something better than fossil fuel, which is so bad for the environment. How about adding a separate tax for fuels and use that solely for the advancement of research for alternatives? It's plain to see that big oil still runs government because our representatives are still scared to take away their tax incentives. I'm totally opposed to any drilling anywhere. We can do better and we must.
Nanette Marsh
nannettemarsh@hotmail.com

Geothermal
I've been involved with energy efficiency and environmental issues for 35 years. My doctoral work was in the economics of engineering and worked as director of corporate planning for a very energy intensive Industrial concern. This is stated as a point of reference. I started a solar company in the 1970's and it failed as incentives and cost made systems too exorbitant. Presently I am trying a side business with solar thermal panels in the Northeast.

From a lot of years studying and work I really see some solutions that are most realistic and cost-effective. It is very frustrating that groups such as Apollo (of which I am very impressed and support) may not be aware of certain technological innovations that have appeared recently. 

In terms of 'base line' loads which will be necessary for industrial loads and hopefully for plug in transport; we have the 'usual suspects' ie. wind, concentrating solar, etc. These are so material intensive and dependent upon moments of use; they really won't be viable in the future (no matter how much we wish or feel the impetus is forging in that direction.

Being tied to natural physics is important; however, we need a constant renewable that with some engineering 'tweaking' will provide 24 hour natural, renewable and clean energy. There are "natural" power sources in many forms - tidal and other water flow as example, but the economics of engineering are not ready. To get to the point - there is a great concept that is NOW being implemented that has finally gotten over some 'physics' hurdles - an old concept that has been made very viable - low heat geo thermal. Yes I know it doesn't sound so innovative; except check out the technology by a company called Rasor Technology in Provo, Utah. I think their stock symbol is RZ.

I have seen this company looking for efficient electric motors as this is a link in 'the chain' needed for our future. The most primitive inventions that we are stuck with the power factor intensive electric motor and internal combustion engine. If we can invent ourselves away from these 19th century earth destroying monsters; we will have evolved.

Please try to understand the beauty and simplicity of this innovation and I was very surprised as may you be - at the extent of low heat geo-thermal fields throughout the USA. I have nothing to do with this company; I feel that this may be a major baseline arrow in our quiver.
Neil Bevilacqua

Question on Home Photovoltaics
Can you direct me to information sites regarding development of small community PV systems.  We have a very cohesive neighborhood interested in generating our own energy.  Our electricity is provided by an REA, which offers net metering.  Hope you can help
Laura Bransom
Durango CO 
Email: bransom@gobrainstorm.net

Get Steel Industry Strong
We must push getting the steel industry here back up and strong! If we are going to tout green and allow chemicals and steel to come from China or third world countries that are polluting the world’s air and water because we are demanding green building and allow this, then we are the problem no matter how green we may think we are or want to be! Products for construction must be labeled! And companies held responsible.
Mark Sternberg

Ocean Power
All ocean front cities could receive electricity generated from ocean water and waves. It is just a matter of taking technology from the laboratory to the ocean area that would cause the least environmental impact. Half the electricity needed in the US, south America, much of Europe, and Africa could come from ocean waves and water.
Martha Bushnell, Ph.D.
Boulder, Colorado

Sustainable Careers in New Jersey
I'm attaching a brief description of a project called Green Jobs for NJ:  A Sustainable Career Track Initiative which the Municipal Land Use Center at The College of New Jersey is developing with funding from the NJ Department of Education's Office of Career and Technical Education.

The goal of the project is to identify the skills, certifications, and training that students in career and technical high school programs will need for green collar jobs of the future. Our goal is to partner with government, businesses, and non-profits to provide students with experiential learning opportunities in these sectors. Energy, green building, food and transportation/land use are the first entry-points of our project, but we are also hoping to educate for a broader understanding of "sustainability" and its implications on larger issues such as global warming and climate change.

We are offering a Summer Sustainability Institute in partnership with the Mercer County Technical Schools this summer, and are planning to work with the Essex County Technical Schools in the coming year to field test some of the lessons we've identified.
Winnie Fatton
Project Manager
Green Jobs for NJ:  A Sustainable Career Track Initiative
Email: fatton@tcnj.edu

Web site: www.tcnj.edu/~mluc

Hey! A Little Respect
Some folks in the other Washington are getting a bit tired of being referred to as "Washington State" our defacto common name.  Hell, we are so self conscious about the situation that we even do it to ourselves. This situation is, of course, due to the fact that the common usage of "Washington" refers to the capitol Picking nits? Perhaps to those back East. Not so much in Washington.
David Freiboth
Executive Secretary-Treasurer
ML King County Labor Council
Seattle

Green Chamber in Arizona
I’m forming a Phoenix Green Chamber of Commerce and have co-founded the National Green Chamber of Commerce, a mission very similar to yours, with a focus on business practices.  I wanted to introduce myself and our organization to you as I’m always impressed with the communication and information you guys send out.  Please feel free to call me to discuss.  The best number to reach me at is 602-690-8105 (cell).
Mara DeFilippis
Email: peanut11@cox.net
Web site: www.investgreen.org

Not A New Idea
When going through my old personal papers, I found some rough notes I had scribbled in the early 1970s about an idea for a school for training people to deal with the needs of the coming 21st century. I was amazed to see how relevant these ideas are to the problems we now face over 30 years later. However, at the time that I wrote it I was imbued with optimism about the future of our civilization. The unfortunate setbacks that we have experienced at the opening of the new century will make realization of this dream almost impossible in the foreseeable future.
David Carp
Desert Hot Springs, California

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Send dispatches for Apollo Feedback to:

Keith Schneider
Communications Director
keith@apolloalliance.org