"...advanced biofuels and clean coal technologies..." also suffer from a considerable over-abundance of non-existence. Here too, not only are these oxymorons likely to suck up valuable time and money better spent on implementing already-existing renewables, but considerable evidence exists that many currently under consideration will not work at all. Both suffer from scathing scientific and environmental criticism. Both have proven economic and environmental downsides. Both were mentioned by name in the President's Address, in contrast to wind, solar and geothermal energy which were mentioned zero, twice, and zero times respectively.
So, why do this?
The President made that perfectly clear: "And this year I'm eager to help advance the bipartisan effort in the Senate." (Applause.)
One can be sure that this bi-partisan effort will receive the same courtesy his health-care measure received from the Opposition, especially after the Mass-Massacre. How do I dare suggest this? Well, consider the generous, magnanimous bi-partisan-inspiring comments on the President's energy agenda from Sens. Mitch McConnell (Senate Minority Leader) and Bob Corker:
"Cap and trade is dead in the Senate," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R.-KY).
"This year? Nah, not going to happen," said Sen. Bob Corker (R.-TN). "It's not even worth talking about."iii
A number of Democrats were equally as enthusiastic about other aspects of the President's plan as incorporated in the Senate energy/climate bill, which will undoubtedly enhance the prospects for innovative bi-partisanship creating "energy you can believe in." Ã -
Dave Kraft is director of Chicago-based Nuclear Energy Information Service, a nuclear power watch-dog and environmental group advocating the replacement of nuclear power with viable, sustainable renewable energy and aggressive use of energy efficiency.
i The same day as President Obama's State of the Union Address calling for "building a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants", Senate Energy Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D.-NM) circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter in the Senate seeking support for his proposal for a "Clean Energy Development Administration," which would allow for unlimited taxpayer-backed loan guarantees for construction of new nuclear reactors and "clean coal" projects, without Congressional or public oversight.
ii "No need to build new U.S. coal or nuclear plants FERC chairman," Noelle Straub and Peter Behr, E&E Reporters, Greenwire, April 22, 2009.
iii "Obama holds firm on comprehensive bill, but most senators shrug," by Darren Samuelsohn, E&E senior reporter, Environment and Energy Daily, E&E News, Jan. 28, 2010.
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