Competition works in the electricity generation industry. And competition is driving way down the prices for health insurance on the Insurance Exchanges established in California and Oregon.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/05/24/wonkbook-some-very-good-news-for-obamacare/.
Before President Obama embraced competition through insurance exchanges, the purchase mandate, and "premium support" for low-income buyers, many conservatives embraced those ideas and pushed for health reform similar to what California and Oregon are now doing. If competition for private insurance pushes prices down 50% below what was expected, does it really matter that President Obama is a supporter of the ideas that produced that result?
It is too early to tell whether or not the Affordable Health Care Act will work. Real doubts exist. But perhaps these ideas will work and command broad support once again.
Unlike California and Oregon, Governor Corbett refused to establish competitive insurance exchanges in Pennsylvania and instead left that job to the federal government to do it for us. Terrible decision.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Do You Live In One Of The Top 10 Electricity Importing States? If So, Thank The US Constitution For Your Lights Staying On
It's a good thing for Delaware and Idaho that they have powerful neighbors that export power or their lights would be out more than on. Delaware and Idaho generate less than 50% of the electricity that they consume.
See page 31 at: http://www.nrdc.org/air/pollution/benchmarking/files/benchmarking-2013.pdf.
The rest of the top 10 top electricity importers begins with Virginia in the third spot, Maryland, California, Tennessee, New Jersey, Massachusetts, South Dakota, and then Minnesota.
For the residents of these top ten electricity importing states, it is good to be an American, and they should thank the founders for the Interstate Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution. Distant power plants located in other states and the interstate movement of electricity keep the lights on in the top 10 electricity importing states.
See page 31 at: http://www.nrdc.org/air/pollution/benchmarking/files/benchmarking-2013.pdf.
The rest of the top 10 top electricity importers begins with Virginia in the third spot, Maryland, California, Tennessee, New Jersey, Massachusetts, South Dakota, and then Minnesota.
For the residents of these top ten electricity importing states, it is good to be an American, and they should thank the founders for the Interstate Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution. Distant power plants located in other states and the interstate movement of electricity keep the lights on in the top 10 electricity importing states.
Question Of The Day: Is Frequency Of Strong Tornadoes Up, Down, Or Stable Since 2000?
Is the frequency of strong tornadoes up, down, or stable during recent years? Down is the answer.
In the 58 years from 1954 to 2012, there have been 20 years that have had 50 or more F3 or stronger tornados. But from 2000 to 2012, there were just 2 years with 50 or more F3 tornados.
http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/cmb/images/tornado/clim/EF3-EF5.png.
As a result, from 1954 to 2000, 50 or more F3 tornados in a single year hit every 2.5 years. Yet, since 2000, the frequency of a year with more than 50 F3 tornados has fallen to once every 6 years.
The worst year for strong tornados was 1970 with 130, followed by 1965, and 1957--the year of my birth.
In the 58 years from 1954 to 2012, there have been 20 years that have had 50 or more F3 or stronger tornados. But from 2000 to 2012, there were just 2 years with 50 or more F3 tornados.
http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/cmb/images/tornado/clim/EF3-EF5.png.
As a result, from 1954 to 2000, 50 or more F3 tornados in a single year hit every 2.5 years. Yet, since 2000, the frequency of a year with more than 50 F3 tornados has fallen to once every 6 years.
The worst year for strong tornados was 1970 with 130, followed by 1965, and 1957--the year of my birth.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Coal Surges Back To 40% Generation Market Share & Gas Slumps To 25% In First Quarter
Coal-fired generation recovered strongly in the first quarter of 2013, when it provided 40% of America's power generation. Coal's gain came at the expense of natural gas that saw its market share drop from 30% for all of 2012 to 25% in the first quarter of 2013.
http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=11391.
If natural gas prices move this year to $5 per thousand cubic feet, as some predict, coal's recovery will gain more steam in the months ahead.
http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=11391.
If natural gas prices move this year to $5 per thousand cubic feet, as some predict, coal's recovery will gain more steam in the months ahead.
Stunning Fact: 98% Of DOE $34 Billion Loan Portfolio Is Being Repaid--Solyndra Is Exception Not Rule
Here are some facts that I am sure will never air on fair and balanced Fox News.
The Tesla $465 million loan that yesterday was repaid 9 years early is one of 30 loans made by the Department of Energy in a program to foster energy innovation. Another one of the 30 loans was to Solyndra that had an innovative cylindrical solar panel design.
http://energy.gov/articles/moniz-tesla-repayment-shows-strength-energy-department-s-overall-loan-portfolio.
The loans to Tesla and Solyndra create a question: does the successful Tesla or the bad Solyndra loan best represent the performance of the Department of Energy $34-billion-30 loan portfolio?
Solyndra is the exception of default to the rule of good performance among the $34-billion-30-loan portfolio. Indeed, DOE states that losses to date represent just 2% of the $34 billion portfolio, with the other 98% being repaid.
And Congress expected losses in this program to foster innovation, when it authorized and funded it during the George W. Bush Administration. Yes, you can give credit to President Bush, if you want, for launching a successful program, though the Obama Administration has administered nearly all the loans made under it.
Congress funded a loan loss reserve for this program, as it realized its purpose was to finance innovative but risky energy ventures. At this point, 90% of the funds set aside to pay for loans that defaulted remain unused.
In short, this DOE loan program will cost the taxpayers considerably less than was expected and it is delivering large benefits.
The loan portfolio includes not just Tesla and its enormous repaid success but also 19 clean energy power plants that are producing enough power for 1 million homes, with little or no air or water pollution.
The real facts about the performance of the 30-loan portfolio that includes both Tesla and Solyndra show big benefits to taxpayers at much less cost than was budgeted. Just don't expect to see or hear any of these real facts on Fox, the Wall Street Journal editorial page, Hannity, Limbaugh, and the rest of right wing media.
The right wing ideological bubble strengthens daily and so loses touch with America a bit more each day.
The Tesla $465 million loan that yesterday was repaid 9 years early is one of 30 loans made by the Department of Energy in a program to foster energy innovation. Another one of the 30 loans was to Solyndra that had an innovative cylindrical solar panel design.
http://energy.gov/articles/moniz-tesla-repayment-shows-strength-energy-department-s-overall-loan-portfolio.
The loans to Tesla and Solyndra create a question: does the successful Tesla or the bad Solyndra loan best represent the performance of the Department of Energy $34-billion-30 loan portfolio?
Solyndra is the exception of default to the rule of good performance among the $34-billion-30-loan portfolio. Indeed, DOE states that losses to date represent just 2% of the $34 billion portfolio, with the other 98% being repaid.
And Congress expected losses in this program to foster innovation, when it authorized and funded it during the George W. Bush Administration. Yes, you can give credit to President Bush, if you want, for launching a successful program, though the Obama Administration has administered nearly all the loans made under it.
Congress funded a loan loss reserve for this program, as it realized its purpose was to finance innovative but risky energy ventures. At this point, 90% of the funds set aside to pay for loans that defaulted remain unused.
In short, this DOE loan program will cost the taxpayers considerably less than was expected and it is delivering large benefits.
The loan portfolio includes not just Tesla and its enormous repaid success but also 19 clean energy power plants that are producing enough power for 1 million homes, with little or no air or water pollution.
The real facts about the performance of the 30-loan portfolio that includes both Tesla and Solyndra show big benefits to taxpayers at much less cost than was budgeted. Just don't expect to see or hear any of these real facts on Fox, the Wall Street Journal editorial page, Hannity, Limbaugh, and the rest of right wing media.
The right wing ideological bubble strengthens daily and so loses touch with America a bit more each day.
Stunning Facts: Tesla Repays Fed Loan 9 Years Early & Employs 3,000
Tesla's run of substantial achievements grows. Yesterday, it repaid its $465 million loan 9 years early.
While the federal loan has not turned Tesla into an industrial colossus, it has fueled major growth. Tesla is a genuinely large company that employs 3,000 people and has a market cap well into the billions of dollars.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
A Feast Of Positive Pollution Facts: NRDC & Ceres Document Renewable and Gas Sharply Cut Power Plant Air Pollution
Here is what the first sentence of the press release announcing a key NRDC and Ceres study says:
"A major new report on U.S. power plant emissions from the top 100 power producers shows that the electric industry cut emissions of NOx, SO2 and CO2 in 2011 even as overall electricity generation increased, largely due to increased use of natural gas and growing reliance on renewable energy."
http://www.ceres.org/press/press-releases/new-report-reveals-states-and-utilities-with-highest-and-lowest-power-plant-emissions-overall-u.s.-emissions-decline.
The full report is well worth reading, especially if you like reading positive facts and trends about air quality
http://www.nrdc.org/air/pollution/benchmarking/files/benchmarking-2013.pdf.
At the 100 largest electricity generation companies, nitrogen oxide pollution and sulfur dioxide pollution is down 70% and 72% respectively from 1990 to 2011. Mercury emissions are down 40% since 2000.
From the 100 largest electricity generation companies, carbon dioxide emissions are up 20% since 1990 but down 7% from 2008 to 2011. Their carbon emissions significantly fell again in 2012 but this report does not include last year.
Thank you to NRDC and Ceres for this feast of positive environmental and pollution facts and trends!
The full report is well worth reading, especially if you like reading positive facts and trends about air quality
http://www.nrdc.org/air/pollution/benchmarking/files/benchmarking-2013.pdf.
At the 100 largest electricity generation companies, nitrogen oxide pollution and sulfur dioxide pollution is down 70% and 72% respectively from 1990 to 2011. Mercury emissions are down 40% since 2000.
From the 100 largest electricity generation companies, carbon dioxide emissions are up 20% since 1990 but down 7% from 2008 to 2011. Their carbon emissions significantly fell again in 2012 but this report does not include last year.
Thank you to NRDC and Ceres for this feast of positive environmental and pollution facts and trends!
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