Billions go to green tech

steve smyth — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:49:22 GMT

React/Respond...overdo everything...hope something works...that's the real plan...think NOLA!
When Humanity gets to the point where we are relying on an 'epitaph spiffing' shill like Algore to lead us to the promised land...we got trouble that has yet to be imagined.
Gore said we would get the rest of the world to follow in our newly green footsteps, stop using coal and other high polluting petrochems, and generally clean up everyone's act because he said so.
Now, Obama's all coal all the time.
Gore's statement of leadership claimed that we (USA)would lead by 'Moral Authority'.
Moral Authority and 11th hour GeoEngineering in a hurry is going to prove to be Humanity's greatest boondoggle of all time.
And very possibly our last.

Billions go to green tech

Myron, Texas — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:06:02 GMT

Procol Harum sings A Greener Shade of Pork. Will the taxpayer save enough in lower energy costs for these federal buildings to pay for the improvements? Not the way government wastes money. The best way to save the taxpayer money is for the size of government to be reduced . That's start with 50% and go from there.

Billions go to green tech

Branden Gemzer, Egelston Township, Michigan — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:07:05 GMT

The stimulus, from reports, does seem to be a bit scatter brained, but at this point I am going to trust that strategically, this had the best amount of give and take to get the bill passed and do some good for everyone. I think Obama is trying to be judicious and fair, not just picking one area and saying this is where we will put all our energy and hope. And really the problems of the economy are so big that we need to have a strategy that addresses both short and long term needs. Thinking short term is what has gotten us here, and thinking long term would not be popular enough. Thats why I think Obama will be remembered as the Great Pragmatist.

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M. Simon, Rockford, Illinois — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:07:48 GMT

With the "concensus" breaking down re: CO2 I think cap and trade may be difficult. In addition since water vapor is 30 times the greenhouse gas CO2 is I wonder why there are no proposals to tax hot water or worse boiling water. On top of that why is methane - which produces water vapor preferred over coal. Isn't that backwards?

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James Bowery, Shenandoah, IA — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:09:26 GMT

It should be obvious to the most casual observer that the way for government to mobilize talent and capital toward technological advancement is awarding cash prizes for objectively defined milestones. Given that most of these objectives are economic, as well as environmental, in nature, it makes more sense to award the prizes in terms of guaranteed markets at various price points intermediate between existing market prices and target market prices.

A prime example of this approach is the Oil Prize:

http://oilprize.org

Government is simply not good at risk management. It needs to pay out for results, not proposals.

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M. Simon, Rockford, Illinois — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:16:15 GMT

Correction:

water vapor is 20 times the greenhouse gas CO2 is

Billions go to green tech

Marc, Chantilly, VA — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:17:00 GMT

Is that all? 1 wk? Feels more like several months. Noone has all the answers, and Obama doesn't say he does. What he does have is a vision, and one that leads to American liberation from Arab oil dependence. By doing that alone we will create millions of new, good paying, stay-in-america jobs. We can once again lead the world in technology innovation, this time in energy efficiency and production. Every obstacle simply yields a new opportunity, this is America, it's one of our cardinal tenents. We can and WILL do this. Thank god we put in a President with forward vision, one with the inteligence to see the WHOLE playing field instead of just the direct issue in front of him. He won't always be right, but he won't always be wrong either. And he's a damned sight better then we would have had if he had lost. Instead of the GOP playing political games with the health of the American people and our economy, try working towards our good for a change. If you don't, we'll know, and you'll be out on your collective ears. We won't stand for you anymore, if you're not part of the solution you're part of the problem. GO OBAMA

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roy de la rosa,bakersfield,ca — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:24:57 GMT

It would be more effective if the tax-payer got the money. A stimulus from the bottom up would work much better to move the economy then the trickle-down approach.

Billions go to green tech

Bruce — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:26:17 GMT

SOMEWHERE IN A GALAXY FAR AWAY..
FOLKS ARE LAUGHING SO HARD..
BUT ARE VERY HAPPY..
SEEMS THE FOUND A COMEDY CHANNEL CALLED THE U.S. GOVERMENT..
BEST THING..IT'S FREE AND ON 24/7

Billions go to green tech

Jack DiEnna, Springfield, PA 19064 — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:49:26 GMT

Geothermal Heat Pump Technology, the "Energy Under Our Feet" can provide us with a "Triple E" solution, Energy Independence, Environmental Security and Economic Prosperity. Currently we have less than a 2% share of the market, in my document "The Road to 30%" it shows that with a 30% share of the market (HVAC & water heating) we could achieve and pass the goals set by the Kyoto agreement, we could lessen our dependency on foreign oil by at least 25% and we could retain or create 5 million jobs. All this and we provide comfort to the constituency.
We need to have the Utilities involved and have the ground loop heat exchangers (the pipes in the ground) qualify for emission credits or renewable energy credits, that way the Utilities could own the loops and use the credits for their generation plants that need the credits. It becomes a win, win, win situation. The customer gets a system that uses less energy and provides comfort, the green collar worker (installer, driller, designer etc has the work and the Utility gets the emission offset. We would have to train more of the infrastructure but that is a positive also. Once again, the "Energy Under Our Feet" is a 60 year old new technology that can solve a major portion of the problems that are currently plagueing our country.

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Dr. Alexander Bell, NY, NY — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:54:04 GMT

Revolutionary technological transition to Alternative Energy on a massive scale requires forward thinking and coordinated efforts of many industries, Governmental bodies and the whole engineering community. The complete systematic approach to this highly-important socio-economic and technological issue is outlined in Green Electricity (GEL) Initiative (http://www.alexanderbell.us/Initiative/GEL.htm), topping the Google search list for many years.

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going green in caseyville,il — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:21:15 GMT

Jack,

Are you familiar with the Acadia cold temperature air source heat pump? This Old House magazine had an article about it last fall and it sounded like a more affordable alternative to geothermal.Supposedly it works well down to minus 30 degrees instead of the plus 30 of a normal heat pump, so it can be used in colder areas than regular heat pumps, and doesn't need the drilling required for geothermal.It is made by Hallowell,a company in Bangor, Maine, and has only been around a few years.I was keen on geothermal,but can't afford it, and this sounds like a good alternative.

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Sherry Tampa FL — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:45:04 GMT

There could be no better investment in America than to invest in America becoming energy independnet! We need to utilize everything in out power to reduce our dependence on foreign oil including using our own natural resources.OPEC will continue to cut production until they achieve their desired 80-100. per barrel. The high cost of fuel this past year seriously damaged our economy and society. Oil is finite. We are using oil globally at the rate of 2X faster than new oil is being discovered. We need to take some of these billions in bail out bucks and bail ourselves out of our dependence on foreign oil. Jeff Wilson has a really good new book out called The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence Now. He explores our uses of oil besides gasoline, our depletion, out reserves and stores as well as viable options to replace oil.Oil is finite, it will run out in the not too distant future. WE need to take some of these billions in bail out bucks and bail America out of it's dependence on foreign oil. The historic high price of gas this past year did serious damage to our economy and society.If all gasoline cars, trucks, and SUV's instead had plug-in electric drive trains, the amount of electricity needed to replace gasoline is about equal to the estimated wind energy potential of the state of North Dakota. WE should never allow others to have that much power over our economy again. Every member of congress needs to read this book.

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Bob Steger — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:58:11 GMT

Some of the best comment I have ever read have come from the readers of this article. I agree that a systematic approach is necessary HOWEVER anything is better than the BUSH tactics of "I LOVE OIL". If we don't get a push from the Commander and Chief then we are stuck to OIL forever and our downfall is soon to follow.

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Tim Rommes, Washington, UT — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 02:16:03 GMT

Alan,
Great job writing this one. I especially like the Beta explaination. Ten, or so,years ago I made a comment about putting a penny on a record player arm. Ancient references have no place with kids these days. It's great that you translate.

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Tim Rommes, Washington, UT — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 02:20:56 GMT

roy de la rosa said, "It would be more effective if the tax-payer got the money. A stimulus from the bottom up would work much better to move the economy then the trickle-down approach."
I don't know if it would work better but I'd certainly be happier with money that bailed out people who put themselves in desperate need or rewarded those that didn't and let businesses that have proven they can't run themselves fail. It's not like any mortgages would have evaporated. Let's give that free market a try.

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Eirik Thorvaldsson — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 03:44:51 GMT

Remember this is about efficiency. The colder it is outside, the more of that increasingly expensive electricity you will use to extract heat from cold air with any type of air-source heat pump. But the ground stays a nice steady temperature of 45 to 75 degress Fahrenheit depending on local climate. Saving money on installation may reduce your return on investment.
This applies to air conditioning too. On those hot summer days you can draw on that nice 55 degree ground, instead of using electricity to push heat back into 97 degree air.
It is all proportional to the temperature difference.

Billions go to green tech

Dale Sopen Chicago, IL — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 07:57:37 GMT

What about public transportation such as expanding and upgrading our subways and trains?

Billions go to green tech

Jerry J. Milwaukee, WI — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:12:52 GMT

I drive past a medium size wind farm every day. It is approx 1 hour north of Milwaukee, WI off of hwy 41, in the town of Eden. I don't know how many wind generators are there but it looks like over 30.
I would estimate that at least 10% of the time (that I see them) they are not spinning. I assume they are spinning less at night when the winds are more mild.
The people who live near these have complained that when these things spin they can sound like O'Hare airport in Chicago.
When these things do not spin they need the back-up of a fossil fueled or nuclear power plant.
I would estimate that at least 1 acre of land is needed for one wind generator. In this instance it is farm land.
Lots of natural resources were depleted to build these wind generators.
So please tell me what the advantage of these things is?

Billions go to green tech

Mike, Brookings, SD — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:47:35 GMT

Carbon Sequestraion, my one hope for the future. Think about it, Europe has been using it for some time, large scale companies are forced to pay for co2 hazards they create. Who benifits, the people that are willing not to plant crops and create more co2 emmisions, but those that are willing to plant native grasses or trees. Living in South Dakota I would love to see the return of the praire

Billions go to green tech

bob samms clifton nj — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:41:54 GMT

govt is going to get as big as it needs to get. Get used to it b/c it's called progress

Billions go to green tech

David Jones, Robert, La. — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:06:23 GMT

It is not hard to get the package through Brandon if there are not enough Congressmen and Senators with enough common sence to make rational decisions on any thing. They will be happy when everyone but them live in mud huts with dirt floors.

Billions go to green tech

Harris Stevens Short Hills, NJ — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:25:11 GMT

This does sound promising. Companies like URS & TMEN should benefit.

TMEN has a promising clean coal technology. They have a MOU with Babcock Power for TIPS. I think this should be huge. MIT and others have worked on it. Also CANMET backs up the TIPS process by ThermoEnergy.

Check them out.
http://www.babcockpower.com/index.php?option=news&coid=9&task=viewnews&sid=115&Itemid=56

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Wyatt, Brookings, SD — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:29:12 GMT

Rock on, Mike. I'd love a little more prairie instead of chemical saturated corn fields!

Billions go to green tech

OneVoice, Frederick MD — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:10:25 GMT

I was a little disappointed by all of this. Sounds like lots of big government money to lots of big companies leading to lots of big corporate solutions - maybe. I was hoping to hear about subsidies and tax breaks for individual homeowners to add rooftop solar, solar water heating and small scale wind generating facilities. For such a grass roots candidate, I had hope for more of a president of the people, not for the corporation.

Billions go to green tech

Ryan Wallace — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:41:37 GMT

The expansion of government is not progress. That is the definiton of socialism.

Billions go to green tech

Skeptical, Perryville, MO — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:15:20 GMT

So far, all talk and no details. A tax cheat is spending our money on "who knows what". Pleae quit saying everything being done is "good and great" when none of us actually knows the details. Remember, Bush said all of these "good and great" things as well, and look what happened. So far it is typical government, say whatever you think is necessary to get your money bill passed. Folks, it is actions that matter, not talk.

Billions go to green tech

Anne, Phoenix, AZ — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:30:39 GMT

I really believe that it doesn't really matter who they give the money to. This first stimulus didn't work, and I do not believe this one will either. That is why I am going to protest against the government loading our children and our grandchildren with debt. I am going to make a stand and say no More! "We The People" You are all coordially invited to a tea party Feb. 1, 2009
So long as we have an inauguration drawing this sort of crowd and not a protest about our government blowing $700 billion of our dollars so that The Pigmen of Wall Street can continue to rob our nation blind, then saddle us with the bill when their bets go bad, we will see no solution.

I cannot take credit for the idea floated on some forums, but I do like it.

It is time for We The People to send a strong message to Washington DC - no more. No more loading our children and grandchildren with debt. No more bailing out speculators and bankers who made bets they knew were unsafe at the time. No more bailing out people who came to Congress to demand the removal of leverage limits, got what they asked for, then blew themselves up with the very leverage they demanded to be able to use.

No more.

Therefore, on February 1st, which is more than enough time for Barack Obama to be seated in his chair in the West Wing, I am recommending an act of peaceful, lawful and yet unmistakable protest.

That is, to mail President Obama one teabag. Nothing dangerous, nothing illegal - just one teabag.

Send one to your Congressman and one to each Senator.

Later, when the weather is a bit warmer and fountains are running water (rather than frozen!) this sort of protest can be repeated with LOOSE tea in select cities.
But for now, let's start with the symbolism, to be repeated each and every time our government votes or intends to do something similarly stupid - which I presume will include Obama's "stimulus" package.

If we all mail our teabags on February 1st, it will send a strong message to Washington. Include a copy of Ticker’s related to the many bailouts (pick one!) or write your own letter condemning the fraud and abuse in our banking and financial system - with the teabag being your symbolic refusal to quietly pay for it.

Pass it around the blogs and email lists - its a bag of tea folks, and the obvious parallel to the Boston Tea Party of old should be instantly obvious to everyone who receives it.

The government is merely a servant -- merely a temporary servant; it cannot be its prerogative to determine what is right and what is wrong, and decide who is a patriot and who isn't. Its function is to obey orders, not originate them.
Mark Twain

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John, Phoenix AZ — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:45:25 GMT

Interesting comments on your site about what our government is doing and yes many people are looking for a change that will save our resources and yet provide us with a safer and more environmentally safe home and businesses.

I found on the internet one company which appears to be doing just that and they are making things happen. I found them at this web page: www.greentechbuildingsystems.com

They seem to be the only business which truly offers what everyone and the government has been looking for and they are doing it alone without any help.

Billions go to green tech

Thomas Ashby, Calgary — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:13:59 GMT

I hate the "green" moniker. There is nothing green about clean air and climate change. Green is for plants and trees. In the early days of "saving our forests" the green moniker made sense. Now it's attached to everything "eco-friendly" . All these touchy feely , tree-hugger like words should GO !! It really is nuts how the english language and people manage to create these descriptors and actually put them into everyday language when in fact , they really are non-sensical.

So I will do what I can to NOT GO GREEN but rather get smart about climate change and make a change.

Billions go to green tech

Teresa Callanan, Fairless Hills PA — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:44:01 GMT

Al Gore said we'll lead by moral authroity - does that mean he will give up his newly purchased house boat and his private jet or do all citizens get to have the great, "energy efficient" means of travel and enjoyment?

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22kane, Dayton, Ohio — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 01:15:47 GMT

In my 4th grade science class, I remember my teacher saying, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. So far, I've read a lot of all the good things that Mr Obama says that his programs will produce, but there has to be a other costs, besides money.

Billions go to green tech

JC, Fairbanks, AK — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 03:38:59 GMT

-A couple seconds of real thought would give the answer about why human-released water vapor is NOT a climate-affecting problem. You don't need to be a rocket scientist. So, H2O vapor is *irrelevant* to the problem.

-Yes, Marc, Obama *does* have vision, something we haven't had in the white house in 20 years, and intelligence, something totally absent there for the last 8. The birch tree in my front yard is STILL smarter than the whole crew of Bushies. However the mess he has inherited is going to be difficult to undo no matter what he does.

-Oh, come now 22, Newton's Laws (action/reaction) apply to Physics, not politics!!!

-There's a problem with geothermal that no one mentions. Ie. heat only moves through the ground via conduction, not by convection or radiation. So once you pull the heat out of, say, the walls of a drilled shaft (thereby cooling them) it takes a long time for it to be replaced, since conduction is a very slow process. So there is a limit, set by conduction rates, to how much energy you can pull from a given "heat pump", no matter what you use the power for.

In reality geothermal energy is only viable on a large scale where there is geothermal activity (like Iceland, Alaska . . .). Even then, geo-heat is NOT an infinite source as people seem to think (funny how often people make that mistaken assumption). Need proof? Here are some geo-projects that extinguished popular fields of geysers around the world when they tapped their heat sources:
http://snras.blogspot.com/2008/10/geothermal-energy-development-geyser.html
At the same time, their power output has dropped steadily over the years.

Wind, 'bio-mass', ethanol and solar all have their potential pitfalls as well, if done badly. And "Clean coal" is a total misname; THERE IS NO SUCH THING! The term comes from those who stand to profit from it. Like when Eric the Red named a chuck of uninhabitable rock and ice "Greenland", "clean coal" advocates are trying to sell people a bill of goods. And how about ethanol; doesn't it seem odd to anyone that all the loudest deniers of ethanol's multiple problems as a fuel have profit motives?
My point is that all of the alternative-energy options need to be carefully considered *before* they are implemented, not built with a gold-rush mentality. Thus, while profits for innovators have to be part of the equation, they should NEVER, EVER trump sober consideration of possible down-sides.

Billions go to green tech

Thomas Ashby, Calgary — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 05:38:02 GMT

JC Fairbanks: I believe there are small scale geo thermal systems that work something like this..you have an area of heat absorbing material that heats up in the summer months and the stored heat is then used in winter. There is a place in Okotoks Alberta that has 52 homes heated this way. (Drake Landing) Here is a quote...

" 800 solar panels attached to garage roofs.

The black panels transfer solar heat to an antifreeze solution that is relayed by underground pipe to a central heat exchanger.

There, the antifreeze passes its heat to storage tanks full of water. During warmer months, the hot water is stored in boreholes sunk 37 metres beneath a town park. The water warms up the surrounding soil to temperatures as high as 80C. During winter, the heated soil acts as a kind of subterranean furnace, warming up water that is then circulated to homes. "

http://www.dlsc.ca/news/july_07/13_07_07_green.htm

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Brian J. Donovan, Tampa, FL — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:06:34 GMT

Louisiana Enacts the Most Comprehensive Advanced Biofuel Legislation in the Nation

Governor Bobby Jindal has signed into law the Advanced Biofuel Industry Development Initiative, the most comprehensive and far-reaching state legislation in the nation enacted to develop a statewide advanced biofuel industry. Louisiana is the first state to enact alternative transportation fuel legislation that includes a variable blending pump pilot program and a hydrous ethanol pilot program.

Field-to-Pump
The legislature found that the proper development of an advanced biofuel industry in Louisiana requires implementation of the following comprehensive “field-to-pump” strategy developed by Renergie, Inc.:

(1) Feedstock other than corn;
(2) Decentralized network of small advanced biofuel manufacturing facilities;
(3) Variable blending pumps in lieu of splash blending; and
(4) Hydrous ethanol.

Renergie looks forward to working closely with the Obama-Biden administration to:
(a) reduce U.S. dependency on imported oil;
(b) repeal the ethanol import tariff;
(c) maximize the environmental benefits of ethanol-blended transportation fuels; and
(d) create jobs in rural areas of the United States by growing ethanol demand, specifically hydrous ethanol demand, beyond the 10% blend market.

Please feel free to visit Renergie’s weblog (www.renergie.wordpress.com) for more information.

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R. Curl, Ann Arbor, MI — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:37:02 GMT

Yes, "H2O vapor is *irrelevant* to the problem", but it is worth being specific about why: water vapor in the atmosphere is essentially controlled by the earth's global temperature, there being so much liquid water around. But then when CO2 is relezsed and increases the global temperature, water vapor is forced to rise too, enhancing the effect of the CO2.

Billions go to green tech

Tim Rommes, Washington, UT — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:50:18 GMT

Thomas Ashby (1/29, 1913) posted a diatribe about “green.” It’s sad but he’s essentially spot on. He can probably school us all on easy, effective changes we can make that will improve the habitability of the planet. All that knowledge won’t do too much good, though, without a little glitz and a catch phrase. We’re a slogan culture. Right now it’s hip and cool too be environmentally conscious. How long until the shine wears off and most of the developed world goes back to not caring, and what happens then?

JC, Fairbanks, AK, I don’t recall seeing anything from you for a while. It’s good to see you back. Have you seen anything on open ocean platforms that produce power taking advantage of the thermocline? Much like geothermal but abundant and (quickly) renewable. It still has it’s problems but also a lot of promise. It could also cause localized eco-disasters. Or maybe eco-wonderlands. Tough call. As you indicated, slow, careful exploration instead of blind exploitation is in order.

Billions go to green tech

Tim Rommes, Washington, UT — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:51:21 GMT

By the way, what does happen to all that excess water vapor?????;)

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opinionater — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 19:24:29 GMT

I would assume that the water vapor eventually turns to rain. Since when did water, which we need become an environmental hazard. I am no scientist, but what the heck???? I am sure the burn off from oil is much better. Every thing has a down and and up side, but we definitely need to look into other solutions. I think having a little more rain is the least of our problems.

Billions go to green tech

Johm Morgan — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 20:37:53 GMT

Its all a great big socialist lie. The anti-christ and his socialists are going to destroy my country and most of the free world as a result.

How can we stop national socialism (NAZI) when this was how Hitler started?

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Joan Smorth — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:03:56 GMT

It rains????

Billions go to green tech

J. Lee, Twin Cities MN — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:07:53 GMT

I would pay for someone to install solar panels or a tankless waterheater in my home if I knew i wouldn't get laid off in the next 3 years and I could pay it back in 36 months with 0% interest.

This is how we're going to get the economy back on track.

Billions go to green tech

M. Strickland, CA — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:10:43 GMT

It's about time the US became an innovation leader again and green tech is the way to go. There is no disadvantage to investing in this technology. This will put the construction industry back to work. While we're at it, let Tesla acquire one of the big three Detroit auto companies and bring the electric car to mass market. Big corporate America has never made a real effort to be inventive and push for change so let's shake them up.

Billions go to green tech

RedInDC, Washington DC — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:16:30 GMT

Such a waste of time!! These going 'green' measures are anything but, with most of them not working all of the time. Global warming is a sham, and it's good to know that Democrats, once again, are quick to fall for such.

A way to fix a stimulus plan: lower taxes and don't give stimulus packages to those who don't pay taxes to begin with. Sure, create some jobs, but get rid of the ridiculous quotas and allow native English speakers to get them first. Reduce our dependence on Hollywood and the notion that we must keep up with the Jones'.

Billions go to green tech

Ted, Pittsburgh, PA — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:25:22 GMT

Big oil made record profits last year. Record high gas & oil prices were the finger that pushed the (economy)first domino, now the whole row has tumbled down. Why were gas and oil prices so high? Because oil "speculators" pushed them sky high. Oil and gas prices are dropping, so OPEC cuts production, so the price goes back up. Mandate alternative fuels...eliminate the need for foreign oil...without the U.S. demand OPEC will be up to there ears in oil and won't be able to give it away for 5 dollars a barrel. Make your profits now "big oil" you're on borrowed time!

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Cyfi Asheville, NC — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:28:25 GMT

While the goal is where we need to be heading, you would think in the short term they would look for bills to jump start jobs. I have heard a couple of great ideas. One is a special deduction for companies that buy american made equipment this year only. The other was to send every working person who files taxes and makes less than 24,000/yr a debit card with $5,000 on it; they can make repairs, use to buy things but not to pay down debt with it. That crowd would spend the money so fast it would have impact and it would be going to working people who need it. I thought that was a pretty refresing approach.
This stuff is going to take 18 to 24 months to start having a real impact and lot of it will probably be wasted before it is over. We need jobs that create wealth not drain off wealth to reward political supporters, that is sustainable.

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HTD, Troy, MI — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:03:57 GMT

Comes down as rain and snow in the Midwest and Northeast???

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Jarrod, Pittsburgh, Pa — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:49:40 GMT

Interesting to see the split in comments. Half just want to mock the government. The other half want to have a substantial debate on what tech works, or shows promise, and those that do not. Im all for the latter. Better to try something, than stand around doing nothing. All I ever hear is tax cuts from republicans. tax cuts wont lessen our import energy use, cut our consumption, or save on our heating bills. They will put more money in the pockets of those making money, and may or may not create jobs. At least weatherizing homes will create jobs, and save people money year after year on utilities. its a start.

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Frank Glover, Rochester, NY — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 04:30:22 GMT

"What about public transportation such as expanding and upgrading our subways and trains?"

There's a social acceptance issue with such things that I believe is being ignored. That is, no matter how much you improve those things (which *are* indeed very efficient forms of transportation), will more people actually *use* them, than do now?

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T. Ellsworth Stubbins, Crawford, TX — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:07:09 GMT

We need more tax cuts for the rich, and more countries' oil supplies, that's all. The rest just flows from a free market, right? The greatest minds of our times, the financial geniuses of Wall Street, made $33 billion in bonuses in 2007 and $18 billion in bonuses in 2008, proving that the Bush system is still working. All that money, along with the $500 billion profit that the oil companies made in Bush's time, will trickle down to everyone, and will prove once and for all that Reaganomics is still working beautifully. The MOST important component of this brilliant system, the heart of it, the nucleus, the hub, the axis, the nave, one we must never ever forget, is to continue giving tax cuts to the rich. Bush's economics, spawn of Reagan's, is still working very well. We don't need to pay any attention to these 15,000 stupid scientists around the world, in every scientific body of every country, who keep talking about global warmings. Just go out and shop!

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RSF, Basking Ridge, NJ — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 03:46:58 GMT

Time and capitalism are the answer. Lots of funny money has been injected into the world economy over the past few years. No money down, 110% of the value, no document mortgages. What were we thinking? Reward the people with good ideas, be it new, cleaner forms of energy or replacing government workers with a web site. It's our spirit for innovation and the ability to profit from it that has made America great. Let's not lose sight of that during the upcoming trillion dollar giveaway.

Billions go to green tech

Thomas Ashby, Calgary — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 18:21:32 GMT

T. Ellsworth, Dubya, TX: You didn't exactly say how all that money trickles down. All you say is the it will. I'd sure like to see some hard examples of just what it is you are talking about. On the one hand you seem to imply that it is Reagonomics that allows for "green" technology then on the other hand you talk about "15,000 stupid scientists" and global warming nonsense. So just what exactly are you saying about letting the rich get even richer?

Also, how can you stand by the geniuses of wall street when the US economy is very ill.

Billions go to green tech

Lee Royal — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:32:45 GMT

I think it can happen: Stimulus, infrastructure rebuild, and energy conversion.

I am trying to track the players, at the GREENS site

Green Energy, Effciency, News and Services

Billions go to green tech

Bob Burger, Mesa, Arizona — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 21:00:57 GMT

Great Orator, yes; Great Pragmatist, probably not!
Once the nation gets used to the wonderful speeches and smooth delivery, the only thing we are going to remember are deficits that are created and years trying to rid ourselves of "big government gone wild."

Billions go to green tech

steve NH — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:21:01 GMT

solar panels??? Keep in mind after you spend 10,000 or more on solar panels and put them on your roof. Hope you do not need a new roof in the near future because most roofers will charge double or triple to remove to reroof your home,so where is the savings.....

Billions go to green tech

Anton Lang — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 02:40:06 GMT

I see comments here about water vapor.
The makeup of the Greenhouse layer is as follows.
Water Vapour 95.7%
Carbon Dioxide. 3.8%
Other trace gases 0.5%. (these include Methane)
Carbon dioxide is a tiny part of this greenhouse layer which makes up 2% of the overall Atmosphere, so the overall CO2 content of the Atmosphere is 0.038%, so the current content of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere is 380 parts per million.
Overall CO2 emissions from the surface of the Planet can be relatively easily calculated and is a conservative 150 Billion tons per annum.

Billions go to green tech

Ann Johnshil, tuckahoe, ny — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 20:49:08 GMT

the greening process would cost a lot more money to the people as well as the government. i think that should be included. however, i think that the greening of America should be a higher priority than it is now