Obama Announces New Emissions and Mileage Standards

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Reply to Fred Moolten of PA,

A Comprehensive CO2-mitigation program isn't needed. In 1988 James Hansen testified before congress to scare us about global warming. See his predictions on page 7 of this PDF from NASA’s website:

http://pubs.giss.nasa.gov/docs/1988/1988_Hansen_etal.pdf

All satellite data, including this from the University of Alabama at Huntsville proves that he was wrong. The predicted warming never occurred:

http://icecap.us/images/uploads/HANSEN_AND_CONGRESS.jpg

2008 was even colder than 1988. Now the politicians are threatening to burden the economy with their Cap-and-Trade tax increase on all conventional energy usage, to be paid for by you every time you buy something manufactured or transported using energy, which includes everything. They claim to be protecting the children, when they are really making plans to subject these children to a poorer future with these taxes, before they are old enough or wise enough to vote against it. Here is more background on Hansen’s hoax from 1988:

http://icecap.us/index.php/go/joes-blog/hansens_anniversary_testimony/

31,478 scientists signed a petition opposing the man-made global warming theory. Their reasoning is outlined in a peer reviewed journal article detailing the evidence that disproved the theory. Please follow this link:

http://www.petitionproject.org/

All of the so-called ‘alternative’ sources of energy, including wind and solar, equal less than one percent of mankind’s current needs. That’s no alternative. Meanwhile our far more economical access to hydrocarbon energy and nuclear energy is being throttled for no good reason. Gore wouldn't mind impoverishing the rest of us to enrich himself with his ‘carbon trading’ scheme. With the size of his utility bills and the cost of jet fuel for his private jet flying him all over the world, he needs all the money he can get. If he were really worried about CO2, wouldn’t he act like he was worried about his own emissions, and energy consumption? Of course he is received like a hero in Hollywood; he makes hypocrisy fashionable.

This is all being sold to us as if it were ‘scientific’, when really it is an attack on science, an attack on our scientific institutions, an attack on scientists themselves, and an attack on our modern standard of living given to us by previous achievements in science. Here are examples:

http://www.opinioneditorials.com/guestcontributors/msheppard_20060630.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1545134/Scientists-threatened-for-climate-denial.html

The petition project provides a list of names of 31,478 brave scientists courageous enough to go on record opposing the man-made global warming theory, even though they must know it is sure to be used as a ‘blacklist’ to exclude them from consideration for advancement, or grant funding, wherever their institutions still adhere to the politically correct, but scientifically incorrect position on this theory.

Barry of CA @ Jun 05, 2009 18:21:32 PM

Rural America Ruined

Obama just made rural life in America nearly fatal by the year 2016. Vehicle costs will now go up and get ready for fuel prices to hit the roof by 2016. Long commutes in rural parts of America will cost a dang fortune. I know because I saw what EPA's tier I and tier II regulations did to gas prices. Get ready to import our food and produce because farmers will not be able to afford equipment, fuel, & transportation of goods. Long distance travel will no longer be possible without travelling the sky or rail, which isn't handy for people living in rural areas. Good bye America as I know it and hello ObamaNation! Thanks Mr. President for doing your best to ruin our beloved country by making us live to your standards! We have a president with a God Complex. What's next on your agenda? I need to know if I need to go buy something while I can still afford it.

MadScientist of AR @ May 20, 2009 11:31:25 AM

New CAFE standards

Put in perspective, the new mileage standards should probably be seen as a small step forward, but by themselves will reduce CO2 emissions less than needed for a comprehensive CO2-mitigation program. However, an encouraging additional development is the announcement of planned major upgrades in the nation's electricity grid, which will expedite the use of electric power for automobiles. Electricity is a far more efficient power source than the internal combustion engine, and the combination of an improved grid with the substitution of wind and solar energy for coal in generating most future electricity will go further than mileage standards alone to control carbon emissions at a level that contains future climate change and its consequences within tolerable limits.

The issue of costs is not irrelevant, but the Administration has appropriately decided that energy independence and climate change mitigation deserve priority. Higher automobile purchase costs are anticipated, but will be offset by lower fuel expenses. It's also important to note that the new standards are averages, and do not preclude the purchase of cars, SUVs, or trucks that deviate from the average in the case of individuals or families who require such vehicles.

Fred Moolten of PA @ May 19, 2009 13:49:19 PM

Cost Only $1300

How did Obama come up with the additional cost per vehicle of only $1300 for better fuel efficiency? Go to a dealer and price a Camry or Ford Fusion hybrid vs the non hybrid model and the purchase cost difference (not list price difference) is closer to $4000 than $ 1300. So the benefit really depends on the price of gasoline.

When gas dropped from $4 per gallon to $2 per gallon, Toyota's sales of hybrids dropped in half and their sales of large pickup trucks nearly doubled.

Future cars will get smaller and more expensive. The real question is whether the public will embrace the smaller cars. Keep gas prices 2-3$ per gallon and the answer will most likely be no. Drive gas prices to $5 per gallon and the answer will be yes. Expect to see dramatic increases in gasoline prices over the next five years. Waxman's cap and trade bill will start the price increaes as soon as it is passed.

Without higher gas prices consumers may reject the new smaller cars and another bailout will be required for the auto companies.

Personally, I already have trouble finding a car to fit my 6' 5 inch frame into. So my next vehicle will probably be a truck. And my personal Co2 output from driving will go up.

Bob of TX @ May 19, 2009 13:48:56 PM

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Maura Judkis is a producer at U.S. News. She writes about the green movement and looks for ways to be an ecofriendly consumer without breaking the bank. Send her your green tips.

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