Senate energy bill faces host of Democratic amendments

Washington Times ^ | 7/29/03 | James G. Lakely

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Republicans' desire to pass a comprehensive energy bill in the Senate by the end of the week is imperiled by as many as 100 amendments offered by Democrats, the stickiest of which tighten fuel-efficiency requirements for automobiles and address global warming.

[FreeLibertarian]

Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, ranking Democrat on the energy panel, will offer an amendment as early as today that would require utilities to generate at least 10 percent of their electricity from renewable sources, such as wind, by 2020.

This amendment is a good idea, it helps cut our dependence on non-renewaable energy sources while creating an incentive for further technology research.

[Rudder]

What ever happened to nuclear energy?

[spokeshave]

But but....didn't the democrats block installation of an off shore wind farm that would block their view.....?

[FreeLibertarian]

I'm not sure what you're refering to but here in New Mexico a new wind farm is being brought on-line in the next month that will supply enough power for approximately 25% of the states current consumption. No one is complaining.

I expect within 10 years New Mexico will be capable of supplying 100% of its own needs plus exporting power to other states from wind power alone and that's only the beginning..

[Ben Ficklin]

Do you have any documentation on that 25%?

[FreeLibertarian]

http://www.cfcae.org/News%20Articles/PNM_Wind_Annoucement.htm

According to the article the wind farm will produce an average of 204 megawatts which is sufficent to supply 94,000 homes. Multiplying 94,000 by 4 persons per household = 376,000 which is approximately 25% of New Mexico's population.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

This amendment is a good idea, it helps cut our dependence on non-renewaable energy sources

This amendment is a bad idea, it burdens utilities with a mandate to produce electricity from a costly, unproven source.

[FreeLibertarian]

Florida Power & Light, Public Service Compnay of New Mexico (PNM), Xcel Energy, Florida Power and Light Energy, RES North America LLC, and Tri-State Generation and Transmission don't think it is a costly unproven source.

http://www.cfcae.org/News%20Articles/PNM_Wind_Annoucement.htm