Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Climate-Change Bill Could Lead to Increased Regulations on Fireworks
CNSNews.com ^ | July 07, 2009 | Marie Magleby

Posted on 07/07/2009 3:11:11 AM PDT by Man50D

Americans use more 200 million pounds of fireworks each year, the majority on July Fourth. Because fireworks emit carbon dioxide (CO2) as they burn, however, the fireworks industry may come under tighter regulation if cap-and-trade legislation passes in the Senate in coming months.

A cap-and-trade bill already passed in the House on June 26, which has raised concerns that Americans will soon be paying more for energy.

The House bill, called the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, introduces the possibility of calculating the amount of carbon emitted by products and labeling the products with this information.

“The (EPA) administrator shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility of establishing a national program for measuring, reporting, publicly disclosing, and labeling products or materials sold in the United States for their carbon content,” the act lays out in Section 274.

David Chavez, a chemist at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and a fireworks expert, said that most consumer fireworks in the U.S. are sold around Independence Day, but carbon emissions from fireworks are only a tiny piece of the carbon-emission pie.

“Compared to other sources of CO2 emission, pyrotechnics is probably not even in the ballpark,” Chavez told CNSNews.com.

According to the American Pyrotechnic Association, in 2008, Americans used 213 million pounds all told -- including 186 million pounds purchased by individual consumers and 27 million pounds used in professional displays.

Chavez said that in a worst-case scenario, carbon dioxide emissions from fireworks would amount to 0.006 percent of the total emissions for the nation.

“Basically, the amount of pollution created by all fireworks in this scenario would be equal to about the amount of CO2 produced by 50,000 average Americans annually,” he told CNSNews.com.

According to the Clean Energy and Security Act, the term “carbon footprint” refers to the level of greenhouse gas emissions produced by a particular activity, service or entity.

The “carbon lifecycle” of a product is the greenhouse gas emissions that are released as part of the processes of creating, producing, processing or manufacturing, modifying, transporting, distributing, storing, using, recycling, or disposing of goods and services.

Both the footprint and the lifecycle of the fireworks industry would come under government scrutiny if the cap-and-trade bill is enacted as proposed.

The precise effects of cap-and-trade on firework consumption remains unclear, but some scientists are currently trying to develop “green,” environmentally friendly fireworks, which they hope will supplant traditional fireworks.

“A new generation of ‘green’ fireworks is quietly making its way toward the sky,” Michael Bernstein of the American Chemical Society said in a press release.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 111th; capandtrade; chemicals; fireworks
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-40 last
To: bondjamesbond
I don’t know why they had it in for the fireworks display.

It represents the best of America. It is a "tradition" therefore needs to be gutted. It reminds people of the war for Independence, which is patriotic, therefore must be eliminated.

If it is pro-America it needs to die so that the masses forget about the goodness of America and accept their new marxist overlords.

That's why.

Fight.

21 posted on 07/07/2009 4:27:34 AM PDT by paulycy (Liberal DOUBLE-STANDARDS are HATE crimes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Man50D

The bullshit from GodGov gets deeper and deeper.


22 posted on 07/07/2009 4:30:12 AM PDT by metesky (My retirement fund is holding steady @ $.05 a can.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cbkaty

Liberals try real hard but they haven’t exterminated us yet. I went to my hometown for Independence day for the first time in years and found traditional America. Lots of horses, tractors, and kids in our parade.

I made up a slideshow but I don’t know how well it works.

http://s736.photobucket.com/albums/xx2/Snappler_2009/?albumview=slideshow


23 posted on 07/07/2009 4:31:46 AM PDT by cripplecreek (The poor bastards have us surrounded.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: bondjamesbond
re: I don’t know why they had it in for the fireworks display

I think a lot it has to do with the fact that fireworks displays have been the traditional method of saluting America and all that she stands for, for almost two centuries. This is not the America they envision and want nothing to do with validating that America.

Simple truth is 4th of July fireworks displays are just too patriotic for many of today's Americans.

24 posted on 07/07/2009 4:33:28 AM PDT by jwparkerjr (God Bless America!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Man50D
Bluenoses ALWAYS turn first to the fun things in life and attempt to ban them.

There will be high fines and long jail sentences for sparkler bootleggers.

25 posted on 07/07/2009 4:35:04 AM PDT by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Doogle
..any decent BBQ place puts enough smoke and the great aroma into our atmosphere daily....another American tradition THAT WILL BE targeted. Any place to get our money.

BBQs are already regulated in Los Angeles. Coming Soon To A Theater Near You!

Executive Order: G-786 - Consumer Products Charcoal Lighter Material

26 posted on 07/07/2009 4:35:49 AM PDT by bondjamesbond (Don't blame me... I voted for PALIN!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Man50D

climate change=change to communism.

LLS


27 posted on 07/07/2009 4:40:29 AM PDT by LibLieSlayer (hussein will NEVER be my President... NEVER!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Man50D

Cap and Trade bills will only be passed to stop the colors Red, White, and Blue ,in traditional fireworks displays.


28 posted on 07/07/2009 4:43:36 AM PDT by Venturer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek

What a great parade.


29 posted on 07/07/2009 4:47:21 AM PDT by bondjamesbond (Don't blame me... I voted for PALIN!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: bondjamesbond

There were a lot of pictures I didn’t include. Fire trucks from all around the area, a truckload of kids on their bikes, that sort of thing.

One thing I noticed missing from the parade was a high school marching band. A teacher won’t work to put it together and not enough kids want to put in the time either.


30 posted on 07/07/2009 4:53:23 AM PDT by cripplecreek (The poor bastards have us surrounded.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek
Independence day in our town.....Fredericksburg, Texas...who knows when the carbon police will shut down our patriotic parades too.....

Note the streets of our town are extremely wide...Why? This width allowed a wagon drawn by Ox or Horse to make a U-Turn.....

Patriotism is alive and well in Fredericksburg, Texas.....

31 posted on 07/07/2009 5:15:01 AM PDT by cbkaty (I may not always post...but I am always here......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek
Your parade and Pix are excellent...keep it going. I noticed all the green grass...haven't seen that here in the Texas Hill Country for some time..

We "almost" got rain last night....Not a cloud in the sky today...predicting up to 105 degrees today...

32 posted on 07/07/2009 5:19:10 AM PDT by cbkaty (I may not always post...but I am always here......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: cbkaty

My little hometown of Hanover Michigan (pop 424 as of 2000) has the biggest celebration in the area. Things were a little subdued this year due to the economy but I would estimate between 15 and 20 thousand people in town for the day. The party store, grocery store and bar were doing a booming business.

There were tractor pulls at the farm heritage museum and the antique reed organ museum had stuff going on all weekend. My niece took 3rd place in the talent contest so she had a good day.


33 posted on 07/07/2009 5:28:24 AM PDT by cripplecreek (The poor bastards have us surrounded.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek

Just Wow! Your sildeshow was wonderful! That is America! Thanks!


34 posted on 07/07/2009 5:31:27 AM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Man50D
...some scientists are currently trying to develop “green,” environmentally friendly fireworks, which they hope will supplant traditional fireworks. “A new generation of ‘green’ fireworks is quietly making its way toward the sky,” Michael Bernstein of the American Chemical Society said

Sheer lunacy. I cannot believe ANY professional would even think about doing this work.

Wouldn't it be easier to just ban fireworks and provide government issue Mentos, Diet Pepsi and plastic bottles?

35 posted on 07/07/2009 5:31:52 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Man50D

“Green” fireworks???

So, I guess that would be some guy in a cherry-picker bucket, with a pair of flashlights, blinking them on and off?

“Ooooohhh! Aaaaaahhhhhhhhh!”

Jeez!


36 posted on 07/07/2009 5:33:35 AM PDT by ozark hilljilly (My gub'mint calls me a terrorist, but my kids call me "Mom".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red_Devil 232

Nothing says America like a father with his kid on a tractor.


37 posted on 07/07/2009 5:44:25 AM PDT by cripplecreek (The poor bastards have us surrounded.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: ProtectOurFreedom
...some scientists are currently trying to develop “green,” environmentally friendly fireworks

The Chinese label this lunacy by year...."the year of the fools".......

38 posted on 07/07/2009 5:49:09 AM PDT by cbkaty (I may not always post...but I am always here......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek
Nothing says America like a father with his kid on a tractor.

America!

39 posted on 07/07/2009 5:56:06 AM PDT by cbkaty (I may not always post...but I am always here......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Man50D

Anyone remember the watermelon’s environmental “racism?” That is how overpowering the watermelons can be with this power the House gave to them.


40 posted on 07/07/2009 10:43:28 AM PDT by SaraJohnson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-40 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson