Continuation of Fracking 2012 elections in the Keystone State: Presidential Race Part 1
Existing energy companies appear to have a limited vision akin to railroad companies in the 1890s. When cars, or horseless carriages, first hit the scene rail road companies saw it as a fad. Or more to the point they saw themselves exclusively as train companies, not transportation companies. This type of reasoning gives justification to gas, oil and utility companies spending millions on campaigns against alternative energy and lobbying, effectively, against climate change.
Today car companies make train cars and the only American train company still in the United States that takes passengers, AMTRAK, requires government funding to remain operational. (Guessing Romney will cut that to given the chance.)
Obama has said little of late in regards to his second term energy policy but it is clear that there will be no new taxes on energy companies with either administration. Romney would reverse the air quality regulations that the administration has already passed and revisit efficiency standards most likely to lower them
Globally no one wants to discuss lowering carbon emissions as it is equated to limiting economic growth. But the short term savings of non-action will be surpassed by spending needed to deal with the carbon issues that are being put off. We will need innovation to address the problems so why not put at least some focus on improving technology and providing for the needs of the future?
The Romney campaign feels that private sector innovation is the answer without government intervention. In that case then why not raise the standards? If higher emission standards in the United States will drive companies to other economies that are not as efficient then let them go?
Taxpayers have to take up the slack for all of these energy companies that needed a stimulus package to raise prices, ignore cleaner alternatives and make sure they got all of the bonus checks out to board members on time. Apparently with all of the record profits collected during the global recession there is not enough to go around to invest in looking for a better way.Why should there be, money's still rolling in right? These are things to remember when they are forced to change and pass on the cost of a delayed cleaner energy program to you while giving themselves another bonus for “going green”.
It will be happening, and I doubt future candidates will be mentioning it then either.
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