A Response from Senator Sessions on Cap & Trade

I received a response from Senator Jeff Sessions' office regarding my message on cap & trade. It's probably a form letter written up by his staff, but it's nice to know a) he's paying attention and b) his ideas on energy policy almost approximate mine (would've preferred more emphasis on petroleum, less emphasis on ethanol). Here followeth the letter:

July 2, 2009

Dear Mr. Leahy:

Thank you for contacting me regarding global climate change.

As you are aware, the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) was introduced by U.S. Representative Henry Waxman on May 15, 2009, and passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 219-212. H.R. 2454 has a two pronged approach to cutting green house gas emissions: mandating energy efficiencies and mandating a cap and trade program.

Cap-and-trade systems are very complex and result in thousands of new regulations. I am uneasy with such an approach. Environmental and climate change matters are important to me, and I actively monitor this issue. I believe we have a responsibility to protect our environment, by using proven scientific methods that do not unnecessarily drive up costs for our citizens or jeopardize economic growth. Most scientists acknowledge that there is much that we do not know about climate change. There are many variables in accurately predicting how much warming is caused by human activity and how much warming can be attributed to other causes. To this end, I am committed to sound scientific research, and I will support proposals that guarantee benefits from the sizeable expenditures necessary.

It is my belief that we need to do now what we know works to protect our environment. We should support a comprehensive plan to develop the technologies needed in order to reduce carbon emissions while continuing to grow our economy. As such, I believe that investment in new sources of energy proven to work such as nuclear power, wind, and biofuels is worthy of support. We should support the research and actual use of alternate energy sources and technologies such as solar and clean coal, hybrids, and plug-in electric vehicles, and create a new, cheaper, and safer nuclear power plan model that can be affordably replicated around the country. As such, I am actively engaged in promoting nuclear energy, developing cellulosic (wood, switchgrass) ethanol, diesel enhancement, plug-in hybrids, coal-to-liquid, and expanded oil and natural gas production in America.

Thank you again for contacting my office. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any comments or questions.

Very truly yours,

Jeff Sessions
United States Senator

JS: mb

Potpourri LXIII

Eventually I'll finish the laundry, shower, and get dressed. However, I have to maintain that image of the "pajamas media," right? Off we go...

Three from Melissa on recovering/refurbishing old data from the Apollo program. As M noted, "What were they thinking?"

• http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/15/nasa_footage_mishap/
• http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/11/vintage_ibm_tape_drive_moon_dust_data/
• http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/06/29/moon_landing_tapes/print.html

From Lin, an analysis of the cap and trade bill, which doesn't just touch evil utility companies, but also the sales of private homes. Ya know, it really would've been useful if members of Congress had read the bill before voting for it.

Some less-than-warm-and-fuzzy thoughts about the future of NASA from one of Jerry Pournelle's readers.

Was sexual liberation a good thing for love and marriage? Some thoughts here. (Note: occasional saucy language included.)

NASA now has a Twitter feed in Spanish. Bienvenidos a las estrellas, y'all!

Now this is fun: Air New Zealand's video safety notice at the beginning of their flights features crew members wearing nothing but body paint. The DUDE (Down Under Defense Expert) informs me that the "Nothing to Hide" campaign is ANZ's attempt to stick it to a competitor, JetStar, which has a lot of hidden fees for baggage service, etc. Love that Kiwi sense of humor.

Speaking of baring it all on airplanes, a flight was diverted after a New York man decided to get utterly nekkid.

And since I'm in the neighborhood, a computer glitch caused massive delays for United Airlines flights at O'Hare.

Soap operas in space? Alas, yes. This is much different from “space opera,” which is a specific sub-genre of science fiction. A space opera is something like Star Wars or Star Trek or Battlestar Galactica: heavy on the drama, light on science fact, and usually concerning issues related to a unique (space) environment. A soap opera in space is a romance that just happens to have space as a background. Expect a lot of bad writing, cheeseball special effects, and incredibly bad science. Pardon me if my SF snob shows...

And that's about it for now. The first load of laundry is done, so I can get outside. Have a safe and enjoyable Independence Day weekend, enjoying what freedoms are allowed to you.

Letter to My Senators on the Energy Bill

I just submitted the following letter to Senators Sessions and Shelby (R-AL). My reasons are my own, but I encourage you to find your own words to stop the energy bill from going any further.

Senator Shelby:

I am appalled, but alas, not surprised that the House has passed the cap-and-trade bill. I sincerely encourage you to fight this bill and not allow it to be passed into law. The reasons for doing so are many, and all worthy of repeating:

--It is an unprecedented and unnecessary intrusion of government into the private sector.
--It raises the cost of energy, which will increase the cost of EVERYTHING ELSE in our economy, from transportation to manufacturing to farming. This is the worst possible thing government could do in an already-ailing economy.
--There are NO “green” technologies currently available that provide the amount of energy this nation needs to maintain a high level of technology or standard of living. Therefore, the only result will be a direct curtailing of future prosperity for all Americans.
--Global warming is still a subject very much in dispute, given a leveling off or cooling of temperatures in the last eight years.
--A “consensus” by activist scientists does not constitute scientific proof. Theories are proven by data and verifiable experiment, not incomplete computer models.

I strongly encourage you, Senator Sessions, and the other Republicans in the Senate to stop this legislation. There are things that can and should be done to meet the nation’s growing energy needs, including drilling for more oil on American lands, like off the coasts and in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge; investing in basic energy research, including space solar power and helium-3 derived fusion; and reducing regulations on new nuclear power plants.

Senator, stopping this bill does not represent “fear of the future,” as President Obama asserts. It is a principled stand against making the future more fearful. I look forward to supporting you in this vital battle for our nation’s future.

Sincerely,

Bart Leahy