end_of_suburbia (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} end_of_suburbia) wrote,@ 2006-09-17 17:22:00 |
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During the last federal election in Canada, my local newspaper
asked readers to submit questions for our local candidates. Here
is my carefully-worded question, followed by their responses, and
my reviews of their answers. I think these are good examples of
why we shouldn't look to governments for solutions to the coming
energy crisis. - Barry
"Given that global oil extraction, North American natural gas
production, and provincial electricity generation will likely peak
within the next ten years and then decline by three to eight per cent
per year thereafter, what are your party's plans for encouraging the
reorganization of our local economy, local food supply and local
energy generation, all of which are dependent on vast fossil fuel
inputs?"
CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE
PHIL McCOLEMAN
My view here is that we absolutely have to move to environmentally-
friendly and sustainable energy supplies. Which in our environment
would mean the promotion of fuels to support our industry and our
population that can be generated here at home while balancing at the
same time the need to support larger Canadian economy, which is rich
with natural resources. All of this with the objective of being self-sufficient
as a country.
My review: Phil gets points for supporting
"environmentally-friendly and sustainable energy supplies" but
doesn't give any indication of what those might be, except that they
should be used to keep growing the economy - a scenario which is
pretty much impossible under present conditions given anything
greater than a 2% annual decline in energy. And it is unlikely that
we can be self-sufficent in Canada if we are going to use as much
energy as we do now. Also, note that Phil makes no attempt to link
energy decline to relocalization. Conclusion: Phil is clueless
about energy depletion issues. Move on. Nothing to see here
folks.
GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE
ADAM KING
The Canadian economy cannot afford to be so strongly linked to
the price of oil. The Green Party would take steps towards Canadian
independence on this by investing in renewable energy, giving
incentives for hybrid vehicle development and other technologies.
Once again, shifting subsidies and taxes so that it makes sense for
companies and individuals to do what's right for the environment, the
economy and society long term.
My review: Ok, 1 point for Adam for mentioning renewable energy.
However, my dog could have done that, so I also give one point to my
dog as well. Incentives for hybrid technology might do some good
(but, in my opinion, wouldn't make much of a dent when you consider
how many internal combustion engines there are out there in vehicles
that are less than 5 years old, thanks to the automakers flooding the
market with cheap SUVs for the last few years. Who can afford to
trade in an almost-new F-150 for a new hybrid, especially once gas
sticks at over a buck ten a litre and no one wants to buy big
pick-ups?) Other technologies? I can only assume he means hydrogen.
Adam gets an extra point for not saying it. That also means I don't
have to go down to his campaign office and wash his mouth out with
soap for using bad words like "hydrogen". Still, I'd like to hear
details about tax incentives for implementing renewable energy and
conservation. No answer to my question about relocalization.
LIBERAL CANDIDATE
LLOYD ST. AMAND
If the point of the question is that there are a limited number
of fossil fuels, then the point is valid. We need to look for
alternative sources of energy- for two reasons. On a very long-term
basis, given the great strides in the economies of China and India,
more and more energy is being required. More countries are truly
industrialized hence a greater need for energy. The long term
sustainability of energy based on oil and gas is just not there. On a
shorter-term basis, the omission of pollution into the atmosphere is
a growing concern. Global warming, climate change those are
realities. Those realities are reflected in the peculiar weather
patterns, which we have seen. As a society we need to look to
alternative sources of energy, wind power, solar power and for
instance renewable fuels such as ethanol to move our vehicles. The
federal government is proving significant incentives for the
research, development and production of wind power, solar power and
ethanol.
My review: No, the idea that fossil fuels are limited wasn't the
point of my question. Most grade-three students can figure out that
fossil fuels are limited. For some reason adults can't seem to grasp
the concept. After that strike, Lloyd goes on to surprise me. He
mentions China and India, so obviously he reads the Globe and Mail.
Then he mentions lack of sustainability. He's rounding second base
now! But wait! Now he heads off into left field with global
warming. Right out of the Book of Election Talking Points! All you
have to do is mention "environment" and you'll get the tree huggers'
vote, right? But wait again! He's headed back toward third base
with wind, solar and...ohhhh, ethanol. Lloyd gets nailed with
negative Energy-Return-On-Energy-Invested and he's out! I sure would
have liked to heard about those incentives for wind and solar though.
Back to the dugout Lloyd, where you can do some thinking about
ethanol and decide whether you prefer to eat or drive.
NDP CANDIDATE
LYNN BOWERING
The NDP has a very clear environmental strategy that pulls for
strong government incentive to move into other types of fuels that
are not using up non-renewable resources. We've talked about
exploring alternative sources of energy, other countries have done it
a lot more than Canada. We have to look at it from the other end -
conserve energy and encourage people to make more efficient use of
current energy sources.
My review: Holy cow! Lynn has my attention right from the
get-go. That first sentence just makes me want to surf over to the
NDP website and check out that strategy, honestly. In her answer, I
suspect that she is referring to European countries like Germany and
Denmark, which apparently get up to 18% of their electricity from
wind. Kudos to her for paying attention. And ten points for Lynn
for being the only candidate to have the courage to use the word
"conserve"! Too bad the voting public isn't ready to hear it.
Still, no outward awareness of why we need to relocalize, but I have
hope. In the last election, some people claimed that the NDP had a
better energy policy than the Green Party. I can believe it now.
asked readers to submit questions for our local candidates. Here
is my carefully-worded question, followed by their responses, and
my reviews of their answers. I think these are good examples of
why we shouldn't look to governments for solutions to the coming
energy crisis. - Barry
"Given that global oil extraction, North American natural gas
production, and provincial electricity generation will likely peak
within the next ten years and then decline by three to eight per cent
per year thereafter, what are your party's plans for encouraging the
reorganization of our local economy, local food supply and local
energy generation, all of which are dependent on vast fossil fuel
inputs?"
CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE
PHIL McCOLEMAN
My view here is that we absolutely have to move to environmentally-
friendly and sustainable energy supplies. Which in our environment
would mean the promotion of fuels to support our industry and our
population that can be generated here at home while balancing at the
same time the need to support larger Canadian economy, which is rich
with natural resources. All of this with the objective of being self-sufficient
as a country.
My review: Phil gets points for supporting
"environmentally-friendly and sustainable energy supplies" but
doesn't give any indication of what those might be, except that they
should be used to keep growing the economy - a scenario which is
pretty much impossible under present conditions given anything
greater than a 2% annual decline in energy. And it is unlikely that
we can be self-sufficent in Canada if we are going to use as much
energy as we do now. Also, note that Phil makes no attempt to link
energy decline to relocalization. Conclusion: Phil is clueless
about energy depletion issues. Move on. Nothing to see here
folks.
GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE
ADAM KING
The Canadian economy cannot afford to be so strongly linked to
the price of oil. The Green Party would take steps towards Canadian
independence on this by investing in renewable energy, giving
incentives for hybrid vehicle development and other technologies.
Once again, shifting subsidies and taxes so that it makes sense for
companies and individuals to do what's right for the environment, the
economy and society long term.
My review: Ok, 1 point for Adam for mentioning renewable energy.
However, my dog could have done that, so I also give one point to my
dog as well. Incentives for hybrid technology might do some good
(but, in my opinion, wouldn't make much of a dent when you consider
how many internal combustion engines there are out there in vehicles
that are less than 5 years old, thanks to the automakers flooding the
market with cheap SUVs for the last few years. Who can afford to
trade in an almost-new F-150 for a new hybrid, especially once gas
sticks at over a buck ten a litre and no one wants to buy big
pick-ups?) Other technologies? I can only assume he means hydrogen.
Adam gets an extra point for not saying it. That also means I don't
have to go down to his campaign office and wash his mouth out with
soap for using bad words like "hydrogen". Still, I'd like to hear
details about tax incentives for implementing renewable energy and
conservation. No answer to my question about relocalization.
LIBERAL CANDIDATE
LLOYD ST. AMAND
If the point of the question is that there are a limited number
of fossil fuels, then the point is valid. We need to look for
alternative sources of energy- for two reasons. On a very long-term
basis, given the great strides in the economies of China and India,
more and more energy is being required. More countries are truly
industrialized hence a greater need for energy. The long term
sustainability of energy based on oil and gas is just not there. On a
shorter-term basis, the omission of pollution into the atmosphere is
a growing concern. Global warming, climate change those are
realities. Those realities are reflected in the peculiar weather
patterns, which we have seen. As a society we need to look to
alternative sources of energy, wind power, solar power and for
instance renewable fuels such as ethanol to move our vehicles. The
federal government is proving significant incentives for the
research, development and production of wind power, solar power and
ethanol.
My review: No, the idea that fossil fuels are limited wasn't the
point of my question. Most grade-three students can figure out that
fossil fuels are limited. For some reason adults can't seem to grasp
the concept. After that strike, Lloyd goes on to surprise me. He
mentions China and India, so obviously he reads the Globe and Mail.
Then he mentions lack of sustainability. He's rounding second base
now! But wait! Now he heads off into left field with global
warming. Right out of the Book of Election Talking Points! All you
have to do is mention "environment" and you'll get the tree huggers'
vote, right? But wait again! He's headed back toward third base
with wind, solar and...ohhhh, ethanol. Lloyd gets nailed with
negative Energy-Return-On-Energy-Invested and he's out! I sure would
have liked to heard about those incentives for wind and solar though.
Back to the dugout Lloyd, where you can do some thinking about
ethanol and decide whether you prefer to eat or drive.
NDP CANDIDATE
LYNN BOWERING
The NDP has a very clear environmental strategy that pulls for
strong government incentive to move into other types of fuels that
are not using up non-renewable resources. We've talked about
exploring alternative sources of energy, other countries have done it
a lot more than Canada. We have to look at it from the other end -
conserve energy and encourage people to make more efficient use of
current energy sources.
My review: Holy cow! Lynn has my attention right from the
get-go. That first sentence just makes me want to surf over to the
NDP website and check out that strategy, honestly. In her answer, I
suspect that she is referring to European countries like Germany and
Denmark, which apparently get up to 18% of their electricity from
wind. Kudos to her for paying attention. And ten points for Lynn
for being the only candidate to have the courage to use the word
"conserve"! Too bad the voting public isn't ready to hear it.
Still, no outward awareness of why we need to relocalize, but I have
hope. In the last election, some people claimed that the NDP had a
better energy policy than the Green Party. I can believe it now.
