Friday Five: February 1, 2013

Without some form of oversight, what will protect the freedom of communities to follow a lifestyle that they choose?
Fracking the Amish
"Decades ago, Miller says, oil and gas companies began prowling around western Pennsylvania, locking residents into leases for conventional gas wells, which are relatively shallow and unobtrusive. Many landowners, Miller included, had no idea that once they had assigned their mineral rights, often for a thousand times less than the going rate, the leaseholders could return and burrow deeper into the same piece of property."

We generally look toward government to enforce the laws that protect these sorts of rights. Also, when industry does not include all of the costs of a business in the cost structure, we look to government to help fund this disparity. Other countries have recognized that they need mechanisms to fund this work...the US is way behind.
The U.S. has some of the lowest energy taxes in the developed world
"A well-designed tax on fossil fuels could, in theory, help curb wasteful use and allow society to recoup the damages wrought by, say, heat-trapping carbon pollution. It’s also a way to raise revenue. That’s the argument, at least."

We also look to government to make sure that when economic systems reward businesses that damage life or a way of life, economic consequences will ensure transitions to industries that provide the same service without the damage to life. This becomes increasingly difficult when economies reward mature businesses in mature industries - regardless of the overall value to life.
Chevron reports record profits — and will spend some of them undermining California pollution standards
"And what will Chevron do with its gobs and gobs of money? One million dollars of it will go to pay a fine levied by the state of California. And some will go to undermining that state’s carbon-reduction rules."

But when we take collective action, we can make changes that turn the economy around and reward businesses that improve life on all sides...
Middlesex County to save millions in electricity costs with solar panels
"The panels will save the county $1 million a year in energy costs for the 15 years of the contract Middlesex has with Edison-based SunDurance Energy, which developed the project, and Bedminster-based KDC Solar LLC, which financed it, Freeholder Director Christopher Rafano said.
'The county has been very active in going green,' Rafano said. 'This was a logical progression.'"

...and we can set in motion a reality that creates a cycle of benefit instead of a cycle of destruction, proving wrong those who say we cannot afford to change for the better. Economies support whatever we find important, and find the most efficient way to accomplish it. It is incumbent upon us to decide what sort of future we want...then a robust economy will make that happen.
Will Germany banish fossil fuels before the U.S.?
"Following Fukushima, German Chancellor Angela Merkel reaffirmed Germany’s pledge to Energiewende, but insisted the country’s targets be met without the use of nuclear power. Germany’s goal now stands at 65 percent renewables on the grid by 2040 and 80 percent — the most the country believes it can achieve with existing technology — by 2050."

Happy Friday!