Sadly, 2011 ends with yet another instance of Republicans protecting their right to be selfish and stupid, denying anyone else has a right to create rules which limit the damage caused by such conduct. They did this by gutting the 2007 law requiring more efficient light bulbs.
Some facts are beyond dispute. The United States imports vasts amounts of expensive oil and burns coal--which has negative pollutive effects--to run our electric infrastructure. The United States population keeps increasing. As our population increases, the electric grid systems have been placed under increasing strains and power has become more expensive.
The only solutions? Limit population increases (opposed by Republicans); Make our power use more efficient (opposed by Republicans); or import more power or build more plants (very expensive).
In 2007, Congress passed a law mandating phased in standards for light bulbs, basically requiring a phase out of the old incandescent light bulb. New technology makes bulbs which are 30% to 40% more efficient. Since so many light bulbs are in use, implementing the new technology will have substantial energy savings. This would address the nation's power shortage problems.
In addition to saving energy, the 2007 law saves money. according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the 2007 law projects to save consumers $12.5 billion by 2020. In short, the new bulbs are more expensive in the short run but save money over time because the last longer and use less power.
Companies which supported the 2007 law included General Electric, Exelon, and Dow Chemical.
So who is in favor of wasting energy and acting stupid? Many Republicans. It's their god given right.
FreedomWorks, a Koch funded purported Tea Party group run by disgraced Repubilcan Dick Armey, urges activists to resist the “federal light bulb police” and sent a “Free Our Light” petition to Congress. The Heritage Foundation, another Koch funded group, claims, "The light-bulb ban is government overreach at its worst. Washington has absolutely no business in dictating what you can and cannot purchase.” How about marijuana, heroin, nuclear weapons, or medical services like abortions? The Koch brothers have made more than 40 billion, mostly selling energy. They vehemently oppose any resource saving measures.
Seems to this author that delusional, wasteful, and stupid is not a good way to go through life. But requiring standards which make America efficient might shave a few million off the Koch's projected future profits, 40 billion in current wealth apparently not being enough.
Repeating their other successful brinksmanship negotiating tactics, Republicans counted on the Democrats and President Obama to cave in to their demands. And so they did.
The 2007 remains on the books--but the Republicans managed to gut any enforcement mechanism.
Shouldn't a good Government foresee problems and make plans to deal with them? Shouldn't good government recognize that resources are limited? That if enough people waste energy then that will hurt everyone? And isn't it the only responsible course for government rules to promote conduct which aids most Americans. Another sad end to the year, as all too many Republicans now believe our Government should have a different role and acted on their beliefs to gut the 2007 energy saving rules.