[pup55]

Hon. Samuel W Bodman
Secretary of Energy
Washington DC

Hello again, Sam:

Thanks for your recent comments in the NYT. It is wonderful that you take time out of your busy schedule to defend our national energy policy.

I hope you don't mind if I point out a couple of things:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'the president signed into law increases in fuel efficiency standards')

The president resisted increasing the CAFE standards tooth and nail for 7 years, before finally capitulating this year, and not until the standards were watered down enough. The standards call for an increase in efficiency to 35 mpg by 2020, which is less than Europe and China are right now.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')we’ve spent more than $12 billion to advance alternative energy sources including solar, wind, biofuels and nuclear power.

[Ghog]

Great 'rebuttals' Pup!!

I still love the political commercials stating 'they won't let us drill here at home'.

Using less energy or destroying US lands to find more. Which would be MORE effective at reducing our dependence on foreign oil? Hmmmmm.

[pup55]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'U')sing less energy

[Ghog]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pup55', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'U')sing less energy

[countrymomma]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A')s far as I can tell, you've missed nothing. They want us to continue to drive and consume. They just want us to do it more efficiently.

[Twilight]

Hey Mr. Bodman. I am not a US citizen, and I do not own a car, I just hire one for a day when I need to. Recently I drove an MPV that got me 44mpg on the open road fully loaded. It had an ordinary internal combustion engine. It was a Ford. And it is not available in the US. Whatever your energy policy is, you rely on others to implement it. You need to ask whose side they are on.

[joe1347]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Graeme', '[')b]U.S. Energy Policy, as the Energy Secretary Sees It

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'Y')our March 25 editorial “Pain at the Pump and Beyond” pointed to the strain that high energy prices are putting on America’s economy, families and businesses. As energy secretary, I agree that our nation is “far too dependent on oil.” We absolutely must lessen our dependence on fossil fuels, harness the power of clean energy, and increase our energy efficiency.

And so I strongly disagree with your statement that the Bush administration’s energy strategy is “focused on one thing: getting more oil.” At best, this suggestion demonstrates an incomplete understanding of the efforts under way across our nation.

Since the start of this administration, the federal government has spent more than $12 billion to research, develop and promote alternative energy sources. Last year alone, the Energy Department announced more than $1 billion to spur the growth of a robust, sustainable biofuels industry — with a focus on cellulosic ethanol. We also continue to make critical investments in solar and wind power, hydrogen fuel cells, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, cutting-edge clean coal plants and advanced nuclear power technologies. And we’re already seeing results — in our national laboratories and, more important, out in the marketplace.

This work has been under way for years and must continue at a rapid pace. After all, our energy challenges have been decades in the making and will not be solved overnight.

Our national strategy is not a reaction to high oil prices. It’s a comprehensive policy that seeks to address two of the most fundamental challenges we face: improving our energy security and combating global climate change. Today’s high energy prices only underscore the urgency of these efforts.

Samuel W. Bodman
Secretary of Energy
Washington, March 26, 2008

[skiptamali]

So here's an interesting bit of news. Ford will get a $10 million grant from the U.S. DOE to develop plug-in hybrids. This will cover approximately half the cost of the project. The plan is to bring the PHEV closer to commercialization by working out some of the early quirks and setbacks.

This looks like a solid partnership between the government and private automakers. Why Ford though? Why only Ford? How far can $20M get them in three years?

I wonder if granting money to Ford alone, and not pushing collaboration with other (American) automakers, is the smartest thing to do.

[mos6507]

What a joke. This is not a pie-in-the-sky research project anymore. It's already becoming a reality. In 3 years the Volt, Vue (technically a plugin but a pretty weak-ass one), Fisker Karma, and Aptera plugins will already be on the road.

[strider3700]

Ford lost 8.7 billion in it's second quarter. Compared to that 10 million is laughable

[IslandCrow]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('skiptamali', 'g')rant from the U.S. DOE to develop plug-in hybrids.

[nocar]

I am not at all enthusiastic over plug-in cars.
Biofuel - grain prices go up and carless people have to pay more for food in order for car-owners to enjoy their car-driving habit
Plug-in cars - electricity prices go up and carless people have to pay more for their power in order for car-owners to enjoy their car-driving habit. Is that really fair?

[mos6507]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('nocar', 'P')lug-in cars - electricity prices go up and carless people have to pay more for their power in order for car-owners to enjoy their car-driving habit

[Plantagenet]

Building electrical light rail mass transit systems right now, like they have in Europe right now, would make a lot more sense then spending another decade trying to create the perfect electric car.

[RSFB]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Plantagenet', 'B')uilding electrical light rail mass transit systems, like they have in Europe right now, would a lot more sense then spending billions trying to create the perfect electric car.

[dinopello]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Plantagenet', 'B')uilding electrical light rail mass transit systems, like they have in Europe right now, would a lot more sense then spending billions trying to create the perfect electric car.

[nocar]

Mos6507 wrote
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')hink big picture. Given how dependent we are on oil for more than just gasoline, freeing up that oil through electrifying transportation would clearly be a net gain for everyone.

[species8742]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mos6507', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('nocar', 'P')lug-in cars - electricity prices go up and carless people have to pay more for their power in order for car-owners to enjoy their car-driving habit

[RSFB]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('species8742', 'I')f one out of twelve families buy an electric car, we will DOUBLE our electric consumption and the grid cant supply our needs.

[mos6507]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('species8742', 't')here is no way we can even come close to replaceing our oil needs with electiricity, and as electricity is used, prices increase. If one out of twelve families buy an electric car, we will DOUBLE our electric consumption and the grid cant supply our needs.