Stan's Energy Plan

Windmills, solar panels, hybrid cars, sacrifice (use less), and Cap and Trade (Tax) seems to be the core of the current administration's energy plan. We have never had a national energy plan since we saw the need for one back in the 1970's during the Arab oil embargo and we still don't have one! Bush and other presidents have done nothing and what Obama may do with the Cap and Trade (Tax) bill could be a mortal blow.

One commentator said that if our country went all out on wind energy we could increase our energy from that source from 1% to 2% in a few years. My question is: "How are we going to supply the other 98% needed?"

My motivation is not man made global warming...but we have to do something about our future energy needs so we can quit sending money to the the Middle East, protect our national security and improve our trade balance sheet.

Here's my plan.....

1. Encourage wind energy, solar panels, hybrid cars, higher energy ratings on appliances and HAVC systems, and building materials with tax credits.

2. Convert the entire trucking (18 wheelers) to pressurized natural gas. That will cut oil imports dramatically.

3. Subsidize and build up the rail system to transport goods nationally! The energy savings here would be incredible!

4. Tax credits for food grown and sold locally---a small tax on foods transported across state lines (is this legal?) The tax is to help build the local food industry.

5. Drill here, Drill now. Oil is not going away, neither is coal!

6. Build Nuclear plants! It's the cleanest energy source. What are the French doing with the by-products???? We could shoot it at the moon and fill up a few craters!

7. Do away with that joke called ethanol. Ethanol gives you lower gas mileage and takes almost as much energy to make than it produces. Farmers should grow food instead!

8. Tax credits for businesses/people who create and live in new communities that have walking and bike paths etc.

Doing some parts of all of these could reduce oil imports, carbon pollutions (for all you global warming types) and protect our energy independence. Oil will be a $150-200 a barrel again...How short sighted can our politicians be? Hopefully capitalism saves us?