So what is new – solar energy? wind energy? bio-fuels? electric vehicles? No, these and other energy and transportation technologies have been around for over a century. In the past 100 years, no single technology can make a legitimate claim as a new energy or transportation technology, rather than innovation there have been merely tweaks and incremental development of the technologies of over a century ago.
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On January 29, 2010 President Obama today announced that the Federal Government will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 28 percent by 2020. While the base year was not specified in the press release (below) it is elsewhere defined as 2008, rather than the 2005 previously used by the U.S. Government or the base year of 1990 used by most other nations. As the nations largest purchaser of energy, this action has the potential to provide a significant stimulus for energy efficiency and innovation in the development of clean energy sources. This action follows the January 28th announcement of non-binding pledge to reduce national emissions of greenhouse gases by 17% reduction by 2020. This latter announcement was made in response to the Copenhagen Accord, has a base year of 2005, and is contingent upon action by the U.S. Congress.
Sphere: Related ContentIn the typical American house the roofs over our heads, the flakeboard sheathing, the structural beams, the floor underlayment, the carpeting and vinyl flooring, the cupboards, the paints, the pipes that supply our water and carry away our wastes; and even the insulation on our wires are all made from products derived from oil. The fertilizers that we apply to our lawns and to our agricultural fields are derived from petroleum and natural gas, as are virtually all of the medicines and other pharmaceutical products that we take to preserve our health. Detergents, the base of all of our cosmetics, and even “baby oil” and mineral oil are all petroleum products. Our “wash and wear” clothes depend upon polyester fiber made from petroleum, as are many other synthetic fibers used in clothing, an other fabric products. The tires on our cars and bicycles depend upon petroleum as does the asphalt surfaces that they travel on.
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