Category Archives: Energy

Power, Old School

Posted on November 9, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Coal-based power generation plant, Port Jefferson, NY:

Posted in Energy | 2 Comments

How Could We Possibly Spend All That Money? The Electrical Grid Edition

Posted on August 5, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

If you remember back when the stimulus bill was being discussed, one of the claims made by many, including some so-called progressives, was that it’s really difficult to figure out how to spend a lot of money. Of course, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, I For One Welcome Our Austerity Overlords | 2 Comments

The Problems With Carbon Taxes

Posted on June 7, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Noah Smith has a really good post about the problems with carbon taxes. I want to raise two more. The first involves a slight disagreement with Noah, who writes: 1. Carbon taxes are politically infeasible in the U.S. A few … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Energy, Environment, Taxes | 2 Comments

Japan Now Has to Create a Third-Best Option for Energy Generation

Posted on March 15, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

I’ve described nuclear power as the second-best option. Just to be clear, I don’t like nuclear power, but, in my opinion, decommissioning nuclear power plants should be the last step on the path to renewable energy, not the first. Well, … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Environment, Global Warming, Nukular Stuff | Comments Off on Japan Now Has to Create a Third-Best Option for Energy Generation

The Second-Worst Thing About the GOP Becoming the Batshitloonitarian Party: The Carbon Reduction Edition

Posted on March 6, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Of course, the worst thing about the GOP becoming the batshitloonitarian party is, as I’ve noted before, they are batshitloonitarians. But one thing it also does is transform merely sane, although not very good, options, into ‘liberal’ policies, when, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservatives, Democrats, Energy, Environment, Housing | Comments Off on The Second-Worst Thing About the GOP Becoming the Batshitloonitarian Party: The Carbon Reduction Edition

What’s Wrong with This Energy-Saving Graphic?

Posted on January 27, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

I’m all for energy conservation–at this point, the CO2 release situation (i.e., global warming) is so dire that anything buys us time. But there’s something wrong with this picture: (from here) It’s a house. A single, detached house. It’s worth … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Housing | 4 Comments

When Heating Aid Collides With Austerity: Today’s Installment in Devil Take the Hindmost As Public Policy

Posted on December 16, 2011 by mikethemadbiologist

It’s cold out, especially in the Northeast, and that means it’s time for ‘fiscal conservatives’ to attempt to help poor elderly people freeze to death. No, I’m not kidding (boldface mine): Congress is considering cutting $1 billion out of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Basic Human Decency, Conservatives, Democrats, Energy | 4 Comments

If Solyndra Is a Failure, the Bush Administration Is Also to Blame

Posted on September 23, 2011 by mikethemadbiologist

You might have heard of the supposed ‘scandal’ surrounding the failure of the government-supported Solyndra solar panel manufacturer. What’s gone unnoticed is the role the Bush Administration had in supporting Solyndra: July 2005: The Bush Administration signs the Energy Policy … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness, Democrats, Energy, Little Lord Pontchartrain | Comments Off on If Solyndra Is a Failure, the Bush Administration Is Also to Blame

Actually, Apartment Buildings Are Sexy

Posted on July 28, 2011 by mikethemadbiologist

Improving your home’s energy efficiency is something you should do–and you don’t have to wait for anyone else. But there is a larger issue of how we live and organize our communities that also needs to be addressed.
Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Environment, Housing, Transportation | 7 Comments

House Republicans Heroically Protect the Republic from the Scourge of Light Bulb Vigilantes

Posted on July 10, 2011 by mikethemadbiologist

Or something. Abject lunacy is clearly a contagious disease.
Continue reading →

Posted in Conservatives, Energy, Environment, Fucking Morons | 34 Comments