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Friday, October 22, 2010

Jim Himes and Lies about Energy

Recently, Democrat Jim Himes has started running new ads on TV as part of his campaign for re-election to congress from the 4th District of Connecticut. First, Himes claims that solar and wind energy are the means to energy independence. Then Himes castigates Republican Dan Debicella for opposing these energy sources. The ad is total nonsense.

The big difference on energy between Himes and Debicella is that Himes voted for Obama's cap and trade bill and Debicella does not support it. The relevant facts are simple: if cap and trade is passed, connecticut is estimated to lose about 20,000 jobs, heating bills are estimated to go up just about $1000 per year and gasoline will rise by 50-60 cents per gallon. In addition, there will be no appreciable effect on the global emission of greenhouse gases. That's right; the US will cripple its economy but the levels of greenhouse gases will not stop rising!

The truth is that the answer to the US energy problems is the adoption of abundant natural gas as our principal domestic fuel. new discoveries and extraction methods have resulted in the USA having a sufficient supply of natural gas to meet essentially all of its energy needs. Solar and Wind energy are fine for future development when the cost can come down to reasonable levels. For now, hoever, gas is the answer, and natural gas could cut emission levels by 50 to 80% from those that come from coal or oil.

Unfortunately, the gas we get from Himes comes out his mouth as he lies about Debicella's record. In Himes view, Debicella's opposition to cap and trade is the equivalent to opposition to solar and wind energy. this is a lie. On this issue alone, Himes deserves to go.

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