Daily Kos

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  •  I'd simply strike it (none / 0)

    with respect to your request for alternatives, in this case, i'd simply eliminate the line.

    I think that getting 20% of our energy from renewables covers the policy changes that would get us towards a reduction in demand for foreign oil.

    In reality, if we were gettting the SAME absolute level of oil imports in 2020 as today, it would be a big, big change -- it would mean that we were obtaining our growth from non-foreign sources (most likely renewable, with some nukes) -- and that would be huge!

    Now, if you need a third bullet, I would suggest making it a relative goal, not an absolute goal:

    "Reduce the proportion of our energy derived from foreign oil by 20%"

    Maybe this is more achievable?

    what would joe rauh do?

    by nbutter on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 08:09:59 AM PDT

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    •  Actually... (none / 0)

      We could build all the nuclear plants you want, and it won't save a drop of oil.  We don't burn oil to make electricity (okay, there's a tiny percentage used mostly in back up generator and "campus" facilities, but you get what I'm saying).  

      If you want a reduction in oil, it has to be addressed directly.  All the nukes, solar panels, and windmills in the world won't help.

      by Devilstower on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 08:23:17 AM PDT

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      •  I believe you are wrong to a degree (none / 0)

        They will indeed help but they are not the bigger issue which will need to be done to really reduce our dependence.

        The big issue is reducing or even nearly eliminating the need in transportation and heating.

        There is one way that the latter could at least see a huge improvement.

        That would be through a different version of the Hybrid vechicle.

        The change would be in creating Hybrids which used biodiesel instead of Gas or oil based auto fuel. Same thing could be done for home heating.

        Biodiesel can be made much cheaper to create by using the right raw materials instead of corn based raw material. Plus the more demand there is and the more that it is used the cheaper it becomes to create it.

        June 3rd 2008 America is at last started on the road to long awaited recovery

        by eaglecries on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 10:10:41 AM PDT

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