Gore Speaks To Congress On Climate, Energy Agenda

In a highly charged house hearing on energy and air quality, an otherwise buttoned down Albert Gore (replete with Reaganesque brilleen coif) delivered a message of urgency regarding the reasons for an energy infrasture transition to a low hydrocarbon economy. Gore called for Kyoto level commitments, possibly more, immediately. He urged mandates from the banning of incandescent light bulbs, to the expansion of incentives needed for independent windfarms and solar technologies, to a carbon cap and trade scheme. In his presentation, Gore dismissed those allegations that he had overplayed the science and he responded to some of the softpeddling critics of global warming in the house, including one representative who cited a "recent studyof economists in copenhagen" (presumably referencing models from the now thoroughly discredited Bjorn Lomborg) denying the severe effects Gore countenances in his model. Gore railed back, reasoning from the consensus view of the climate scientists for the critical window of the next ten years before the escalator effects (such as the reversal of the albedo, the release of methane from the permafrost and so on) kick in and the situation becomes such that it is truly out of human hands. In addition to an ambitious platform for reforming health care, Gore laid out a vision of energy production independence calling for the implementation of net metering programs in which state law requires utilities to buy back customer generated energy (particularly green energy) at a favorable rate. At one point, Gore addressed the issue of nuclear energy and, insodoing, also addressed his commitment to decentralized, local power generation. Gore said, "...I'm not a reflexive opponent of nuclear power Congressman, I'm just a skeptic about nuclear power's viability in the marketplace. I think that if we let the market allow the most competitive forms to surface what we'll see is decentralized generation, widely distributed, we'll see an emphasis on conservation and efficiency and renewable energy". Gore affirmed the need for a carbon cap and trade scheme drawn with a clear bottom line, arguing that producers will be under the same regulatory scheme and there will be no incentive to defect. The production of the infrasture needed to bring this regulatory scheme about, no doubt, can be the basis of a new technological wave of production. Gore's interest in the auto industry, for instance, as a site of such revolution indicated this commitment. Recorded in Congress, 3/21/07. First Day of Spring.