Should Indy be an Electronification ecosystem?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Pat Coyle on November 16, 2009 at 10:28pm

You'll find the Electonification Roadmap report attached

Attachments:

• EC-Roadmap-screen.pdf, 25.4 MB

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Steve Stuck on November 16, 2009 at 11:23pm

Sounds nice, but your wanting the policymakers who block nuclear power plant permits and an EPA regulatory body who just denied 29 permits to coal plants involved?

I am not trying to be cynical, but I am realist in the aspect of what these organizations ask policymakers to do and what policymakers actually do for our energy needs.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Pat Coyle on November 17, 2009 at 8:42am

Steve,
Let me confess, I have never been a political animal. I vote in elections, but that is pretty much the extent of my involvement in the political process. Your observation about policy makers, however, strikes a chord.

I attended an event last weekend at which policy makers explained how law making process works. I was struck by how overly-complex the system seems...but I was also amazed to find out that our elected officials can be activated with a relatively small number of E mails, just 10 or 15 notes, as long as those e mails come from constituents in their jurisdictions. They could receive 1,000 letters or calls on an issue, but if those calls don't come from their jurisdiction, they're likely to get ignored. Policy makers don't have time to deal with them.

I also learned at that meeting that our elected officials don't have time (during session especially) to do any research. They tend to get information on subjects "in the hallways" of the State House because they don't have time or staff to dig deeper into almost anything. This reminds me of what I hear about doctors getting all of their info from pharma reps because docs don't have time to do their own research. But I digress...

I walked away from that meeting a little sad, but I also had this epiphany...if I ever want to get something noticed by policy makers, then I need to focus my efforts on getting the right people to contact their reps.

I don't know if this electronification plan is right for Indiana, or not. But if it is, and citizens agree that it's something we'd like to see happen, then perhaps we could organize a targeted communications plan to try to move the needle?

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Steve Stuck on November 17, 2009 at 9:34am

Thats good Pat. Im glad you went to your event and found out more information. You now know why I post some of the stuff I do on politics/economics. I research this stuff in depth all the time and find it frustrating with the whole process. You are right about the e-mails as well and finding them pressed to a real question during a local townhall.

The system was never meant to be complex but we have let it get that way the last 50 years. It can be changed.

I met many politicians. They are either really naive or know exactly what they are doing.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Chris Tomlinson on November 17, 2009 at 8:41am

I don't want to sound cynical either, but I wonder how much of their agenda truly is based on decreasing our dependence on oil versus them making more money because they're making electric cars or have stock in some company that can provide the electricity.

I think a large portion of the country is very eager to see us be more "green" and I am as well, but I just wish it didn't seem like the big corporations are always the ones who can change policy in the government. Maybe that's a preconceived notion of mine, but it sure does seem like the little man who actually supports this country on a much larger scale than the big man really has no power whatsoever.

Jesus I'm irritable on a Tuesday morning and it's not even raining today! ;o )

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Pat Coyle on November 17, 2009 at 8:58am

Chris, I hear ya. No doubt these corps see a way to make money, and if they can influence policy then they are likely to get rich. And I for one am repulsed by the way powerful business lobbies can influence policy and keep our country from making progress. But this is a representative republic, isn't it? So I guess the question is, will the ends justify the means?

In the end will it be better (i.e. faster, more effective, cheaper for the taxpayer) to open the door for business to make investments and take risks in attempt to speed the adoption of alternative energies? Or would it be better to wait for legislators to pass laws and raise taxes in attempt to do the same?

This Electronification group has offered a proposal and a vision. I suppose we citizens have 2 main options at this point. First, we could remain passive and see how it works out. Or we could do some research and determine for ourselves if this vision is something we like or don't like. Then if we think its a bad idea, we should work the political process to stop it. Or if we think it's good, we should put pressure on the pols to make sure it happens.

Is this how representative republics are supposed to work?

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Steven M. Shepard on November 17, 2009 at 11:07am

I find this to be a great idea! However, at the same time we need to be looking to long-term storage of solar energy or kinetic energy from ourselves (make it extremely efficient, so we don't have to pedal 1,000 revs for only 100 watts), this way we don't have to rely on nuclear power or another fossil/non-renewable fuel—coal. We can't just shift from one dependency to the next!

Great topic! Thanks for sharing.

Steven

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rollie Cole on November 17, 2009 at 3:56pm

You betcha! Note, however, that some form of cap and trade legislation is almost certain to pass, moving electricity in Indiana (some 96% coal-generated) from relatively cheap to relatively expensive, until and unless "clean coal technology" reduces the carbon effects of coal. With relatively flat land and relatively dense population (compared to say, Idaho or even California), we are already an emerging market for "street-ready" golf carts, and should be even more so for vehicles with power and range comparable to existing fossil fuel technologies.

▶ Reply to This