Environment

I must apologize publicly for something I said on air a few months ago, and am doing it here as well as on air Thursday.
When the Cash For Clunkers program began under the auspices of the Federal Govt. I jokingly said on air that "next we'll have Cash For Kitchens". Obviously I was joking because the idea of using tax dollars to help people buy appliances is so obviously ludicrous.

Thursday morning both Bob Latta and Lee Fisher will be guests on my show. Congressman Latta at 7:30, Mr. Fisher at 8:30. Should be fun.

The past few days has presented to any, and all, that follow real news in depth with something antitethical when it comes to the weather here, or, there.
1) Excessive snowfall in Valdez, AK...68" in 3 days...(18 Dec)
2)Trains stuck in "Chunnel" due to cold temperatures on the continent. Other services cancelled...(18 Dec)
3) US East Coast experiences heavy snow, near blizzard conditions. (18-19 Dec)
4) Snowfall in Nice, Fr this past week.
5) Snow to near blizzard conditions and cold in Copenhagen, Dk this week.

After three years of researching, developing, fund-raising, and expanding, Toledo solar tech start-up Xunlight Corp. grew up yesterday by delivering its first shipment of commercially manufactured solar modules. It went to the University of Toledo, the institution that played a significant role in the company's birth.

The modules will be installed on a 10-kilowatt thin-film solar array on the grounds and the roof of the university's Scott Park campus, which is being renamed the Campus of Energy and Innovation.

Toledo ranks low on congestion.
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Among other Ohio communities, the prime-time commuting congestion was thickest in Cincinnati (30th), followed by Cleveland (31st), Akron (68th), Dayton (69th) and Toledo (93rd), according to the report, which was released this week.

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/08/31/daily31.html

Perrysburg, Ohio (July 24, 2009) - Black Swamp Conservancy has partnered
with the Ohio Department of Agriculture and family farmers in three
northwest Ohio counties to ensure that nearly 1,000 acres of farmland is
used only for agriculture, in perpetuity.

The farmland preservation occurred as a result of the Agricultural Easement
Purchase Program (AEPP) of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

The AEPP provides funding to assist landowners in preserving Ohio's
farmland. Each spring, applications are submitted by sponsoring

I saw on 13abc at lunch today that July is shaping up to the the second coldest month since 1860. We are going to need legislation to warm up the atmosphere because of this dramatic climate change. For the sake of humanity, drive your car, use your electric appliances to get the coal plants working, and fire up your grills because we cannot allow this cold temperature to change our environment.

1860 avg July temp 68.0
2009 avg July temp 68.1

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jul/01/sweetener-helped-sway-vo...

The pork Kaptur added to the climate change bill which no one was allowed to read totals 3.5 billion.

Because of the price tag of this bill alone is essentially guaranteeing it won't pass the Senate but it's important to note it will essentially end up a tax.

However, with all the talk of unneeded pork in the struggling economy our esteemed representative added in 3.5 billion for environmental projects in Ohio and "other midwestern states".

WASHINGTON- Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) made the following
statement after H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act,
passed the House of Representatives this evening.

"I have firmly opposed Cap and Trade, also known as Cap and Tax, since
the legislation was first introduced. With today's vote, the House of
Representatives passed a bill that will establish the largest national
energy tax in history and eliminate 2 million jobs across our country.

Similar to previous debates this year, the Democrat majority filed a 300

Green incentives fuel interest in solar power in Toledo area
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090625/BUSINESS0...

These guys are hawking solar-hot-water systems for a "usual $8,000 to $9,000 cost"? And then have the nerve to claim that with subsidy and a tax break, that the buyer can knock that "in half"? Ooh, gee, what a deal it becomes then! {sarcasm} A 10-yr payback? Absurd. IT'S JUST THE SUN HEATING A LIQUID. And I bet that there's a maintenance cost in those 10 years that will push out the period.

The reality is that cost estimates for climate legislation are as unreliable as the models predicting climate change. What comes out of the computer is a function of what politicians type in. A better indicator might be what other countries are already experiencing. Britain's Taxpayer Alliance estimates the average family there is paying nearly $1,300 a year in green taxes for carbon-cutting programs in effect only a few years.

WASHINGTON - Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green), a member of the
House Committee on Agriculture, along with all 17 Republican members of
the Agriculture Committee sent Speaker Nancy Pelosi a letter today
asking for more time to consider the Waxman-Markey climate change and
energy legislation (H.R. 2454). Rep. Pelosi told committee chairmen
that they had until June 19 to consider H.R. 2454. This timeline has
allowed the Agriculture Committee to hold only one public hearing on the
bill with no time for a markup. To date, only the Energy and Commerce

NBCC President and CEO Harry Alford notes, “These findings add to a growing body of evidence that demonstrates cap-and-trade would make American consumers poorer and the products they buy more expensive.

“Moreover, the NBCC study finds there will be little, if any, environmental impact to justify the high price U.S. families will have to pay, since the trading system will deliver virtually negligible changes in global CO2 emissions so long as developing nations such as China and India don’t buy in.
http://www.nationalbcc.org/

Latta to Join House Republican Leadership in Indianapolis, Indiana and
San Luis Obispo, California to Discuss Solutions to America's Energy
Challenges

WASHINGTON- Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green), a member of the
House Republican American Energy Solutions Group (AESG) will participate
in two hearings in Indianapolis, Indiana and San Luis Obispo, California
this week with leading energy experts to discuss solutions to America's
energy challenges.

The AESG will be hosting several summits across the country this week in

Does not answer the question of how this will affect the Oregon refinery.
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CALGARY -- British oil major BP PLC said it’s slowing down its oil sands plans with partner Husky Energy Inc. because it expects costs to deflate.

Andy Inglis, head of exploration and production at BP, said Tuesday a decision on whether to go ahead with the Sunrise project has been pushed back to 2010. The decision had been expected in late 2008.
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“We will proceed or not proceed depending on its viability on the day,” he said.

Xunlight wins two awards:
RED HERRING 100

Today is Bike To Work Day so both Keith Wilkowski and Mayor Finkbeiner will be riding thier bikes to work, sort of. Wilkowski will bike from Ottawa Park which is near his home and will finish at his campaign headquarters. Finkbeiner will start at Walbridge Park and head to One Government Center which is about 4 miles.

Americans for Prosperity, with the help of the UT College Republicans, are hosting a "Hot Air Balloon Stop" to highlight the dangers of Cap and Trade, the increased taxation and potential job loss of harsh energy policy, and to combat the "extremist" views of Al Gore. The event will be held on April 30 in the Carter Recreational Field on the University of Toledo campus at 9:00 am. Carter Field is located directly across from the campus Rec Center and is on the corner of Oakwood and N. Westwood.

Buses Running Exclusively on Biodiesel Increased to 64

Toledo, Ohio ‑ For the third consecutive year, the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority will observe Earth Day (April 22) by operating its fleet completely on regionally purchased biodiesel fuel. This involves TARTA’s four services: fixed-line, Call-A-Ride, Toledo Area Paratransit Service and the Muddy™ Shuttle.

TARTA’s General Manager James K. Gee estimated Tuesday’s fleet will number 180 vehicles.