Today Gov. Deval Patrick screwed every consumer in Massachusetts…
“Today, I sign into law a comprehensive energy bill that takes a major step toward addressing this challenge and taking advantage of this opportunity. This legislation remakes the electricity market to reduce energy consumption through a dramatic increase in energy efficiency technology installed in our homes, offices, and factories.(it increases the fees,taxes and other things that the utilities will pass on to the consumer and the government pass on to the taxpayer) It gives clean power sources a practical leg up by requiring utility companies to enter into long-term supply contracts with clean power producers, which in turn helps those companies get financing to grow and produce more.(It mandates the support of companies that otherwise are commercially impractical and cannot compete legitimately) It allows utilities to put solar panels that they own on their customers’ roofs, capturing the sun’s power to generate electricity for all of us.(In a state that has citizens that protest against windmills miles off shore and dictate what color you can paint your home in some neighborhoods are apparently wide open to putting solar panels on our roofs.) Finally, it gives the Commonwealth a new building code to require new structures to consume as little energy as possible.”(Which should be just about the final straw on the camel’s back that is the building trade in Ma.)
It does nothing for the working class and poor that traditionally heat with simple oil and gas systems and are in no position to take utilities up on rebate offers. You know all about rebates right ? $500. off a $3000.bill you can’t afford for a system you still won’t be able to afford the fuel for.
Wait a sec he upped the fuel assistance amount. You’ll get 800 bucks now. That will be one 160 gallon drop folks.
Red parts are mine symbolizing the red I’m seeing and my bank account will be experiencing. Quote from the fearless pygmy here.
Another reason I am glad I don’t live up that way.
Free actually invented here in my home state and mass produced through Honda. Here it is called “Free WATT” . You hit though it is expensive and only offers the electric benefit during the heating season.
Another point you make that I have been meaning to post on is about saving. hardly an original thought but it astounds me how poor Americans are at saving. The taxes on one’s attempts at savings are a piece of the puzzle too.
There’s a new gadget that (if you can afford it or get a grant for it – I have no idea what the state of affairs is over there for this sort of ‘green’ tech) whilst burning gas in the burner unit can also produce electricity…
The greedy blokes who invented it only wanted to sell this tech to power stations but it seems to have leaked into smaller units too. [I remember an interview they did on Radio 4.]
One of the main problems with our market is that those who have more than enough money find it easier to save money – not the poor who need that capability the most.