My thoughts exactly. Notice that you are told that there is a $1300/vehicle increase to implement this standard - I believe that is only added to the price tag as it sits on the sales lot, not what you can expect in uncertain O&M costs.I love the idea of it. But, I wonder if the extra cost for the new, cleaner gas will offset added efficiency of the vehicles.
I would agree that 'the market' does not necessarily take into account the strategy, or in the alternative, the benefit for conservation of fossil fuels.But there are certain strategic aspects that should be considered, which if left to the whims of the market, will go unchecked until it is too late.
The balance between conservation/preservation of fossil fuels, the development of alternative fuels, and environmental protection is quite the prickly pear. I see the one place where gains could be made, IMHO, is some serious thought placed into the cost-to-benefit relationship placed on how much one can emit in terms of environmental pollutants. At some point, the model of polluting to a prescribed criteria simply will not be achievable, especially considering costs for litigation. I see this as being the next real break through towards reaching conservation of resources and securing national security.The depletion of fossil fuels is one of those strategic issues, in my opinion, which makes it appropriate for the world in general to begin enforcing some method of conservation. There are too many things that fossil fuel is essential for (think air travel), where we all will be screwed if it runs out before an alternative is figured out.
Not to mention national security.... the less oil we need from the Middle East, the less motivation there is for terrorists, unstable nuclear regimes, etc etc.
While I think this is a really stupid idea, I think the $1300/vehicle argument is baseless. By the time these regulations are implemented (in 2016), $1300 will be a drop in the bucket compared to the inflation over the next 7 years. Plus, regulations that were already in place, or at least very close to being implemented, were going to be raising the cost of vehicles by $800 anyway.My thoughts exactly. Notice that you are told that there is a $1300/vehicle increase to implement this standard - I believe that is only added to the price tag as it sits on the sales lot, not what you can expect in uncertain O&M costs.
I agree that the quoted $1300 is baseless because nobody really knows what the real 'cost' to implement this plan will yield.While I think this is a really stupid idea, I think the $1300/vehicle argument is baseless. By the time these regulations are implemented (in 2016), $1300 will be a drop in the bucket compared to the inflation over the next 7 years. Plus, regulations that were already in place, or at least very close to being implemented, were going to be raising the cost of vehicles by $800 anyway.
Heh ... I don't think we have felt the fury of the watermelon environmentalists yet ...I cannot begin to illustrate the distaste in my mouth over this vehicle emissions standards and other bull plop. There's also a bill in the works to scrap "older" cars so that, if you're buying a car, it'll have to be a newer one. Things are going to get so overdone that my, and many others', hobby of working on cars will not be possible in the near future.
On that note, the thing that really, really bothers me about PROJECTING what may happen with climate change: if weather forecasters have problems predicting the weather on a daily basis, how can we know the weather with any REASONABLE certainty 10 yrs from now .. or 50 yrs from now? or 100y rs from now? How do we know that placing these curbs on emissions will have the DESIRED effect on the changing climate?I'm not saying the earth isn't warming up. Maybe it is, but it's not caused by man. How many ice ages has this planet seen? And man is going to kill the earth in a total span of 200 years (starting over 100 years ago)? Finally, about the recorded temperatures of the earth over time, what is the accuracy / resolution of thermometers? What about 10 years ago? 30? 80? 100? How many 10's of 100's of places is the temperature recorded? The planet is large, shouldn't there be upwards of millions of temperature recorders?
See above.1) It always disturbs me when people with no scientific background make technological policy.
An interesting point ...3) I'm not sure this won't get overturned by the next administration.
... With many fossil fuels being listed as just lasting decades, what does the future hold for my kids? How can this planet support a growing human population when the fossil fuels run out?The depletion of fossil fuels is one of those strategic issues
In IL if you live in the greater metropolitan Chicago area or the IL side of St. Louis area, emissions testing is required. The rest of state is not subject to it. BUt even then they have stupid rules on which cars have to do it. If it was built before a certain year you are exempt because the car would never pass the test. New cars have like 5 yr grace period before being subject to the tests. If you fail so many times and have proof that you had work done on the car and it still didn't pass, then you get a pass. so stupid.I am ambivalent about the requirements for the production of fuel efficient cars - although I probably lean more towards letting the market decide or doing it state by state. But I'm not freaked out either way - we do have to conserve fuels.
But as a resident of California, if this includes the smog check regime we have out here, I hope all you people in other states enjoy this revenue grabbing scam. Bringing your car in for smog checks is just another way for the state to get money. They allow more pollution from different makes, models, and years - it is certainly not only for environmental preservation. It's a big hassle, unfair to poor people, and a huge scam.
My world and welcome to it.
We don't - but if Klatu gives us a visit, then we know it didn't work!How do we know that placing these curbs on emissions will have the DESIRED effect on the changing climate?
Fossil fuels have been about a decade of running out since the 1920s.With many fossil fuels being listed as just lasting decades, what does the future hold for my kids? How can this planet support a growing human population when the fossil fuels run out?
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