Earth Day, 2007

Ah, Earth Day! Remember when they invented that? Mary Margaret told me a little anecdote of the Earth Day discussion at church this morning, and it was just like all those discussions back in '73 after the "energy crunch" about who was going to bell the cat. It didn't matter what elements of energy conservation were under discussion, it always devolved into generalizations about "-what must be done," and not "Here's what we personally are doing / planning to do."
As they discovered 30 years ago, when interviewed, the majority of people thought that it would be a wonderful idea if their neighbors on either side implemented a whole array of energy-saving measures, but that they "might" do something "someday." Needless to say, Mary didn't win any popularity polls when she said she didn't want to hear anything except what each person in the conversation planned to do themselves.
The power companies have spoken of their need to raise rates after the long freeze in Illinois, and I know a great way for them to get the money. Just have a sliding scale for each residential customer, based on a determined average usage. Up to X kwh, the rate is at par, whatever the ICC says. Above that rate, for the next 100 kwh or so, it increases by 25 %, and so forth, until by 400 kwh over the rate is double.....and it doubles for each 100 kwh over that. My guess is that no further measures would be required. Oh, people can argue that cheaters can cheat with such a system, but they cheated on rationing in WWII, and did it wholesale. The fact that there are always cheaters doesn't invalidate a math exam, and it doesn't invalidate this. And it provides instant and very powerful incentives to conserve.
There- I've made my Earth Day contribution, and in a much more pragmatic way than people burning french-fry oil in their diesels or ethanol made from corn. I know we eat a lot of fries, but not enough to make a drop in the bucket against diesel use. I recently read an article that estimated that if EVERY ear of corn grown in the U.S. were converted to ethanol, it would equal.....12% of the gas burned. But look on the bright side; the food shortages that would ensue should abate the national concern over obesity.