Government Should Compel Consumers to Use Alternative Energy, Congressman Says
Friday, March 27, 2009
By Josiah Ryan, Staff Writer

House Democratic Conference Chairman John Larson (D-Conn.) (Photo courtesy of Larson's Web site)(CNSNews.com) - Government policy should be crafted to raise the price of carbon-emitting energy sources so consumers are compelled to choose alternative energy, House Democratic Conference Chairman John Larson (D-Conn.) told CNSNews.com on Thursday.

Larson agreed that such a policy would likely result in higher electricity prices for consumers but said this is needed to protect the environment from the possible “catastrophic results” of not implementing a pro-green energy policy.

Some Republicans who spoke with CNSNews.com at the Capitol agreed that electricity prices would go up, and they dismissed President Barack Obama’s cap-and-trade plan as little more than a large tax on energy producers, the cost of which is passed onto consumers.

With cap and trade, the amount of carbon an energy company can emit is capped. If it exceeds that limit, the company can purchase credits (“trade”) that would go towards investment in green or alternative energy firms.

“I think the government should serve as an impetus to do so, because as I said at the outset, not doing anything –– the catastrophic results that can come from that – are what drives this issue,” Larson told CNSNews.com when asked if boosting electricity prices through government policy to drive consumers to green energy was a good idea.

“We ought to do it in a way that both enhances our economy and our economic opportunity and also preserves the universe and the earth,” said Larson.

At a press conference Tuesday, Obama told reporters that a good cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions should be designed to “protect consumers from huge spikes in electricity prices.”

"I think cap-and-trade is the best way, from my perspective, to achieve some of those gains, because what it does is it starts pricing the pollution that's being sent into the atmosphere,” Obama said.

"The way it's structured, it has to take into account regional differences. It has to protect consumers from huge spikes in electricity prices. So there are a –– a lot of technical issues that are going to have to be sorted through," he added.

But in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle back on Jan. 17, 2008, then-candidate Obama said his plan for cap and trade would tax every unit of carbon emitted, which would in turn create an expanded market for new technologies.

Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) (Photo courtesy of Voinovich's Web site)“I was the first to call for a 100% auction on the cap-and-trade system, which means that every unit of carbon or greenhouse gases emitted would be charged to the polluter,” said Obama. “That will create a market in which whatever technologies are out there that are being presented, whatever power plants that are being built, that they would have to meet the rigors of that market and the ratcheted down caps that are being placed, imposed every year.”

Eventually, these taxes would ruin the U.S. coal industry, added Obama.

“So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can,” said Obama. “It's just that it will bankrupt them because they're going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that's being emitted.”

Republicans said that Obama’s plan to cap and trade carbon emissions would result in a massive tax hike on the companies and American consumers who have to pay for energy to heat and light their homes, and drive their cars, and to run myriad aspects of their daily lives.

“Of course” Obama’s plan will drive up energy costs, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) told CNSNews.com. “The president’s proposal is unacceptable, because it’s just being used as a source of revenue.”

Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) told CNSNews.com: “Of course the cost is going to rise. When people think of cap and trade, they are going to think of a giant tax increase.”

Larson also said he is concerned about “what happens down the food chain.”

“My concern specifically is what happens down the food chain, so to speak, to the consumer who ultimately bears the cost,” he said. “I think that no matter what we do, I have to be in favor of a carbon-tax approach, because I think that it just levels with people right from the outset. But I believe completely in passing the savings back down the stream to have an impact on the consumer.”

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They're getting pretty damn cocky, in my considered opinion.

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The democrats want this country to fail.

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What is this alternative they speak of?
If doesn't exist!!!!!!! Therefore you will have no choice but to continue to use existing energy sources
that will be taxed at about 40% putting more money into the guberment coffers and more strain on you and your
families resources and income.
It's all about money through taxes, the Demorats and even the Repubicans don't want to solve anything, they
just want POWER!

These people don't read, don't care about the constitution.

Our forefathers kicked the King and British out of here due to these very things.
Our forefathers warned us about this.
Washington D.C. is a viper pit of evil. There are very few Americans there.
It might as well be a foreign country.

It's time.

“We ought to do it in a way that both enhances our economy and our economic opportunity and also preserves the universe and the earth,” said Larson.

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Let them do it as soon as possible. Then the GOP could run their campaign on that single issue, unfucking everyone's $1000 a month power bill if they get the majority/presidency back.

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The other day during one of his press conferences Obama stated that he was in favor of backing an attempt to pass legislation for the purpose of installing devices in each home to regulate the use of electricity. You will have your energy uses rationed by government. Electricians from utilities companies may be made responsible for installing the devices at no cost to you-isn't that nice.

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You give the GOP way too much credit.  Until the "old" blood is replaced with some folks that are hungry for change and uncorrupted by DC, we're gonna get more of the same weak-assed "moderate" bullshit.

Currently, we have no Newt speaking of or leading a "contract with America" type of movement.  Even Newt sold out to the left with his left-wing position on energy and the 2A.

Fuck these people.  Professional politicians have to go.  Right now we're stuck with the worst of the worst.  The absolute bottom of the barrel.

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That isn't what that item does. It may allow the utility to control some items in your house, but that is to level the load.  The end result of a smart meter is 6% reduced consumption and 27% reduced peaking.  Which means cheper power in a lot of ways.

It allows less power to be consumed and flattens out peaks which are the most expensive sources of power, like natural gas, and it integrates wind and solar more effectively.

Italy already switched over, and others are working on it.

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That isn't what that item does. It may allow the utility to control some items in your house, but that is to level the load.  The end result of a smart meter is 6% reduced consumption and 27% reduced peaking.  Which means cheper power in a lot of ways.

It allows less power to be consumed and flattens out peaks which are the most expensive sources of power, like natural gas, and it integrates wind and solar more effectively.

Italy already switched over, and others are working on it.

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That isn't what that item does. It may allow the utility to control some items in your house, but that is to level the load.  The end result of a smart meter is 6% reduced consumption and 27% reduced peaking.  Which means cheper power in a lot of ways.

It allows less power to be consumed and flattens out peaks which are the most expensive sources of power, like natural gas, and it integrates wind and solar more effectively.

Italy already switched over, and others are working on it.

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The end user will pay for ALL costs incurred, PERIOD. Double or triple your utilty bill if they get what they want.

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can we compel people on public assistance to work

About John        
U.S. Representative John B. Larson began serving in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1999, and is presently in his sixth term serving the people of Connecticut's First Congressional District.

Larson was recently elected by his colleagues to serve as Chair of the House Democratic Caucus for the 111th Congress, making him the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House.  As Caucus Chair he will work to build consensus among his colleagues on the key issues of the day.  He also served as Vice-Chair of the Caucus for more than two years.

In 2005, Larson was named to the influential Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over the nation's tax code, trade policy, Social Security, and Medicare. He sits on the Subcommittee on Trade and the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures. He formerly served on the Armed Services Committee, Science Committee, and as Ranking Minority Member of the House Administration Committee.

Larson has been a leader in the effort to end U.S. dependence of foreign oil through advancing fuel cell technology produced in the United States that will also grow the economy and improve our environment. During his tenure in Congress, Larson has introduced the Energy Independence Act and the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Authorization Act to fund and promote fuel cell. He is also a founder and co-chair of the House Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Coalition.

Larson has opposed the policies of preemption and unilateralism and the war in Iraq since its inception and has focused his concerns on the threats of terrorism, protecting the homeland, and supporting first responders. However, he has vigorously supported the troops, visited Iraq three times, and succeeded in passing legislation to reimburse family members who purchased body armor for soldiers who had not been adequately equipped by the military.

Larson is committed to preserving Social Security and Medicare and securing a true prescription drug benefit for seniors. He has introduced legislation to allow the federal government to directly negotiate lower drug prices for over 40 million Medicare beneficiaries.

Among his efforts to promote development in Hartford, Larson successfully led the effort to initiate a feasibility study of the Coltsville section of Hartford as a first step in gaining a National Park designation for the area from the Department of the Interior.

Larson was born on July 22, 1948 in Hartford, Connecticut. He and his seven brothers and sisters were raised in Mayberry Village, a public housing project in East Hartford by their parents, Raymond and Pauline.

He graduated from East Hartford High School in 1967 and from Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) in 1971. Larson was later selected by Dr. Edward Zigler, the creator of Head Start, to be a Senior Fellow at the Yale Bush Center for Child Development.

Before entering Congress, Larson was a high school history teacher and athletic coach until he became an owner of Larson & Lysik insurance company. He served on the East Hartford Board of Education and the East Hartford Town Council. In 1982, he was elected to the Connecticut State Senate, beginning a 12-year tenure representing the 3rd Senate District until 1995. Larson served as Senate President Pro Tempore for eight years from 1987 to 1995.

The Congressman and his wife Leslie have three children (Carolyn, Laura, and Raymond) and are life-long residents of East Hartford.  

Larson married Leslie Best, one of his former students from his high school teaching days at George J. Penney High School.