ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! CARBON POLICE COMING TO OREGON AND WASHINGTON

July 24, 2008

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In the name of man made global warming (which is anything but settled science), Oregon’s governor has proposed a carbon cap and trade system that will raise energy prices astronomically in the state. The plan is endorsed by Washington officials too.
The Zero runs what should be a bombshell story (HERE) in the business section under this rather benign sounding headline:

Western States Offer Emissions Plan

In a news conference in Salem yesterday, the guv outlined, and the Zero faithfully transcribed, what would be the outcome of this plan. Check out this howler:

Large utility companies and factory owners would feel the effects first, followed by fuel distributors, as they face limits on their greenhouse gas emissions. Individual Oregonians would not feel the limits firsthand but probably would see changes in how their power is generated (emphasis added).

People, this is a story in the business section and the business reporter, Michael Milstein, actually makes the claim that Oregonians won’t feel the pain this draconian carbon trading scheme would inflict. Has he seen the price of fuel lately? Does he have any idea how those prices came to be? How does he figure that the proletariat won’t feel the pain if prices for energy companies have increased costs? Is he serious?
Then, after declaring Oregonians would feel no pain he explains, well, the price of energy may go up …a little.

State officials who unveiled the approach in Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s offices said the draft strategy’s mandates may push power rates and fuel prices up slightly (emphasis added).

Still transcribing for the Guv, Milstein allows as prices might go up “slightly?”
But, he continues gullibly, things will turn out alright in the end:

But Oregonians should see lower bills in the end [when again?] because the strategy promotes conservation measures that should reduce energy use, they said.

Those, uh, “conservation measures?” Make no mistake those will be required. We’ll end up RATIONING ENERGY because this plan calls for no increase in supply of energy, just making fossil fuels more expensive, going over to alternative energies which are more expensive.
Oh, and then, without as much as a backward glance at credulity, Milstein reports on how the state will police the issue by introducing an either entirely new or expanded state agency which will act as the carbon police.

Large greenhouse gas emitters such as power plants and factories would be regulated under the strategy by 2012. In Oregon, this would include fewer than 10 utility companies and about 50 companies total, including large plants and lumber mills.

Sounds so unimposing, doesn’t it? Until the plan to expand the carbon police is laid out:

Vehicle and home heating fuels, including gasoline and natural gas, would come under regulation by 2015.

Wow, can personal carbon credit cards be far behind?
No wonder Enron wanted to get in this business.
Oh, and when you’re priced out of using your vehicle to get to work or heating your home, they’ve got a WELFARE plan for you:

Each state gets a share of emissions allowances and decides for itself whether to hand them out to major emitters or auction them. Auctioning the allowances could generate revenue that could help pay for energy efficiency measures or help low-income residents cope with energy prices.

Hey, wait a minute, I thought Michael Milstein, the Zero reporter who transcribed so faithfully for the Guv said:

Individual Oregonians would not feel the limits firsthand.

More on this later. Gotta go.

Tell ’em where you saw it. Http://www.victoriataft.com