Connecticut has the highest electricity rates in the country, at least in the contiguous states, and only Hawaii has higher rates. This is one of the contributing factors to the high cost of living here. So you’d think that Connecticut’s legislature would be trying to do something about that wouldn’t you? Well, as I’ve posted on before, they are content to push 4 bills out of committee that don’t really do anything.
But there are things that the legislature can do to spur innovations. This state was once leading the country not too long ago in developing innovative production tools and products. Somehow, we just keep letting ourselves get priced out of retaining the innovators, thinkers and tinkerers that develop these things. So I was curious as to what Al Gore was saying in D.C. yesterday, about energy. And found a clip of the hearing that displayed Gore’s response to where he bought his electricity (carbon neutral) from and his attempted explanation on what was preventing that carbon neutral electricity from lowering in price. Gore was trying to suggest that the standards for regulating green energy be set at the federal level that over rides local restrictions that prevent solar voltage technologies from being deployed. It was a pretty important statement, but Inhofe really,really didn’t want to hear it. He preferred grandstanding and talking over Gore.
The full clip here shows this, but it was not linkable. What has the Internets ablaze is the ensuing exchange with Senator Boxer-D, now chair of the committee, and Senator Inhofe-R. It makes for better red meat in the blog world, but sadly Gore’s actual point might not get better play because of it.
So here’s the clip that’s making the rounds, the moement where Senator Boxer-D deals the technology clueless Senator Inhofe-R a quick lesson on who gets to make the rules these days. Yes, elections have consequences. You go girl!
