America In Danger – The Blog

WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters) – U.S. oil and natural gas producing companies should not receive federal subsidies in the form of tax breaks because their businesses contribute to global warming, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told Congress on Wednesday.

While I completely agree that oil and gas companies should not receive subsidies, I further content that no companies should receive a transfer of wealth from the taxpayers in the form of any subsidies. We must ask where the current administration suits got their economic training? How can anyone believe that additional taxes that will be passed on to the consumer will promote a stronger economy? The current administration talks about not raising taxes on the middle class but any additional fees or taxes placed on the producers of items consumed by the American people will drive prices through the roof. We just got some relief from high gas prices and now these socialists in the administration are trying to drive the prices up again with foolish global warming motivated bad policy.

http://in.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idINN0454844120090304

Well, the City of Rocky Mount has come up with a green policy to pay people that produce more energy than they need and sell the overage back to the City.  The City will reimburse you 2.4 cents per kWh produced and with partnership with NCGreenPower providing .15 cents per kWh produced.  Right now, I’m trying to confirm this and some other questions.

But don’t expect a shining knight on a white horse to save you on this one.  There is a 2 page checklist (PDF) of things you’ll have to do before you can start collecting from the City of Rocky Mount’s Green Energy Policy.  So I went around the Internet to some of my favorite and most trusted sites to help people in Rocky Mount, NC and all of our Internet readers with saving on their electric bills, while doing it on the cheap (or cheaper than paying for high utility rates).

BuildItSolar.com – This site is made for the DIY people.  It’s got a LOT of information on how to minimize your energy usage using the least amount of dollars. HIGHLY Recommended site.

Backwoods Home Magazine – This magazine is a must-have and I’ve subscribed to it for several years.  Our local bookstore used to carry it, but the publisher of the magazine said newsstand sales were costing too much.  It’s worth the $24.95/year subscription.  My business, Deep Creek Survival gives away a FREE subscription with $300 or more an order.  Check their link pages for more links like these.

Backwoodsman Magazine – Ok.  This magazine deals with a lot of 18th and 19th century living, primitive living skills and what not, but there are many times in it’s hallowed pages of goodness articles on heating and doing things the good ol’ fashinoned way.  Our local bookstore carries it, but the subscription rate is great.

Lehaman’s Non-Electric Catalog – This is THE place to get anything non-electric. Based out of Ohio, in a heavily-populated community of the Amish, they have a fantastic array of items for self-sufficient living.  You can see a photo of their store on the web site with the parking lot full of Amish buggies.  It’s a site, I’ll tell you.  Send them $5 for a catalog or browse online.

Cumberland General Store – Based in the beautiful Tennessee mountains, the Cumberland General Store has everything fit for man and beast.  Lots of old-timey items are found here, much like Lehman’s.

Mother Earth News – This magazine can get a little out of hand on the global warming theory, but overall they present good information on how to save on energy and live wisely.  Check their web site out.

Back Home Magazine – Great magazine with lots of information of living simpler.  The current issue out in our local bookstore has a lovely, modern-looking strawbale house.

FreeSunPower.com – This site has lots of free tutorials for the beginner on up to the advanced user.   There are online calculators for figuring up how much energy used based on appliances and the amount of time they’re used.  Great for finding out how much a solar power system or wind turbine will have to handle for daily usage.

Otherpower.com – Great site with lots of great information and books.  These folks live 12 miles from the nearest powerline and provide all their own electricity needs.  I particurlarly fond of the Wood-Fired Steam Engine 2KW Backup Battery Charger.  I really would like to make one of those.  It even has a steam whistle!

Home Power Magazine – The name says it all.  They deal with more than just solar and wind, but hydropower and more.

I’ll put more links up as I find them, but this should help you get started.  I’ll also post back what I find out from Mr. Worsinger on a couple of questions I sent him regarding this program and federal laws.

Chris

President-elect Barack Obama is not planning to implement a windfall profit tax on oil companies because prices have dropped below $80 a barrel, an aide said on Tuesday.

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Rocky Mount Electricities Utilities Online Petition

Text of Petition:

The Rocky Mount Utilities are outrageous and need to be lowered. We do not have a choice to get our power from Progress Energy, so we have to buy our electric from the City of Rocky Mount. I enjoy living in the city, but the electric and gas rates are too high. We the citizens of Rocky Mount want our gas and electric rates lowered and want them to be comparative to Progress Energy. Many residents electric bills are almost more than their mortgage payment each month. (Mine is one of them) If there is a law for Price Gouging, then this matter should be addressed and investigated as such. The City of Rocky Mount has to buy their electricity from NCEMPA (American Public Power Association, American Public Gas Association and Electricities).   I feel if we had a choice, the citizens of Rocky Mount would choose a different provider for our utilities. Now they are talking about another price increase in 2009 after we already had one in 2008. Please reply to this petition. If I can get 1000 people to respond, I will go to the next step, but I am young, energetic, and motivated, so I am willing to try to get our voices heard.  I need everyone to help get our voice heard.  Please sign this petition.  Comment your feelings.  Tell everyone you know that cares about our town’s wellness to sign the petition as well.

Here are some very interesting Numbers from one of the recent blogs on the Telegram Page:

Progress Energy,
Nashville electric prices are; 9.67c July-Oct Kwh
8.67c Nov- June Kwh (A decrease)

Rocky Mount- 12.91c Kwh. all year long.

If you need to know more about ElectriCities look at these sites.

http://www.rockymountnc.gov/utilities/faqs.html#8
and
http://www.electricities.com/index.htm

ElectriCities is a not-for-profit organization that is financed through membership fees and dues, as well as through rate and service revenue and tuition from training programs and workshops. Rocky Mounts annual due is $46,046. It is just interesting to look at this.

Gas shortages are afflicting drivers across the Southeast. Some of the problems were caused by Hurricane Ike affecting oil production and refining along the Gulf Coast, but empty gas pumps also are being blamed on the consumers themselves.

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Lines crawled out into the streets leading up to the Exxon gas station on Pineville-Matthews Road on Thursday morning, as it was one of the few stations in Charlotte with fuel. Exxon actually hired security guards to help with the lines.

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As fuel prices soar, Alaskan officials announced the exploration of the state’s volcanoes, saying they could be exploited to provide energy for thousands of homes.

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Voters in this mostly agricultural corner of the Midwest have approved a proposal to build the first new U.S. oil refinery in more than 30 years. Union County residents voted 58 percent to 42 percent Tuesday to endorse the rezoning of almost 3,300 acres of pristine farm land north of Elk Point for the oil refinery.

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Gordon Brown responded to mounting concerns about the global rise in food prices by signalling that he might scale back Britain’s commitment to biofuels, which critics say has exacerbated the food crisis because land has been given over to grow crops for energy rather than food.

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House Republican leaders on Tuesday challenged Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to release a plan to lower gas prices that they say Democrats touted when they were in the minority.

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