RUMINATIONS ON ENERGY

DALE C. FLOWERS

It is almost comical to listen to the debate over the cost of fuel today. I was listening to a politico the other day trying to convince the audience that things were getting better. He was one of the “All or None” extremists whose argument was that using our own resources by drilling would not end our crisis, nor would it end our dependence on foreign oil.

He stated that if all we did was drill domestically we would not solve the problem. What we needed to do was develop alternative sources, such as wind power, solar power, batteries for vehicles, etc… He then went to the extreme by stating that those who blamed the government for the problem only promoted drilling and ignored all other forms of energy sources. This guy is a high ranking federal official, right up with there with the Secretary of Energy who once stated, and since back-tracked, that he wanted fuel prices to reach the level of Europe in order to force us to using alternative energy.

Here is my problem. If the cost of gasoline goes much higher the only “alternative” method a large portion of the population will have is “leg power”. We will either have to walk, ride a bicycle or stay home. We will have to grow our own food because of the increased cost of milk, bread, and other staples. We can’t afford the new hybrids and battery operated vehicles. We can’t even afford the new fuel efficient vehicles. A family of four with one member fortunate enough to have a job can’t obligate half their take home pay for a good used vehicle, much less a new gas efficient one.

We can’t “think out of the box” to start our own business because of so many regulations. We are over regulated, under paid (those fortunate to have a job), and told we must tolerate high fuel prices until the government brings alternative energy sources on line 10 years from now. Only an idiot would think that we can tolerate the fuel crises now while we develop new sources. Suggestion: Let’s lower the salaries of federal officials to minimum wage. That would lower the debt and maybe teach them some common sense.

Protecting Tennessee Mountaintops

This week the House Conservation subcommittee will hear a vital piece of legislation to protect Tennessee’s beauty.  I am the sponsor of House bill 291 and will amend the legislation to define what constitutes a ridgeline.  At 2,000 feet this is a significant elevation in determining divisions of ecological sub regions according to the most current edition of the United States Forest Service’s publication, Ecological Sub regions of the United States.

Have your ever seen a grown man cry?

High school prom season is upon us.

Like daffodils in tiny plots beneath trees and along roadsides, teenagers will soon be sprouting up in area restaurants in their borrowed tuxedos and daring gowns.

I wouldn’t have remembered it except my daughter Susan called from Atlanta the other day to tell me that my grandson Lucas was going to his first prom on Saturday.

As the father of a son who played football and three beautiful daughters who were a homecoming queen, attendants, cheerleaders or pom-pom girls in high school, I have some history with proms. Believe me; your memory depends on which side of the gala occasion you’re on.

I am pleased to announce a grant for Sumner County’s Shafer Middle School.  A $20,000 grant incentive project has been approved from the Tennessee's Energy Efficient Schools Initiative to install an energy efficient HVAC at Shafer Middle School.

The Energy Efficient Schools Initiative was created in May 2008 to provide grants and loans to Tennessee school systems for capital outlay projects that meet energy efficient design and technology guidelines for school facilities. Schools apply for a pre-installation visit and equipment commissioning, then invoice for grant payment as they receive vendor and contractor bills. All school systems in Tennessee are eligible to apply. Possible projects include lighting upgrades, HVAC upgrades, and other projects that meet pre-determined energy use objectives. The maximum grant is $22/student.