Gulf Oil Disaster report now available

The report is now available from the GPO.

Title: "Deep Water: The Gulf Oil Disaster And The Future Of Offshore Drilling - Report to the President (BP Oil Spill Commission Report)"
Description and links to downloads at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/search/pagedetails.action?packageId=GPO-OILCOMMISSION

Description of the report:

On April 20, 2010, the Macondo well blew out, costing the lives of 11 men and beginning a catastrophe that sank the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig and spilled nearly 5 million barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The spill disrupted an entire region's economy, damaged fisheries and critical habitats, and brought vividly to light the risks of deepwater drilling for oil and gas -- the latest frontier in the national energy supply. Soon after, President Barack Obama appointed a seven-member Commission to investigate the disaster, analyze its causes and effects, and recommend the actions necessary to minimize such risks in the future. The Commission's report offers the American public and policymakers alike the fullest account available of what happened in the Gulf and why, and proposes actions -- changes in company behavior, reform of Government oversight, and investments in research and technology -- required as industry moves forward to meet the nation's energy needs.

Need a New Appliance? Wait until April...

If you need a new appliance, wait until April! Texas will be offering (as part of the 2009 stimulus package) consumers rebates for their "clunker" appliances. If you trade in your old appliances for Energy Star appliances rebates are available for refrigerators, freezers, central air, air conditioners, washers, dryers, etc.

Appliances must be purchased between April 16-25, 2010.

For more information: http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/arra/rebate/index.php

Energy saving tips

Google has put together a quick check sheet of energy saving tips around the house. When you check off each item or put in the number of replacements, it calculates your energy savings.

http://www.google.com/hauntedhouse08/index.html

FuelEconomy.gov

FuelEconomy.gov
U.S. Department of Energy and U.S Environmental Protection Agency

Use this site to find out the estimated mileage of cars, even whole classes of vehicles. Many of the vehicles have the new EPA MPG estimates listed.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm

Energy bill signed today

Posted on the New York Times web site:

Bush Signs Broad Energy Bill
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: December 19, 2007
Filed at 12:15 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush signed into law Wednesday legislation that will bring more fuel-efficient vehicles into auto showrooms and require wider use of ethanol, calling it ''a major step'' toward energy independence and easing global warming.

The legislation signed by Bush at a ceremony at the Energy Department requires automakers to increase fuel efficiency by 40 percent to an industry average 35 miles per gallon by 2020. It also ramps up production of ethanol use to 36 billion gallons a year by 2022.
(cont.)

From whitehouse.gov:

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 19, 2007
Fact Sheet: Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 President Bush Signs Energy Bill To Improve Fuel Economy And Reduce Oil Dependence

Today, President Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which will improve vehicle fuel economy and help reduce U.S. dependence on oil.The bill the President signed today responds to the challenge of his bold "Twenty in Ten" initiative, which President Bush announced in January. It represents a major step forward in expanding the production of renewable fuels, reducing our dependence on oil, and confronting global climate change. It will increase our energy security, xpand the production of renewable fuels, and make America stronger, safer, and cleaner for future generations.
(cont.)

This refers to H.R.6
SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007’’.

Record high gas prices

Story from CNN on record high gas prices. Ouch. In the story, AAA is forecasting gas to be $3.25 by Father's Day.