Monday, September 1, 2014

Dear Prez: Your Helping is Not Helping

Please stop helping me save money. Every time you come up with a plan to 'cut energy costs' for the consumer, it actually ends up costing me more. Also, every time you make claims that whatever it is will be better for the environment, or will cut down on the use of fossil fuels, the opposite usually happens.

Thanks to Boss Obama's new and aggressive climate plan, the Dept of Energy is implementing lots and lots of new standards for just about every home appliance, from refrigerators to furnaces to lamps, and everything in between. And while the administration is promising it will stimulate the economy, industry groups say it will slow the economy. Businesses will need to invest in new technologies that will emit less energy - that will be expensive for them, which will then increase costs for we the people.

The director of government affairs for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International Don Melchi, says "there are a lot of folks in the business community who don't believe the benefits are as good as the Energy Department says they will be and that the agency is using flawed data to tip the scales in favor of more stringent regulations."

Even a DOE spokesperson admits it will be a disadvantage for lower income people, as appliances will necessarily cost more; as a result they will likely use older appliances.

These new standards will also apply to business appliances, such as commerical refrigerators and walk-in freezers. Steve Yurek, President and CEO of Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute is challenging two rules in federal court. He's concerned that these new regulations could force as much as 40% of the industry out of business. http://thehill.com/regulation/energy-environment/216186-obama-pushes-green-standards-for-everything-but-kitchen-sink

So, Mr. Obama, I know that 'climate change' is a big priority for you - (we won't look at the horrifying events happening around the world), but your efforts are not good for us. And once again, you have proven that your concerns are not our concerns (environmental issues rank low  on a list of 'worries' for the American people). Now that you are pushing for a global treaty addressing 'climate change', you have distanced us even more from our ability to have a voice in how we are governed.

I have a suggestion. Book another round of golf and stop 'helping' us so much.