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Gold/Mining/Energy : The New Power -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: sandintoes who wrote (72)	9/7/2003 9:39:28 AM
From: Copperfield	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 166

It is easy to understand the American fear of socialism and state control of utilities. When TVA was founded there was a shortage of capital and a need for jobs. Today the USA faces potential future shortages of natural gas. There has been an large program of building new NG fired power plants in recent years - completely unplanned and unregulated with a build it first and win mentality. A large number of older inefficient plants still operate in areas such as NYC and across the country and it has been difficult to replace them or even get parts to repair them, by their owners. Hence, new plants are sitting idle while old plants waste fuel. Canada did not have this type of merchant energy build-out but we now face the consequences with high natural gas prices. It is true that state controlled electricity monopolies are not the answer and even Russia is deregulating and privatizing their power system. However, central planning there produced a system that heats cities with the heat that we waste in the west. Their equipment is standardized and factories that produce it are still in business. They also have large energy reserves and can tap the resources of the Middle East by pipeline. America has always excelled at innovation and that is what we need in North America. If we choose hydrogen, nuclear power, or diode lighting .. whatever, we need a plan. That is what the New Deal was then. Maybe that's what is needed now .. an energy policy that is a plan.