Colorado Democrats lay out energy bills

Zim's Rants likes alternative energy... But whoa... What kind? OK, they're going to erect more windmills, which is fine ... it's really a drop in the bucket, but hey... every drop counts. My concern for bio fuels is that they should take a look at the cost-effectiveness of current corn ethanol production. I believe it uses too much water and consumes too much energy to produce on the drought-stricken great plains. Could some other methods of production be considered before going hell-bent on building expensive ethanol facilities?

One method of alternative energy I like is methane from landfill. Perhaps that could be used in local energy markets to generate clean electricity - used to supplement traditional supplies.

I'm kind of excited by news of thorium-based nuclear power plants that DO NOT produce enough plutonium to make N-bombs. This would end the controversy about nuclear weapons. How hard would it be to convert conventional plants to thorium??? I'm not sure, but I believe there will still be safety concerns. But our technology has come a long way since Three Mile Island and Chernobyl.

I also believe that another good technique is for the individual to cut costs. Prices of those fluorescent replacement lamps are going down... Any homeowner with a furnace should install the most efficient computerized thermostat and have an efficient furnace. And, frankly, I am puzzled why homeowners don't tap the solar market. Anyone who is building a new home should have these features incorporated into the dwelling from the start. I have the old trailer to use as a Guinea pig - gonna get some old car radiators, give 'em a coat of flat black paint and see how much it warms the water.

I'd rather see a bunch of small projects, instead of a few big projects. This way, if something turns out to be a albatross, it won't be a BIG albatross!