The End of Falling Gas Prices is in Sight
Economists have recently been speaking of the halt of falling gas prices in the US that have, lately, become a gift to consumers. With a national average of $2.08 a gallon, the nation is seeing prices that haven't been this low in years. Although the falling prices are not new news for anyone not living under a rock, the stopping of the decrease seems to be a surprise, and disappointment, to all.
Along with the expansion period for the gasoline prices after it hit its trough, the prices will rise even greater because the month of February has a tendency to bring more expensive prices, because of maintenance of the refineries during the winter months. Economists are worried that gas prices will go higher than expected and maybe hit the other side of the extremes. Although oil companies are in mourning lately, consumers have been on cloud nine filling up as much of their tanks as they can and an extreme shift in price can really put a dent in consumer confidence.
I understand that the gasoline market shifts back and forth from low prices to high and a rise again in prices is inevitable, but as a fellow consumer, I have to feel some remorse and I'm sure others can relate. I am personally worried about consumer confidence in this topic. It could put a dent in the high confidence we currently have and cause people to buy less of other goods. Of course, this is all part of an economy, but the coming months may be rough for consumers demanding gasoline.
Friday, January 16, 2015
Utility Providing Renewable Energy To Super Bowl- Think Progress
Utility Providing Renewable Energy To Super Bowl
Although the outcome of the game is unpredictable, the upcoming Super Bowl in Arizona has one characteristic that is definitive: the Arizona stadium will be run on complete renewable energy. The Salt River Project administrators who worked on the stadium have just announced, officially, that the game will be powered off of solar power. The next step in alternative energy is being completed.
The stadium is built so that the exterior walls are completely covered with solar panels that adjust with the way the sun is positioned. Because of this feat, the Salt River Project will begin to move to residential homes and expand its cutting edge resources to the more general public. With this advancement, I can see a bright future for energy usage among not only residential properties, but also large-scale infrastructures.
I find this information quite uplifting under the circumstances of our world's depleting resources. The fact that we, as a country, have the technology to power a stadium with hundreds of thousands of fans with completely renewable energy is a step in the right direction. We know what we have to do and we are doing just that. I have hope. The next step is to apply this technology to residential buildings and have this way of consuming energy the norm in today's ever changing society.
Although the outcome of the game is unpredictable, the upcoming Super Bowl in Arizona has one characteristic that is definitive: the Arizona stadium will be run on complete renewable energy. The Salt River Project administrators who worked on the stadium have just announced, officially, that the game will be powered off of solar power. The next step in alternative energy is being completed.
The stadium is built so that the exterior walls are completely covered with solar panels that adjust with the way the sun is positioned. Because of this feat, the Salt River Project will begin to move to residential homes and expand its cutting edge resources to the more general public. With this advancement, I can see a bright future for energy usage among not only residential properties, but also large-scale infrastructures.
I find this information quite uplifting under the circumstances of our world's depleting resources. The fact that we, as a country, have the technology to power a stadium with hundreds of thousands of fans with completely renewable energy is a step in the right direction. We know what we have to do and we are doing just that. I have hope. The next step is to apply this technology to residential buildings and have this way of consuming energy the norm in today's ever changing society.
Friday, December 19, 2014
Solar and Wind Energy Start to Win on Price vs. Conventional Fuels- The New York Times
Solar and Wind Energy Start to Win on Price vs. Conventional Fuels
The modern world has been waiting for a time where renewable energy is more cost efficient when compared to natural gases and other non-renewable resources. It seems that this day is finally arrived or, at least, very close. The cost to produce wind and solar energy farms has plummeted over the past year. So much so that it actually is more cost efficient to use these alternative methods over conventional ones.
Utility executives say that the new era has only just begun. There is much progress, but there is also much more to be done, such as, spreading the markets across the globe and pushing the prices even lower. The past year has brought many advancements in the green energy world and now the fruits of the United State's labor are finally present.
As an observer, I am glad to see that this change of energy ways and resources has finally arrived. The world isn't a bottomless pit and some of our resources will run dry, like oil and other natural gases. Now that the day is here where, in some parts of the US, depending on the climate, the cost of wind and solar energy production is actually cheaper than natural gases, the US need to know how to take this technology elsewhere and make the whole world a more suitable place for the future. Location and climate still present issues, but I'm sure it's nothing the United States can't handle.
The modern world has been waiting for a time where renewable energy is more cost efficient when compared to natural gases and other non-renewable resources. It seems that this day is finally arrived or, at least, very close. The cost to produce wind and solar energy farms has plummeted over the past year. So much so that it actually is more cost efficient to use these alternative methods over conventional ones.
Utility executives say that the new era has only just begun. There is much progress, but there is also much more to be done, such as, spreading the markets across the globe and pushing the prices even lower. The past year has brought many advancements in the green energy world and now the fruits of the United State's labor are finally present.
As an observer, I am glad to see that this change of energy ways and resources has finally arrived. The world isn't a bottomless pit and some of our resources will run dry, like oil and other natural gases. Now that the day is here where, in some parts of the US, depending on the climate, the cost of wind and solar energy production is actually cheaper than natural gases, the US need to know how to take this technology elsewhere and make the whole world a more suitable place for the future. Location and climate still present issues, but I'm sure it's nothing the United States can't handle.
Kenya to Develop Africa's Largest Wind Project- Oil Price
Kenya to Develop Africa's Largest Wind Projects
Wind Energy company, Vestas, recently won a contract with the Kenyan government, allowing the construction of the biggest wind farm in Africa. The company is looking to build, specifically, 365 wind turbines. Furthermore, the company stated that the location of the farm is quite unique and at a relatively high altitude suitable for wind energy production.
The farm will give Africa a starting point for alternative energy and spark a new era for Africa. The continent has a lot to work on to begin with, but this can be a starting point for the future of energy. Vestas happens to be owned by the Danes, but, still, Africa will now be introduced to a new type of production. All in all, the new farm has a lot of uses. Not only will it produce energy, but it will also aid Africa in starting a revolution and a new era in energy production.
The farm will cost 800 million dollars, but is said to save 186 million dollars per year in energy costs. Therefore, in four years time, the farm will provide Kenya with a profit in energy costs. This farm provides quite a few benefits ranging from costs to an advent of renewable energy in a third world continent. This revolution is something that I believe needs to occur in all parts of the world. We will run out of natural gases and there needs to be a alternative or there will be fatal consequences all around the world.
Wind Energy company, Vestas, recently won a contract with the Kenyan government, allowing the construction of the biggest wind farm in Africa. The company is looking to build, specifically, 365 wind turbines. Furthermore, the company stated that the location of the farm is quite unique and at a relatively high altitude suitable for wind energy production.
The farm will give Africa a starting point for alternative energy and spark a new era for Africa. The continent has a lot to work on to begin with, but this can be a starting point for the future of energy. Vestas happens to be owned by the Danes, but, still, Africa will now be introduced to a new type of production. All in all, the new farm has a lot of uses. Not only will it produce energy, but it will also aid Africa in starting a revolution and a new era in energy production.
The farm will cost 800 million dollars, but is said to save 186 million dollars per year in energy costs. Therefore, in four years time, the farm will provide Kenya with a profit in energy costs. This farm provides quite a few benefits ranging from costs to an advent of renewable energy in a third world continent. This revolution is something that I believe needs to occur in all parts of the world. We will run out of natural gases and there needs to be a alternative or there will be fatal consequences all around the world.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Sweden's Social Welfare System Up Close- GMF Blog
Sweden's Social Welfare System Up Close
In the US, most social welfare recipients are lower income people. Economists are noticing, that in Sweden, quite the opposite is true. From high school principals, to city mayors, to healthcare officials, everyone is finding themselves as welfare beneficiaries. Sweden makes it a point to build an aid system where everyone contributes and everyone benefits.
Studies reveal that public schooling is free, school lunches are free, and university and post-graduate studies are free. These are benefits that are not at all available in the United States. Another outstanding benefit they receive through their omniscient social welfare system is a pension for retirement so citizens do not have to save up before they plan to retire. These advantages are things the US never sees and probably never will see.
The reason Sweden and the US are so different stems from the amount of tax money being given to the government. The people of Sweden understand the benefits that will come from the amount of taxes. This is something the United States, in my opinion, will never be able to understand. They will always live in the fear of taxes and forever miss out on the benefits that could occur.
In the US, most social welfare recipients are lower income people. Economists are noticing, that in Sweden, quite the opposite is true. From high school principals, to city mayors, to healthcare officials, everyone is finding themselves as welfare beneficiaries. Sweden makes it a point to build an aid system where everyone contributes and everyone benefits.
Studies reveal that public schooling is free, school lunches are free, and university and post-graduate studies are free. These are benefits that are not at all available in the United States. Another outstanding benefit they receive through their omniscient social welfare system is a pension for retirement so citizens do not have to save up before they plan to retire. These advantages are things the US never sees and probably never will see.
The reason Sweden and the US are so different stems from the amount of tax money being given to the government. The people of Sweden understand the benefits that will come from the amount of taxes. This is something the United States, in my opinion, will never be able to understand. They will always live in the fear of taxes and forever miss out on the benefits that could occur.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
31 Arrested in Orange County Welfare Fraud Sweep- Time Warner Cable News
31 Arrested in Orange County Welfare Fraud Sweep
31 people have been arrested in the Orange County area for social welfare fraud. Orange County authorities recently began a harsher crack down on the citizens suspected of fraud and the harder investigation paid off with the 31 arrests. "Social Welfare is not chicken feed," says the Orange County Police Sheriff. Authorities say that this will not happen anymore.
The Orange County Sheriff announces that this wasn't a small sum of taxpayer money, like a couple hundred dollars. This was upwards to 400,000 dollars stolen from taxpayers. The 31 men and women were found defrauding Medicare, public assistance, food stamps, and day care programs. Just finding these many cases took several months and in depth planning, but Orange County is not about to stop the hunt on fraud.
There are more cases of fraud than we really can handle in the US and it's a big problem, financially, for our economy. Maybe the more frequent cases aren't as severe as stealing 400,000 dollars, but there is a large amount of people who abuse the welfare system. While I believe welfare is something this country needs to have, I also believe that a solution needs to be found to prevent future abuse in such a large and impactful way.
31 people have been arrested in the Orange County area for social welfare fraud. Orange County authorities recently began a harsher crack down on the citizens suspected of fraud and the harder investigation paid off with the 31 arrests. "Social Welfare is not chicken feed," says the Orange County Police Sheriff. Authorities say that this will not happen anymore.
The Orange County Sheriff announces that this wasn't a small sum of taxpayer money, like a couple hundred dollars. This was upwards to 400,000 dollars stolen from taxpayers. The 31 men and women were found defrauding Medicare, public assistance, food stamps, and day care programs. Just finding these many cases took several months and in depth planning, but Orange County is not about to stop the hunt on fraud.
There are more cases of fraud than we really can handle in the US and it's a big problem, financially, for our economy. Maybe the more frequent cases aren't as severe as stealing 400,000 dollars, but there is a large amount of people who abuse the welfare system. While I believe welfare is something this country needs to have, I also believe that a solution needs to be found to prevent future abuse in such a large and impactful way.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Why Drug Testing Welfare Recipients is a Waste of Taxpayer Money- Time
Why Drug Testing Welfare Recipients is a Waste of Taxpayer Money
Some people in the United States have been accused of taking advantage of this nation's welfare system. Some authorities believe that the government's welfare money have been used for things inappropriate such as drugs and alcohol. As a resolution for this issue, experts have concocted the idea to drug test all welfare recipients to be sure the welfare money will be used for the right reasons.
Recently, Darlena Cunha has stated that this resolution is simply a waste if taxpayer dollars. In Tennessee, where a law was enacted requiring welfare recipients to take a drug test, out of the first 800 tests, only one came back positive. The other 799 people tested negative and, in essence, wasted the money that went into the the testing.
It's been determined that only 8% of welfare recipients actually use any part of the money for drugs. This percentage is far too small to spend the colossal amount of money on trying to prevent it. The only benefit that would result from the testing would be satisfaction from taxpayers who are ignorantly assuming that their money is going to the right cause.
Some people in the United States have been accused of taking advantage of this nation's welfare system. Some authorities believe that the government's welfare money have been used for things inappropriate such as drugs and alcohol. As a resolution for this issue, experts have concocted the idea to drug test all welfare recipients to be sure the welfare money will be used for the right reasons.
Recently, Darlena Cunha has stated that this resolution is simply a waste if taxpayer dollars. In Tennessee, where a law was enacted requiring welfare recipients to take a drug test, out of the first 800 tests, only one came back positive. The other 799 people tested negative and, in essence, wasted the money that went into the the testing.
It's been determined that only 8% of welfare recipients actually use any part of the money for drugs. This percentage is far too small to spend the colossal amount of money on trying to prevent it. The only benefit that would result from the testing would be satisfaction from taxpayers who are ignorantly assuming that their money is going to the right cause.
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