U.S. Nuclear Society in need of loan guarantee

The US Department of Energy says loan guarantee changes are needed if they are to increase the number of nuclear power plants in the country. They help the environment but are rather costly. The government gave an offer of $7.5 billion loan guarantee with an attached fee of $880 million. This shows the government knows this program needs revisions. There has been a halt in developing new nuclear power plants because additional government support is needed. In this example the US needs a loan guarantee instead of a loan because of the expensive price tag. This change in the program because of loan guarantees helps illustrate the indirect form of government helps implement public policy. The US Department of Energy was even brought up in class as an example of loan guarantees even though it is in need of reform.

http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/Nuclear/8107310

Michelle Watkins

Reduction in Fuel Emissions

The federal government set new standards for big vehicles made in 2014 to use less fuel. It will require, for example, 20% less fuel consumption by off-road tractor-trailers by 2018. The Obama Administration used the tool of action, social regulation, to form this policy. It should be responded to with a high level of legitimacy from the over-all public, but not to the businesses that will have to use more resources to reduce the emissions of the tractor-trailers they produce. The effectiveness of this plan will probably be mediocre because if will reduce jobs and it will not have a big enough impact on lessening fuel consumption.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/26/business/26trucks.html?ref=us.
Eric Cunningham

Will LED light bulbs be the "new hot topic?"

Jet engines are the inspiration for GE's new energy-saving light bulb. This stunning new technology was derived from the amount of over heating jet engines that do not have the proper cooling techniques similar to LED bulbs. LED bulbs are not as good as engines when it comes to staying cool, so scientists inserted a few jet engine cooling mechanisms inside LED bulbs. The outcome of this is a lightweight 1,500 lumen LED bulb that produces as much light as a 100 watt halogen bulb while using a third of the energy. GE's 1,500 lumen bulb is actually half the size and weight of the 600 lumen LED bulb available today. This new invention proves that technology is becoming more reliable and it is also taking away the number of jobs available to citizens.


http://www.fastcompany.com/1696953/ge-debuts-jet-engine-inspired-led-bulbs