There’s No Conserve In Conservative

-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger

The latest incoherence from the Right has to do with incandescence, as in incandescent light bulbs. The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, a bill mandating higher efficiency standards, passed by massive majorities in Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush, has put the kibosh on inefficient incandescent light bulbs. Obviously, an example of socialism/communism/fascism run amok.

H.R. 2417 is a bill sponsored by Representative Joe Barton (R-Texas) that will save the incandescent light bulb. The debate on the debt ceiling did not hinder the vote on this critical legislation. The vote was Yea: 233, Nay: 193, but required a two-thirds majority because it was brought up by the method of “suspension of the rules.”

Barton seems to be concerned with the mercury content of compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). This was the same Barton who was not concerned with the 1,235 pounds of mercury that are released into the environment every year from just one coal-fired  power plant. As can be seen from the chart above, the worst case exposure to mercury from a broken CFL is equivalent to eating a 6 oz. can of tuna.

However, all of this faux outrage is moot. Philips, GE, and Sylvania, are producing incandescent light bulbs that meet the EISA standards. The Philips line is called EcoVantage.

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the economic benefits of switching to more efficient light bulbs will include:

savings of $100 to $200 plus per year in the form of lower electric bills in each American household.

H/T: Kevin Drum, Stephen Lacey.