Calif. Should Not Set Nat’l CE Energy Policy
As you probably have heard, the California Energy Commission (CEC) is about to decide to accept proposed restrictions on power use by TVs sold in that state. Tuesday the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) submitted final comments to the CEC regarding the restrictions.
Some non-Californians may say, “Who cares?” Anyone in the other 49 states should, because you don’t have a vote or a voice in the matter. CEA and some industry members think everyone should because they are concerned that a decision by California may set a de facto national standard.
I won’t repeat the technical arguments raised by CEA in its comments. Instead you can click here to read our news story on the matter.
Maybe CEA is right. Maybe the CEC means well. But as Doug Johnson, CEA’s technology policy and international affairs senior director, told TWICE at its Greener Gadgets Conference back in March, the CEC proposal was backed by the state’s major energy supplier - Pacific Gas & Electric.
A power company makes a proposal to its state’s energy commission for it to regulate energy usage?
The old bromide is that “all politics is local,” so do you think the CEC is going to listen to a trade association from Washington? Or their friendly local power company? Call me skeptical, but I don’t think this is the best way to decide upon a major nationwide issue.
If this proposal becomes law in California, manufacturers are not going to develop TV lines for one state and other lines for the rest of the nation. From just an inventory management perspective, it would be a nightmare. And that’s just one of the challenges.
Of course for the CEC and backers of its proposal - like Pacific Gas & Electric - that is not their concern.
What is obvious is that energy efficiency and the well-being of our country’s environment is everyone’s responsibility and concern. And in this case the energy efficiency of HDTVs has improved dramatically over the past several years, and that progress should continue.
What is needed is congressional legislation on the energy efficiency of CE and other household products. Granted there have been some recent questions on the voluntary Energy Star program, but at the very least the experience will this overall successful effort should be kept in the mix as a frame of reference for any proposed national legislation.
Congressional deliberations will allow the opinions of many be heard and considered, rather than have one state legislature dictate policy on such a vital national issue.
Wayne Ortner commented:
This is an appalling perversion of “the job at hand” for government. We are being directed to lightbulbs that contain posion and battery operated cars, the batteries of which are unbelievabley harmful to the environment when manufactured and disposed of, all in the name of “Green”. Watch out, they’re coming for your Big Mac next! They simply are drunk with power!
kerry commented:
the answer to this is simple. the manufactuers need to refuse to bow. who do you think will really blink first? if the other states do not follow california’s lead that leaves the citizens of their state without television. if we had done the same thing with cars thirty years ago detroit might not be as bad off as it is now. it is time for the coasts to learn they don’t run the country and the green people to find out that, while the ship turns slow, it does in fact turn
Lloyd Pritchett commented:
We already have big brother involved in too many things.We don't need the government sticking their nose into another industry.Most of this country's problems have been made worse by the government.
commented:
Why do we need Congress to chime in on this, too? Government of any form — state or federal — should not be mandating energy use of television sets. Congress already mandated a DTV Transition. Look at what a mess that turned out to be. This work is already being done on a voluntary basis using appropriate guidelines from the federal Energy Star program. Manufacturers are moving forward to address this along a healthy and practical timetable — consumer demand, not laws, forces them to do so — and as pointed out, manufacturers have already made huge strides in reducing energy requirements. As it does so often with any environmental topic du jour, the CEC is merely grandstanding on this issue after the heavy lifting has been done and the horse is out of the barn. Where was it 10 years ago when DTV sets first arrived and its direction and input might have been useful and appropriate? CEC commissioners need to stop looking to dictate policy for the other 49 states, and start worrying about the energy abuses committed by its own resident corporations.
