How important is Texas’ energy role in the state’s economy?

Texas is a very important player when it comes to the increasingly crucial role of energy. Texas’s role in energy ties in with the American security and the economy. With its rich petroleum deposits and history of oil, the state often dictates policy for the rest of the country.

Texas is the nation’s leader in wind energy, and it has the strictest renewable energy mandate in the country. Now the wind capital of the U.S., Texas’s new law would make the state the leader in solar power as well.

Texas is the number two state when it comes to clean energy jobs, number one, of course, is California. Although Texas does not have a program at this time that provides funding of renewable energy equipment on an individual basis, there are tax exemptions available in certain instances. For example businesses that either use or manufacture or install solar or wind energy can receive franchise tax deductions and/or exemptions. There also exists a property tax exemption involving solar, wind, and biomass.

Even though Texas refines the most oil and produces much more natural gas than any other state, it boasts the second largest number of alternative fuel vehicles on the road. According to a study by the Pew Charitable Trusts, there were 55,646 workers employed in the clean energy industry in Texas. The study also found that venture capitalists had a favorable outlook on prospects for making money in the Texas energy sector. The state ranked third in dollars invested in clean energy applications.
 
Texas governor, Rick Perry, recently pointed out some of the successes he's overseen with regard to the state's energy policy. He notes that electric utilities in Texas were charged with reducing their minimum demand levels. They were able to reduce their demand below the desired goals. I say, Texas politics is pushing Texas energy policy in the right direction.

Criticism on: Education… The Governors responsibility?

This is a reply to Dan’s blogfive on the subject of “Education… The Governors responsibility?.”  Dan makes a good point on politicians’ promises during campaign getting forgotten after they are elected.

During the recent campaign and for any previous campaigns, education became a debating subject. This time, as Dan correctly, pointed out the subject was used for self serving purpose. Politicians usually pick education subject since it normally is a hot topic and gives the politicians something to talk about during the election campaign. I agree with Dan, regardless of who is elected, the issue will not be addressed after the election. I also agree with Dan that, both candidates exaggerated the state of the education systems.

I don’t agree with Dan when he blames the electorate for allowing these types of debate flourish, in this case, the topic of education. The politicians control the campaign environment; they are in charge of manipulation of the electorate’s mind. This goes for the education budget as well.

Dan’s argument is correct when he says, throwing more money at the education, will not fix the problem. However, I am not sure about his claim regarding Texas spending $60 Billion dollars on education. According to ROBERT T. GARRETT / The Dallas Morning News, article dated, Oct 25 2010, on the Texas revenue, $48.9 billion budget went to public schools, junior colleges, universities. Either way, Texas’s education budget is huge. Of course, there are some money being wasted in the system.

I totally agree with Dan on the subject of Texas spending way too much money on the sport complexes. In addition to wasting the financial resources on the sport, emphasizing too much on sport, is having a negative impact on the quality of Texas education. 

In summary, Dan discusses from wide range of angles the subject of education, political importance of education issues, and the education budget in this blog. He criticizes the candidates for misusing the education topic during their campaign for governor. He also blames parents for their lack of responsibilities for their kids’ education. I agree with him criticizing the politicians and the parents for Texas’s education problems.