BPU Wrong on Electric Heat

Regarding the Nov. 5 article, “BPU plan would ban electric heating in new homes”:Are you kidding? Any regulatory move that would give an unfair advantage to a specific market sector is bad for business by limiting choice, which will ultimately hurt the consumer. Also, electric heating gives a high degree of control by creating a zone in every room so that “smart homes” can regulate the temperature of any room, thereby actually minimizing the consumption of energy. This cannot by accomplished as cost effectively by using conventional central heating. Furthermore, the long-term future of fossil fuel-based heating is certainly doubtful, as we have already seen a large spike in the cost of oil and natural gas. Admittedly, the costs have peaked relative to the Gulf disaster, but the long-term scenario for global consumption is at best ominous, with India and China revving up their mega-economies. The only defense against an unwinnable price war with competitive developing economies in need of fossil fuels is to develop renewable energy resources here at home using wind and solar power.At worst, the BPU is in the pocket of Big Oil, and the prospect of efficient electric heat represents competition.At best, the BPU is unwilling to embrace the potential that renewable energy represents, because to harness the wind requires investment and maybe a few towers far out to sea. In either case, the baby will be thrown out with the bath water if this action is allowed to happen, and from the position of a globally aware environmentalist, it just plain stinks.

KIRK RYAN

Northfield

Letter published in Press of Atlantic City, November 19, 2005

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/opinion/letters/story/5706253p-5723798c.html