Special Reports & Tweets - 20111103_SpecialReport_Alex
Aired: 2011-11-03
Duration: 03:40


=== Utility Bill Hikes Debate (03:40) ===

[00:00:00]  I'm Darren McBreen with Info Wars Nightly News and I'm here today at the Texas State
[00:00:11]  Capitol and we're about to find out if the people of Austin are aware that they are about
[00:00:15]  to be hit by a wave of utility bill hikes as new EPA regulations drive up the cost of
[00:00:21]  energy.
[00:00:22]  What do you think about paying higher utility bills because of the EPA's new regulations against power plants?
[00:00:28]  You know, there may be some new regulations coming up against power plants at this point.
[00:00:32]  But unfortunately right now, I think that our citizens statewide and nationwide basically overburdened, especially with today's economic developments and situations that are going on.
[00:00:44]  I think rate hikes should be at a minimal to at least try to alleviate some of the burden on our taxpayers and our citizens nationwide and statewide.
[00:00:52]  I know a lot of people that are going to be not only shocked, but a little bit irritated about that as well.
[00:00:56]  Because it's such a hot summer, everybody's bills are already up through the roof.
[00:01:01]  You're already paying through the roof because the ACs are running non-stop.
[00:01:05]  And then all of a sudden it's like, on top of that and with a downturn economy, yeah, it doesn't seem to jive that well.
[00:01:12]  Of course I don't want to pay higher utility bills.
[00:01:14]  They're already extremely high right now as it is.
[00:01:18]  Well, I don't want to pay more because of the carbon dioxide thing.
[00:01:22]  That doesn't seem right.
[00:01:23]  Especially if it's not even proven.
[00:01:25]  Generally, I prefer regulations that deter pollution and paying a little bit more for that than an unregulated environment.
[00:01:34]  It all has to be regulated some way, right?
[00:01:37]  What are you going to mess our environment up?
[00:01:39]  I understand the tax on carbon footprints, but I mean, who's, you know, getting a new Lexus, you know what I mean?
[00:01:46]  Do you think that carbon dioxide is dangerous?
[00:01:50]  I think carbon dioxide can be very dangerous.
[00:01:53]  Okay, what do plants breathe?
[00:01:57]  Carbon dioxide.
[00:01:59]  Yeah, I think carbon dioxide is definitely dangerous, otherwise there wouldn't be any, like, rules and laws to prevent it being... What do plants breathe?
[00:02:10]  Carbon dioxide.
[00:02:11]  Carbon dioxide is turned into oxygen by plants.
[00:02:15]  So, I mean, it has to be in the world.
[00:02:19]  Obviously, it's not all dangerous.
[00:02:22]  Carbon dioxide isn't a dangerous gas, but when there's too much of it, it's a problem.
[00:02:27]  Carbon dioxide, even though it's a natural gas consumed by plants, it can be dangerous because, well, everyone says it has to do with global warming.
[00:02:37]  Behind me is the Holly Street Power Plant.
[00:02:40]  It was partially closed in 2004 and officially shut down in 2007.
[00:02:45]  Now it's simply a reminder of Austin's energy independence.
[00:02:49]  What do you think about the fact that General Electric, one of Obama's biggest donors, that they get a waiver and they will not be subject to the regulations?
[00:02:57]  That sounds like politics and lobbyists' web work.
[00:02:59]  I mean, it's government, right?
[00:03:01]  No surprise.
[00:03:01]  Sounds plausible.
[00:03:02]  Yeah, it sounds plausible.
[00:03:03]  There's no surprise about that.
[00:03:04]  General Electric doesn't need any favors from anybody.
[00:03:06]  They're a multi-billion dollar corporation.
[00:03:08]  Are you aware that some of these new regulations are also shutting down power plants and this is causing some of the rolling blackouts throughout Texas?
[00:03:16]  No, I wasn't familiar with that actually.
[00:03:18]  I didn't realize that was going on.
[00:03:20]  Lobbyists make a lot of money striking these deals.
[00:03:23]  There's a lot of things that we don't know.
[00:03:24]  And how government, you know, the tax breaks, the incentives, loopholes, you name it.
[00:03:29]  So I think it's just one more to add to the list.
[00:03:32]  Well, as you can see, Alex, the people here in Austin, they're aware that their utility rates are going up, but they're not sure of the real cause.