U.S. May Phase Out the Incandescent Light Bulb

A bill being drafted by the U.S. Senate Energy Committee would phase out the incandescent light bulb in the United States, according to a NewsTarget.com report.

The incandescent bulb, the same kind of light bulb developed by Thomas Edison (pictured left), emits light by forcing an electric current through a thin filament. This process is vastly inefficient, wasting up to 90 percent of the energy put into them -- giving off more heat than light.

Alternative methods of lighting include florescent (pictured right), operated by heated gases, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Although more expensive than incandescent bulbs, florescent and LEDs are more efficient and longer lasting.

Banning incandescent light bulbs is part of a more sweeping move to curb energy use -- addressing the issue of global warming.

Thirteen states are currently considering at least a partial ban on incandescents, while Australia is on track for a full ban by 2010. Canada also plans to phase out the sale of incandescent light bulbs by 2012.

Steven Milloy of ProudToBeCanadian.com with commentary describing how a potential ban will effect General Electric and its stake in coal burning power plants:

Congress and the state of California, for example, are considering legislation to ban by 2012 the incandescent light bulb, thereby forcing consumers to buy compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Because USCAP member General Electric manufactures CFLs in China, it now faces labor problems with its U.S. employees who make incandescent bulbs.

Ironically, GE is working on a more efficient incandescent bulb that is slated to be available by 2010 — just in time to be banned.

Speaking of CFLs, let’s not forget the mass tort lawsuit potential against manufacturers and sellers of potentially billions of mercury-containing CFL light bulbs that require special clean-up and disposal procedures.

GE also has a business interest in coal -– a major source of CO2 emissions. The company makes turbines for traditional coal-fired power plants and is developing so-called “Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle” (IGCC) technology — a system for capturing CO2 from coal-fired electricity plants.

Although GE needs greenhouse gas regulations to drive growth for IGCC, its entire coal business is threatened by alarmism and regulation that would ban or greatly reduce the use of coal-fired power plants. Recent environmental group pressure caused the cancellation of eight coal-fired power plants that TXU Corp. planned to build. The cancellation caused, in turn, TXU to cancel its orders with GE for steam turbine generators.

-Dippold

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