Reply #143: Yes, you are taking it in the wrong context.

[Uncle Joe]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Gore

Gore has also been the subject of criticism for his personal use of electricity. The Tennessee Center for Policy Research (TCPR) has twice criticized Gore. In February 2007, TCPR stated that their analysis of records from the Nashville Electric Service indicated that the Gore household uses "20 times as much electricity as the average household nationwide."<191><192> In reporting on TCPR's claims, MSNBC noted that the Nashville Electric Service report "omits several other key facts. The former vice president's home has 20 rooms, including home offices for himself and his wife, as well as a guest house and special security measures. Furthermore, the Gores buy energy produced from renewable sources, such as wind and solar. Tonight, Countdown confirmed with the local utility officials that their program, called the Green Power Switch, actually costs more for the Gores—four dollars for every 150 kilowatt hours. Meaning, by our calculations, our math here, that the Gores actually chose to increase their electric bill by $5,893, more than 50 percent, in order to minimize carbon pollution."<193>

A few months later, the Associated Press reported on December 13, 2007 that Gore "has completed a host of improvements to make the home more energy efficient, and a building-industry group has praised the house as one of the nation's most environmentally friendly <...> 'Short of tearing it down and starting anew, I don't know how it could have been rated any higher,' said Kim Shinn of the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council, which gave the house its second-highest rating for sustainable design."<194>

Gore was criticized by the TCPR again in June 2008, after the group obtained his public utility bills from the Nashville Electric Service and compared "electricity consumption between the 12 months before June 2007, when it says he installed his new technology, and the year since then."<195><196> According to their analysis, the Gores consumed 10% more energy in the year since their home received its eco-friendly modifications. TCPR also argued that, while the "average American household consumes 11,040 kWh in an entire year," the Gore residence "uses an average of 17,768 kWh per month –1,638 kWh more energy per month than before the renovations."<196> Gore's spokeswoman Kalee Kreider countered the claim by stating that the Gores' "utility bills have gone down 40 percent since the green retrofit." and that "the three-year renovation on the home wasn't complete until November, so it's a bit early to attempt a before-and-after comparison."<197> She also noted that TCPR did not include Gore's gas bill in their analysis (which they had done the previous year) and that the gas "bill has gone down 90 percent <...> And when the Gores do power up, they pay for renewable resources, like wind and solar power or methane gas."<198> Media Matters for America also discussed the fact that "100 percent of the electricity in his home comes from green power" and quoted the Tennessee Valley Authority as stating that "lthough no source of energy is impact-free, renewable resources create less waste and pollution."<199>

Some have criticized Gore's earnings, referring to him as a "carbon billionaire." <200> The National Center for Public Policy Research has argued that Gore has a conflict of interest due to being a public advocate for taxpayer subsidies of green technology while simultaneously being a partner of green-technology investment firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.<201> In response to these criticisms Gore stated that it was “certainly not true” that he is a “carbon billionaire” and that he is "proud to put my money where my mouth is for the past 30 years. And though that is not the majority of my business activities, I absolutely believe in investing in accordance with my beliefs and my values."?<202> Gore was challenged on this topic by Tennessee Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn who asked him: "The legislation that we are discussing here today, is that something that you are going to personally benefit from?”<202> Gore responded by stating: "I believe that the transition to a green economy is good for our economy and good for all of us, and I have invested in it." Gore also added that all earnings from his investments have gone to the Alliance for Climate Protection and that "If you believe that the reason I have been working on this issue for 30 years is because of greed, you don’t know me."<202> In reporting on the same exchange, The New York Times quoted Gore as stating: "Do you think there is something wrong with being active in business in this country <...> I am proud of it. I am proud of it."<203> It also quoted from an email issued by Gore on the topic which stated: "I have advocated policies to promote renewable energy and accelerate reductions in global warming pollution for decades, including all of the time I was in public service <...> As a private citizen, I have continued to advocate the same policies. Even though the vast majority of my business career has been in areas that do not involve renewable energy or global warming pollution reductions, I absolutely believe in investing in ways that are consistent with my values and beliefs. I encourage others to invest in the same way." <203> Gore also stated in an interview on Good Morning America that these criticisms come from a "denier" and that he is "proud to put my money where my mouth is for the past 30 years <...> and though that is not the majority of my business activities, I absolutely believe in investing in accordance with my beliefs and my values." <204>

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