More on Energy Solutions

In an article of the same name, Dan Scandling comments on the new Manhattan Project for Energy Independence as outlined by two members of congress, Randy Forbes and Frank Wolf.  While I might applaud the desire, and even give a one-handed clap for the seven goals outlined, energy independence, and security, are right around the corner, and can be done with existing resources.  At today’s rate of consumption, we have a 240 year supply of oil from oil shale, and a 250 year supply of liquid fuel from coal.  We don’t have to spend millions and millions of dollars and wait 10 years to achieve independence, we can do it today by tapping these vast resources.

Mind you, I have no problem with alternative forms of energy; my home is not going to be powered by a gas generator anytime soon, unless someone can figure out a muffler system that works better.  Cars are not going to be powered by wind generation or nuclear fusion, and the trucking industry is not going to transport your goods and mine to market by way of solar power.  However, if we can identify those resources that best fit a specific need, and make them specialists to that need, we might make really good progress; Gas for cars, regular and bio-mass diesel for trucks and trains, solar and wind for the home, and bugs that poop oil for the farm.

Drill and Mine US Oil–Buy and Refine US Oil!

US Energy Independence and Security comes from a three-fold mission:

 

The United States of America

 

1.  Has a divine destiny to defend democracy in every nation that currently embraces democracy, and promote democratic principles where tyranny and dictatorship runs supreme.  This cannot be accomplished while the US is beholden to the very tyrants against whom it fights.

 

2.  Has energy, whether from oil, bio-mass, coal, or nuclear power, as the life-blood of the US economy.  The effects of skyrocketing fuel cost have a direct impact on the affordability of food, clothing, and shelter for every citizen, rich or poor.  We must bring down the price of energy without further delay.

 

3.  Energy policy plays a vital role in the creation of thousands and thousands of jobs.  The oil shale fields alone can produce enough oil to replace our current imports and do so for 240 years.  This is a minimum of 5 generations of employment for families in CO, UT, and WY.  We have 250 years of coal supplies that can be converted to liquid fuel, and produce thousands of jobs.

 

It is time for liberal politicians to severe ties with fascist, economy-wrecking, pseudo-environmental groups and begin to do what is in the best interest of the whole of the citizens of the United States.  It is time for conservative politicians to stand and make a very vocal demand for energy independence and security.  And it is time for every citizen to follow in the footsteps of Patrick Henry and declare that “Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.” (Patrick Henry, 1775, House of Burgesses)

On “The Fallacy of Energy Independence”

I posted this response to a blog written by Mormon Paleo Thought-

Energy Independence means that we begin to produce and store enough fuel from the trillions of barrels of oil shale (enough to last 24o years) and put it out on the US market for refining. Thus we remove our 25% drain on the world oil supply, making that oil available for the rest of the world to refine and use. Doing so reduces our dependence, reduces pricing, increases world supply, and strengthens our economy.

As for the constitution, it is not designed to govern every facet of our life. But the constitution does provide for the common defense, and for us to rely on our enemies to provide our oil supplies leaves us vulnerable, and flies in the face of defense. If our enemy decides that they no longer want to provide us with oil, then what? Our economy comes to a screeching halt, and we are left to their mercy.

Finally, the idea that it won’t work comes from a defeatist attitude. It won’t work as long as we believe, or are led to believe, it won’t work. The fact is, we have enough coal to liquify to last 250 years, and South Africa has been using German technology developed in the 40’s for 50+ years. It does work, we just have been badgered by fascists who have usurped the environmental cause to believe it won’t, and to stop trying.

America’s untapped oil

In a recent article at CNN.com, Steven Hargreaves indicates that congressional democrats want to block additional oil leases in the gulf until oil companies have tapped out the existing leases.  However, and correct me if I am wrong, it is this same congress that does not want to remove the oil drilling embargo that has existed since the early 80’s to allow oil companies the ability to drill existing leases.  If I am wrong on this, I am willing to be corrected.

However, if I am not wrong, this is like saying to a child “No, you may not have ice cream until you have finished your cake.  What?  No you can’t have any cake, it’s not good for you!” 

Besides, and this is just my opinion, the gulf oil drilling issue is just a strawman to direct attention away from the oil shale that would fuel this country for 240 years.  Set up gulf shore oil drilling as a strawman, then knock it down by saying we should drill offshore so we must find alternative fuels, wind and solar power, bugs that poop oil, and corn ethanol that costs 1.29 gallons of gas for every one gallon of ethanol produced. 

I have been saying it for some time now- “Drill and Mine US Oil–Buy and Refine US Oil!”  This is how we will gain energy independence and security.

McCain offers $300 million for a battery

Which is why we are in trouble if McCain gets elected.  I can go to the local hardware store and buy one for $1.50.

No, all kidding aside, I am very conservative, which is why I find McCain’s idea balderdash.  If there is currently the ability to come up with the next great battery, the free market would take care of it. 

I know I sound like a broken record, but I am going to pound my fist until I am heard- Drill and Mine US Oil–Buy and Refine US Oil.  Our future rests in independence and security, which will only come from using our own resources and going back to the fearce, rugged independence on which this great nation was founded.

Now, I am not against alternative fuels to help fill the gap, and even remove some of the waste we currently fill landfills with, but come on, oil is king, and we have lots, and lots, and lots of it.  We should be using it.

Any I am not alone in my thinking.  Stop by Pajamas Media for a piece on McCain’s battery proposition. (http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-saving-grace-in-mccains-energy-policy/)

Renewable Energy Bill-

I wrote this in response to an ariticle at APP.com:

“According to Ariel Cohan, Ph.D., the bill is lacking in five major areas: Energy Sector Liberalization; Ethanol Trade Liberalization; Anti-Economic Warfare Provisions; Measures to Fight Anti-Competitive Practices; Transparency Provisions. He concluded “Threats to U.S. energy security and the international energy network have never been higher. Title VII fails to consider even simple solutions to counter real and emerging threats. The energy security of the United States requires a bill based on better vision, discernment of threats, and economics.”

Perhaps if Senator Reid would have included measures to address the above, the bill would have passed and we would be well on the way toward energy independence and security. However, in my opinion, any measure must include drilling and mining US oil, buying and refining US oil.” (knoyddotcom (me))

This is response to the APP.com post http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080622/OPINION01/806220340/1029/OPINION

In response to the measure (not the article) The Heritage Foundation posts this: http://www.heritage.org/research/EnergyandEnvironment/wm1514.cfm

What have I been telling you?!

This from Bloomberg.com “Along with lifting the ban on offshore oil drilling, Bush wants Congress to allow exploration and drilling in a portion of the 19-million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, leasing of federal lands to mine and extract oil from shale in the Green River Basin of Colorado, Wyoming and Utah, and accelerating the permit process for new refineries. ” (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=apUfWWAXmbuc&refer=home)

Get to www.knoyd.com and order your two t-shirts, and I will send one to congress telling them it is time to “Drill and Mine U.S. Oil–Buy and Refine U.S. Oil!” (copyright Knoyd.com, www.knoyd.com)

Send a t-shirt to congress!

Even a t-shirt can do better than who we have there now!

No, seriously, send a t-shirt to congress and let them know that it is time to “Drill and Mine U.S. Oil–Buy and Refine U.S. Oil!”  Join you voice with the millions of others in the US that believe that energy independence and security is an absolute must, and that the time has come for “US” to tap the 1.5 trillion barrels of oil shale in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming; the 250 year supply of coal throughout the US for liquid fuel, and the supplies of oil offshore and in ANWR.

When you buy 2 t-shirts, we can send one to congress.  Stop by www.knoyd.com and see how you can make your voice heard in congress!

Offshore Oil Deposits- a strawman argument

In debate, there is a category known as logical fallacies, and among them is the strawman argument.  One will set up a “strawman” argument as a serious possibility to the other side’s argument, and then knock it down.  Such is the case with Offshore Oil Deposits.  Because there is such a limited supply of offshore oil, one will argue, we must not even consider offshore drilling as realistic.

However, offshore is only one piece of the puzzle, as I explain in my comments to a rather biased piece in the South Jersey Courier-Post (http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080621/OPINION/806210307/1046)

“The focus seems to be only on drilling the offshore reserves and in ANWR. However, with coal to liquid fuel, a process perfected in South Africa 50 years ago, we can have as much as a 250 year supply of fuel. With mining oil shale in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, we can bolster our reserves of usable oil by 1.5 trillion barrels. The resources in the United States far outweigh the resources in the middle east.

“Yes, we do need to consider alternative sources of fuel (but not the corn2ethanol boondoggle), but the day that we are driving wind-powered cars is not going to come. Even electric cars require a power source that is usually from a coal-fired power plant.

“Anyway, we need to educate ourselves, and a great place to start is www.knoyd.com.

Drill and Mine US Oil—Buy and Refine US Oil! (copyright knoyd.com)”