Posted on 07/08/2013 6:47:56 AM PDT by rktman
Some large oil and gas companies include the development of alternative energy (solar, wind, and biofuels) as part of their corporate goals.
Shells division Shell WindEnergy is involved with operating eleven wind farms, including eight joint ventures in the United States. Chevrons Chevron Energy Solutions has an environmental focus on solar energy and other renewable forms of energy. Chevrons We Agree campaign comprises about ten slogans stating what oil and gas companies should do differently, as if they are not doing enough already. It urges them to promote renewable energy, care for the planet, etc.
The Chevron campaign sums up the general attitude that just being an oil and gas company is no longer sufficient; instead, these companies are expected to carry the banner for every green movement goal as well. Finding alternatives to hydrocarbons themselves has become part of the hydrocarbon industry vision.
(Excerpt) Read more at pjmedia.com ...
Decades aago the politicians began taking the kooks seriously and disregarding time-proven wisdom.
It has taken a hundred years to mess things up;probably take as long to put them right.
I have been interviewing with a company that builds Autogas (LPG, propane) vehicles and question why there isn’t more of a market for this. Half the pollutants, half the cost, not pie-in-the-sky wind/solar/electric stuff or unable to propel large vehicles. Some parts of the world have this as the dominant automobile fuel.
I suspect the main reason you don’t see much of it in the States (besides the politics of the automobile industry) is that there just aren’t many refueling stations in the U.S. You’d have to know where to go look for them but I’d much rather pay $1.62/gal for fuel than $3.60/gal.
Maybe not as profitable? Not much difference from a safety standpoint. A load of gas or a load of LPG still has the potential for explosive results. LOL! Think I’ll stick with my wind powered car. LOL!
There is a market, but propane on an $/energy isn't that much cheaper, not compared to natural gas at least. without adequate suppliers, not many want too spend money converting vehicles. Without adequate vehicles, not too many suppliers want to invest in building fueling stations.
Propane contains 92,500 BTUs per gallon.
Gasoline contains 125,000 BTUs per gallon.
So Propane at $2.59 per gallon delivers energy at the same price as gasoline at $3.50 per gallon.
Without a significant cost savings, you won’t get people spending money to convert or build.
The building of these windmills has also been strangely removed from the usual environmental scrutiny that would keep projects of this size tied up for years least some endangered beast or fauna be disturbed. Windmills are well known to be bird blenders killing all manner of birds including endangered species like eagles and there are studies to suggest that the low frequency vibrations from these windmills is a hazard to human health. Any other construction that would be shown to cause such environmental damage would never be built.
Sadly this is the case in many locations. Too bad “we” don’t have the backing to file suit for blocking the “view shed” like they do when someone wants to build something they have complete contempt and disdain for. gangreen strikes again.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.