Posted on 02/04/2004 8:25:18 PM PST by neverdem
Edited on 07/12/2004 4:13:09 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Whenever there is a discussion of energy policy, many environmentalists and their political allies tout wind power as an alternative to burning fossil fuels. Even if electricity from wind power is more expensive than conventional fuel sources, and it is, wind advocates argue its environmental benefits are worth it. In particular, proponents claim increased reliance on wind power would reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
Holy cow. You're paying more than 100X what it costs around here.
Come on over with a tanker. Wherever you live, it'd be worth the drive.
BTW, ARCO Chemical (now Lyondell but still under the control of the British Royills), was instrumental in foisting MTBE into gasoline as an oxygenate (in order to keep ADM out of the game) on environmental grounds. Of course, they demanded to be indemnified for the consequences too.
The saddest part of the regulatory destruction of the nuclear power industry is that we now don't have a vibrant and profitable industry capable of easily replacing old reactors, so we run the old ones to death. IMHO, we are virtually guaranteeing an eventual accident.
With all due respect, if I fill my tank today, it will cost me $161.9 per gallon. That's cheaper than in years past?
What kind of car do you have that requires $161 per gallon fuel? -- a dragster?
Price has fluctuated so it depends on what year you use to compare. If you go back to 1949 it would be about $1.66 a gallon (constant dollars). In 1981 it was about $2.50 a gallon.
The government adds to the cost of gasoline by increasing taxes and mandating additives. Requiring oxygenates has added about a dime a gallon (with little benefit). The immense legal difficulty of building local refineries also drives up the costs.
If the price of gasoline relative to wages were comparable today to what they were in 1920, we would be paying almost $10 a gallon for gas.
http://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/magazines/1998/november/bailey.html
http://www.cato.org/dailys/09-06-03.html
First, as noted, I made a typo. Gasoline around here is at least $1.619 per gallon. Second, It's not 1949, it's 2004. The comment to which I originally responded was that oil prices had gone down. My response was, in essence, "not lately," considering how much gasoline has gone up in the past two years.
The comment to which I originally responded was that oil prices had gone down. My response was, in essence, "not lately," considering how much gasoline has gone up in the past two years.
It's gone up about 60% since October of 1998 when it was less than a dollar a gallon in California. But that price was about 60% less than the peak in 1981 when it was $2.50 a gallon. In other words the price fluctuates with supply and demand. But, on average, it hasn't changed much in fifty years.
But we are talking about the price of energy. Oil prices are, on average, not increasing.
When you consider the effects of inflation over the last 25 - 30 years, I'd say probably so.
Wait till China really gets it's oil appetite going.
The doomsayers of the seventies predicted massive starvation of billions of people in the eighties because of population increases. The mantra was the the farmers were going to have twice as many mouths to feed. The starvation didn't occur because farmers were able to grow twice as much on only about 10% more land.
With proper engineering, you can. It's pretty simple to just backfeed a breaker in your power panel with the output of a power-factor compensated induction generator. If the power goes off, your generator unloads itself so the power company doesn't get shocked by the backfeed.
That's the beauty of the induction machine, it gets its excitation from the power company. The downside, if it is significant at all, is that the generator does not work if the utility power goes off. However, that is a safety feature that the power company will insist that you have anyway.
Just switch it on when the shaft gets slightly over synchronous speed and switch it off if falls below. Pretty easily done, really.
Perhaps you believe the other forms of energy are not subsidized.
I'm against all subsidies but the taxes on gasoline are much, much more than any subsidies. Maybe 5 billion a year in subsidies, that is miniscule compared to the $142 billion in taxes on gasoline. And most of these so-called subsidies are not handouts to the oil industry but tax exemptions.
Why do nukes not have to carry disaster insurance yet a 2 bit home made windmill must carry a million dollar policy?
Maybe because the homeowner's insurance company requires it and the nuke industry is self-insured? Any real conservative who believes in wind power should argue against subsidies for the oil industry not in favor of subsidies for wind power.
On the bright side, none of these jobs can be exported to India or China.
Well, you've got to admit, Jerry Brown and his band of merry pranksters did manage to leave several large messes in CA.
Back in early 2000 I was considering making an investment in the wind energy industry and as part of my DD I toured several wind farms.
Tehachapi (CA) is a disgusting junk yard. Most who view that site will leave with a bad impression.
OTOH, both Big Spring & Southwest Mesa (TX) are very professional, elegant appearing facilities.
I prefer to view this as evolution in action.
Assuming that this strawman can in any way be substantiated, nature is simply selecting for raptors with better flight & hunting skills.
It's a new experience being on the same side of an issue as you.
: )
In some states, yes. But I don't believe that's true nationwide.
Let me preface this by stating that I'm not opposed to nuclear generated electricity, but, God forbid, if one non-terrorist related disaster occurs, that company will hiding behind bankruptcy protection before any lawsuits are even filed.
They are pretty at night with their blinking lights. There are 440 in the Permian Basin, enought to power 80,000 homes according to TXU.
I'm glad I don't have to look at them during the day. I saw the ones east of LA and it looks like something Christo would do on a bad day.
I wonder if those figures they give for the power output is based on ideal peak power on a windy day.
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