Posted on 07/09/2008 2:12:46 PM PDT by TheRightGuy
I visited with you on this page earlier this year to discuss gasoline prices. Today, I’d like to present some energy realities and suggest some solutions for a more secure energy future.
Our energy-political quagmire reminds me of the Eagles (my favorite rock band) and their 1990s hit “Get Over It.” The lyrics of Don Henley and Glenn Frey mirror our energy dilemma. We have to move beyond being “a victim of this and a victim of that” and “get over it.”
Consider:
Our country uses around 150 billion gallons of motor fuel per year and less than 10 billion are renewable — largely corn ethanol. Energy experts agree our motor fuel demand will be 180 billion gallons in 2030 and only 30 billion will come from renewable sources. These numbers factor in new automotive fuel economy standards and conservation. In other words, in 2030 we’ll still be over 80 percent dependent on crude oil for transportation fuel. Why?
Population and economic growth largely explain the projection. In 2030, our country will have more consumers. And economic growth (prosperity) means increased energy consumption. Growth and energy consumption used to be a 1-to-1 ratio whereby 1 percent growth equaled 1 percent increased consumption. With modern technology and conservation, energy use increases only about .5 percent for 1 percent growth. But energy use still points up. The inescapable conclusion is we need more energy! The U.S. imports more than 60 percent of its crude oil. We must maximize our domestic and nearby resources, or we’ll be even more dependent on foreign government-owned oil interests. “Get over it!”
So, what can we do? There’s no silver bullet or Hollywood immediate gratification out there. Here’s my short list.
Conservation and fuel economy The oil industry supports both. For example, the oil industry has committed to reducing our refinery energy usage 10 percent by 2012. However, be realistic. Our economy is based on mobility and free choice. These options are not, by themselves, the answer. And remember, decreased energy use usually signals recession or depression.
Stronger energy-trading alliances with neighbors Did you know our largest oil import partner is Canada? (Be truthful — you’re surprised!) This relationship is especially important for Illinois because most Canadian oil comes to the Midwest. Today, more than 45 percent of the oil refined in Illinois comes from Canada — and that could double in the next 10 years. The Illinois oil industry is investing tens of billions to expand refineries and other infrastructure to make this possible. Technology is rapidly shrinking the environmental footprint of Canadian oil extraction and production could increase 400 percent in the next decade. Illinois companies like Caterpillar employ thousands throughout Illinois making equipment for Canadian development. Thousands more good-paying jobs come with infrastructure expansions. It’s a win-win.
Expand domestic resources “Get over it!” This can be accomplished in an environmentally sensitive way. New technology allows safe development the size of South Carolina with a footprint the size of O’Hare Airport. Are you aware Illinois’ largest oil well is under a lake in a state park? Fisherman and campers use the facilities in harmony with sensible energy extraction.
Moreover, domestic energy extraction is closely monitored through government oversight on access and permitting. I’m amazed Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands, three socialist societies with suffocating environmental regulations, all manage to allow offshore oil development that is banned in the United States. Brazil’s recent energy independence is mostly based on new offshore oil fields. Speaking of a proven track record, how many Gulf of Mexico oil-producing platforms leaked after Hurricane Katrina? None!
Opposition to government-monitored sensible offshore energy production is based on politics — not science. “Get over it!”
Diversify supply Our energy future will need contributions from numerous sources to complement carbon-based sources. Congress and activist groups are often blinded by the “one big solution” somewhere over the high-tech rainbow. Meanwhile, they stifle proven energy projects that could help quickly.
Can someone explain to me how a five-to-eight year lead time for proven, safe Alaskan oil expansion that could replace 10 percent of our imports from the Middle East is too insignificant to pursue? It’s probably the quickest energy independence remedy out there compared to unproven exotic sources that “might” be available in 35 years. Let’s be prudent and pursue both projects.
The Eagles play Chicago in September. Hope to see you there. And when it comes to opposition to sensible domestic energy development due to partisan petty politics — “Get over it!”
David Sykuta is executive director of the Illinois Petroleum Council.
DRILL HERE, DRILL NOW
great pic
Kick the 20 million illegal aliens out.
We need a great deal of basic physics research in such energy sources not funded by the government but by two guys in their garage.
Recently Japanese researchers had announced that they had produced energy without heat...cold fusion...using a liquid and metal. This ala the failed Pons experiment of 1989. Maybe the Japanese haven't achieved cold fusion, or maybe they have. Someday somewhere someone will! When we can take sea water and turn it directly into energy...we're in dutch.
Finally with oil...prices have come down twice now and have gone back up because of various scare stories. Its becoming exceptionally difficult to maintain oils price at $140 a barrel. Particular if the European bankers refuse to defend the €! Watch as a lot of supplies miraculously begin to appear on the market.
If they are so cocksure it won't matter then why not go ahead and do it?
Cold fusion is a pipe dream. Deuterium-tritium fusion is on the way and will be putting elecric power into the grid by 2050. In Europe of course. The USA is not interested in doing such things domestically. This fusion is not the final answer since lithium reserves would be gone in 1000 years. Peak Lithium is still a ways off. Peak Uranium would be here this century and probably sooner rather than later but that is the old fission type nuke.
Well, we could postpone that if we would get sane and use breeder reactors like France does.
Thanks, Jimmah.
Actually it is worse than you state. The environmentalists (Democrats essentially) want growth to stop. Simply put they want population growth to stop, economic growth to stop, production increases to stop and since they only want this in the USA, it can be concluded that they want other powers to come to be the dominate powers in the future.
Of course you are right that there will be immediate consequences to a decision to drill where there is more oil to be found. (1) unemployment will drop farther as more good paying jobs are “discovered”. (2) the stock market will stop dropping as soon as new profits are factored in because of (3) more hard goods will go into production from oil drilling floating platforms to drilling machinery. (4) fairly soon speculation in oil futures will factor in additional supply. (Some wells will be in production within a year of ending the courtroom attempts to stop drilling that are certain as soon as Congress decides to drill.
BTW, you can see democrats are starting to see that the above represents a political force and they may not want to be on the wrong side.
I thought we invaded Iraq for oil. Maybe we should have invaded Canada.
Peak Uranium should be smooth and the transition to hydrogen fusion, or we should say tritium fusion because of the lithium requirement, easy if not cheap. We will all have total electric cars and trucks by then. 2050, if we make it.
Yes! Our new flag would have 50 stars and one tiny maple leaf!
As a simple analogy, if water is running through a 100' hose attached to a spigot that's open to 10% of maximum flow, how quickly can the flow rate at the output be increased? If the spigot is opened wide, it may take quite a few seconds for any molecules of the "extra" water to make it to the end of the hose, but the flow rate at the output will increase almost instantly.
Total electric cars and trucks with a generator powered by feet, sounds like fun, I can't wait.
Or maybe...keep the 20 million illegals and make them into tax payers by updating the current tax code and go to a fair tax...a flat rate of 17 to 23% on what we purchase...current non taxable (food) consumables would be tax free.
Imagine what you would do if you had an extra $1000 a month in your pocket...assuming approx 60K per year with standard deductions!
Or how about the 40 million plus tourists that visit the US...whay not make them pay their share when they visit...they make us pay when we visit Europe and have for 30+ years.
Thanks for the ping!
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