The Persistent Delusion of ''Energy Independence'': Despite the Facts, Democrats, Republicans...

Energy Tribune ^ | Jan. 07, 2010 | Robert Bryce

[neverdem]

Despite the Facts, Democrats, Republicans, and the Neoconservatives Continue To Hype Energy Autarky

When talking about energy, facts should matter. Alas, when it comes to promoting the myth of “energy independence” politicians and political operatives on both the Left and the Right are not interested in facts or reality. Their only interest is in playing to the crowd and in trying to stir emotional responses.

That’s a somewhat painful conclusion. For the past two years, and particularly since the publication of my book, Gusher of Lies: The Dangerous Delusions of “Energy Independence,” which came out in April 2008, I have been hoping that my book would lead to a more reasoned discussion of energy policy, particularly when it comes to energy imports. Boy, was I naïve to hope for that.

My naivete was made clear a couple days ago when I read a blog posting by Joe Romm, the vituperative Democratic political operative who writes about climate change. On January 4, Romm posted an item that included part of a transcript from Meet the Press in which historian Doris Kearns Goodwin lamented the fact that in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, George W. Bush had not “call for an independent – a Manhattan Project for independence from Middle Eastern oil.”

Romm praised Goodwin’s insight and went on to declare that “there is a bipartisan realization that the key to energy independence is the climate and clean energy jobs bill.” Of course, Romm ignores the fact that any effort at “energy independence” would mean huge increases in oil and gas drilling in the US, but nevertheless, he continued, lauding the position paper put forward last month by three members of the US Senate: Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Kerry (D-MA), and Joe Lieberman (I-CT). That paper, called a...

[neverdem]

I don't agree with the author, especially with our balance of payments deficits from importing energy. That said, no subsidies for alternative energy. Regardless, some of the numbers stated in the article surprised me.

P.S. The source code for this article is an editing headache. That's why this article is excerpted.

[ckilmer]

the USA has to become energy independent.

The brazilians made that vow back in the 70’s. it was the smartest thing they did. they have been steadily coming up in the world as the USA has been in relative decline.

[neverdem]

American Energy Independence - A war-fighting necessity or “‘foreign oil’ alarmism”?

The Dependence of Renewables on Government

Faux Recovery - Don't believe the hype about green jobs

Earth-Shattering News - Another energy “alternative” hits the wall.

Some noteworthy articles about politics, foreign or military affairs, IMHO, FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.

[Cold Heat]

We can have independence, but it will require many changes like many more Nuke plants to replace the nat gas and fuel oil usage. Transition all transport trucks to nat gas to take up that slack and give us more for kerosene, then drill baby drill.

Very doable, and we also need to curb the use of jets if required, certainly not increase the usage. That's the biggy I would think.

The author is correct however that most of the political speak is BS as always.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[MNJohnnie]

historian Doris Kearns Goodwin lamented the fact that in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, George W. Bush had not “call for an independent – a Manhattan Project for independence from Middle Eastern oil.”

Here is what the hyper ignorant Left needs to learn. We do not need "a Manhattan Project" for Energy Independence. That is the whole reason the Dept of Energy was created back in 1978! Like every other Leftist Utopian idea, DOE has spent trillions of dollars for decades and accomplished nothing to wean the US off it's foreign oil addiction.

The solution is not to do more of the same!

[ExSoldier]

Transition all transport trucks to nat gas to take up that slack and give us more for kerosene, then drill baby drill.

Amen! When I read the book Black Gold Strangle Hold by Dr. Jerome Corsi, my whole outlook on global warming and especially the myth of Peak Oil took a "U" turn.

The realization that in the 1940s Russia was considered a non oil producing nation. Then Stalin read a report about the benefits of ultra deep well drilling and he went to work. Today Russia is among the top five oil producers in the world.

I have always believed that the USA was blessed among all nations on the planet by the Lord and that belief is confirmed by analyses I've read on the untapped supplies lying in the Dakots and in ANWR and other places. We could drop the price of gasoline to about .30 a gallon IF the oil companies would stop seeing themselves as members of the GLOBAL community instead of as Americans. We need to take the smaller non OPEC companies (like SUNOCO) and give them the leases to drill and REFINE here as long as the primary markets are also here. We need to build more refinieries. But I'll bet we could dramatically drop our oil dependence to OPEC within 5 years if not sooner.

[neverdem]

Thanks for reminding me of another reason to ignore that plagiarist.