Free Republic

On Moday Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) stated that Alaska is ready to do its part in helping the U.S. reduce its dependence on foreign energy if the Biden administration will allow it to do so and argued that oil from Alaska is better for the environment than oil from Russia. Dunleavy said, “I think we should do both. I think we should push renewables, and we should push oil and gas. "And I don’t understand why we aren’t doing that, especially given what’s happening over in Russia. We’ve had the same issue with Iran and others that are not...

BEIJING — China and the United States on Saturday signed an agreement that paves the way for Westinghouse Electric Co. to build four civilian nuclear reactors in China, a multibillion dollar coup for U.S. business over French and Russian competitors. A memorandum of understanding supporting the transfer of nuclear technology to China was signed by China's Minister for the National Development and Reform Commission Ma Kai and U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman. "This is an exciting day for the U.S. nuclear industry," Bodman said at the ceremony. "It is an example that if we work together we can advance not...

China has defended its refusal to lift pump prices to keep pace with rises in the global oil market over the last 12 months, saying further increases would damage local industries, the military and the economy. Zhang Guobao, vice-chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, the chief economic planning body that is also responsible for energy policy, acknowledged that Chinese rises had been allowed to fall behind the world, but said the issue was “complicated”. The NDRC has mandated three increases since May this year, increasing pump prices by a total of about 25 per cent, compared with rises...

Kerry's SUV habit fuels a `trust' gap By Boston Herald editorial staff Saturday, April 24, 2004 Now we've truly heard it all. Rising gas prices are the latest John Kerry [related, bio] campaign theme, so naturally the senator was asked this week about his personal vehicle usage. Kerry insisted, ``I don't own an SUV.'' When pressed about a Chevrolet Suburban, the mother of all SUVs, kept at the Heinz Kerry abode in Idaho, Kerry said: ``The family has it. I don't have it.'' Kerry has now closed the distance between nuance and flat-out deception. And that's without mentioning the other...

Just as certain as death and taxes is the knowledge that we shall one day be forced to learn to live without oil. Exactly when that day will dawn nobody knows, but people in middle age today can probably expect to be here for it. Long before it arrives we shall have had to commit ourselves to one or more of several possible energy futures. And the momentous decisions we take in the next few years will determine whether our heirs thank or curse us for the energy choices we bequeath to them. Sunset industry? Oil production could soon peak...

Oil is making headlines again. Never far from newsworthy, such is its over-riding economic and political importance, the spotlight has returned as harsh as ever. The price of benchmark US light sweet crude recently reached its highest level for 13 years, and the cartel of petroleum exporting nations, OPEC, maintained its decision to cut production - potentially fuelling yet more rises. Add increasing violence in Iraq delaying its return to full oil production, and it is understandable that oil analysts have been getting the jitters. Not to forget President George W. Bush, who in an election year really does not...

Freedom Fuel by Robert Stapler 25 June 2003 President Bush wrongly assumed that the "science" guys he inherited from the previous administration know what they are talking about. Can you imagine having a steady stream of ignorant drivers going in and out of a typical hydrogen plant each day, rubbing their static-laden behinds on velour seats, each one far more than enough to cause a hydrogen explosion. In President Bush's State of the Union Address, he announced a new government program to create a hydrogen-based alternative fuel infrastructure. The arguments he made for this proposal were: (1) to free us...

Breaking ...

In the parking lot of a building squeezed between Interstate 80 and the Sacramento River, Kota Manabe did something at once elemental and revolutionary: He topped off the tank of a sport utility vehicle. The only suggestions that anything was out of the ordinary were the flame-retardant suit the Toyota engineer wore and the fuel he pumped into the Highlander: pure hydrogen. "Basically, it's just like refueling at a normal station,' fellow engineer Kyo Hattori said. Almost. While hydrogen is the most-abundant element in the universe, as an automotive fuel it's about as commonplace as moon travel. There are only...