Saying No to an Energy Deal

Cut the political crap and focus on long term national need for a coherent energy policy. Yowling politicos want voters to think that job creation is being thwarted if the Canadian oil pipeline is vetoed by the President. Let’s see if we can get some of the facts straight. 

First, there is already a pipeline. The one under discussion is in addition to the existing one and is designed to pump oil from shale and tar sand deposits in Canada through the US to the Gulf of Mexico. The product will add to the fuel supplies for American consumers. Canadian oil is our second largest supply source; the first is our own! Mexico is our third source. World markets from sundry locations make up the rest of our oil imports. Middle Eastern sources are fairly minor. But the world market is always seeking a balance, so any source, or lack of, affects the supply, demand and pricing of oil. 

Second, the route of the pipeline runs through delicate sand dune areas of Nebraska, as well as other eco-sensitive regions. Alternate routes and spillage defenses have not been fully designed; the plan is incomplete and potentially hazardous to agriculture and Midwestern ecology. 

Third, job creation of 20,000 is highly doubtful. First of all, it is temporary. Second, the experts can’t agree on the number of jobs that will be created. Some estimates are as low as 1800 temporary jobs (2 year maximum). A more moderate estimate would be 4500 jobs spread across 1800 miles over a 3.5 year period. 

Fourth, this is just one infrastructure oriented project. We should not focus on it alone. We need to look at all opportunities to invest in our national infrastructure. These are the hard goods or hardware that support national productivity: power grids, natural gas pipelines, oil distribution, highways, bridges, railroad networks, switching and distribution rail yards, airport safety and adequacy, schools, laboratories, research and development projects, space industry, etc. This list goes on and on. It is huge. But it is essential that our nation manages it intelligently. Right now political interference has stopped progress in this area. But wait! We are now, just now, going to look at one tiny project as representative of political gaming gone nuts?

No. Not hardly. If the policy makers want to get the nation back to work, look at all the infrastructure projects that need to be done. And then get started working on them. Please!

 

BUT here is the largest problem with the Canadian pipeline project: It is a diversion from the long-term need to find alternative energy sources.

We will eventually have to invent our way out of our energy bind. Why? Because:

·         Current sources rely nearly 100% on oil

·         Oil is finite and getting scarcer to locate

·         Newly discovered oil deposits are increasingly more costly to recover for use

·         Scarcity drives up oil prices causing vastly unstable financial conditions throughout the globe

·         Geopolitical power struggles increasingly focus on the powder keg of the Middle East; find other energy sources and the powder keg loses its eruptive power

·         Ecology of the planet requires us to find energy which will be kinder to our environment; this will enhance and prolong the quality of life on the planet well into the future

We have done a lot of research on this problem already. It needs to continue with vigor. Here are some possibilities:

·         Solar energy; several types

·         Wind energy

·         Tide energy

·         Geothermal energy

·         Nuclear fission; clean burning without radioactive waste

·         New Physics propulsion technology; vast area yet to be discovered

The oil industry has a lot of self interest to protect and promote. They lobby endlessly. They distort the national discussion on energy. They play for keeps. They threaten and bully. First the politicians (because they are cheaply bought) and then you, the voter, because you are highly susceptible to fear of energy interruption, energy cost, economic fears, international tensions leading to war and economic disruption. You name it and they have played the influence card.

When will we as a nation take these issues seriously? Are we lead-able? Will we follow credible leaders into the future with intelligence and resources? The future is going to happen. Will we be a part of helping the future happen in the best possible manner? Or will be hamper it, bobble it? As we have been doing for the past 40 years?

When will we direct the leaders to do the job we entrusted them to do? Currently we have a joke of a Congress. The President seems willing. But he is hogtied by arcane Congressional rules and games. When will we stop this charade?

January 20, 2012