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Long Term Energy Problem
Posted: Apr 29, 2006, 05:22:00
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What is the solution to our long term energy problem? If we don't solve it, and soon, wars like Iraq will become a dime a dozen from all the major powers as they squablle over power.

In this thread, I don't care about global solutions. I care about a North American solution. Canada and the US are in the same boat here.

I believe the solution is a healthy combination of strategies.

  • Open up ANWAR and the Gulf of Mexico. -- We need to take advantage of our own oil supplies even if they only last 10-15 years. It gives us a breather.
  • Start digging in the tar sands -- we have LOTS of oil available to us, though a little expensive. Again - cost isn't the factor of this discussion, rather physical access to the energy
  • More Nuclear Power Plants -- Increase capacity 100% over the next decade
  • More mixed fuels (ethanol)
  • Increase SUV/Car efficiency by 25%
  • More investments by the US GOVT in WIND/SOLAR

  • Re: Long Term Energy Problem
    Posted: Apr 29, 2006, 05:51:00
    Quoted Reply
    Weaver is right with the tar sands. The oil that can be harvested from them is greater than the supplies located in the middle east potentially. Many cars can already run on ethanol fuel (see www.e85fuel.com), and the US produces a surplus of grains, so we have ample resources to create the ethanol fuel. And with the current trend of gas prices, ethanol fuel will soon be cheaper to produce than oil fuel, even with current technology and methods of producing the ethanol. Massachusetts has an offshore windfarm on the table. It would be the largest offshore windfarm in the world I believe if it happens. Of course there are a number of people against it because they are worried it will kill birds and ruin the view. Of course the number of birds killed is fewer than would result from the fumes spewed from burning power plants, and the windmills will only appear as specs on the horizon from shore. Even if the Massachusetss - Cape Cod wind farm doesn't come to pass, there are many other offshore wind farms in the works for the US. One of the things that Canada allows that I think the US could try is private wind power. Wind generators are allowed in parts of Canada for businesses and some homes. And then of course there is the promise of fuel cell technology. It's already here, but they can't decide/agree on a good method of storing the hydrogen for use in the cars.

    I think the most realistic chance we have for energy independence is through the use of organic based fuels like ethanol. They can already make it, and they are already making cars to run on it. All that is needed is proper distribution of this fuel. Much of our organic scraps can be recycled and turned into usable fuel. There are furnaces out there for heating water and homes that are designed to burn whatever organic matter you have. Apparently corn actually burns more efficiently and cheaper than wood.
    RE: Re: Long Term Energy Problem
    Posted: Apr 29, 2006, 06:21:00
    Quoted Reply
    Another thing we are going to have to do is rein in the lobbiests. With big oil making record profits, the amount of money they can throw around this term will be staggering.....every time there is something that looks viable as a new energy source, the prices will come down and it looks too expensive to pursue..... I realize this is a "free market" but its not likeI can buy a hydrogen powered truck for my business and actually find fuel..... Take the farmers out of the CRP program and subsidize them to grow bio-fuel crops. They can pay for this by taking away the billions in tax cuts from big oil and it will help our economy at the same time..... If we can get away from such a huge dependence on oil, the whole radical islamic problem would probably just fade into obscurity. The sad thing is, none of the answers we can come up with will be used while there are billions per quarter to be made on fossil fuels.
    RE: Re: Long Term Energy Problem
    Posted: Apr 29, 2006, 16:35:00
    Quoted Reply
    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060429/ap_on_bi_ge/earns_oil_5
    RE: Re: Long Term Energy Problem
    Posted: Apr 29, 2006, 18:44:00
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    I'm not positive but I seem to remeber many years ago talk about gasoline engines that can get 60 miles per gllon on a regular basis. The rumor went that the pattents were bought up and burried so as to keep the big gas eaters around. If its true?Who knows?I myself dont see why technology cant produce good horsepower engines with better fuel consumption performance. And I agree with the idea of pushing ahead with Hybrids and other sources of fuel. I dont believe more oil wells for the oil comapnies will give us the relief we want. They will dig it up and ship it off to the world market where it comes back too us at what ever price the oil companies set.
    RE: Re: Long Term Energy Problem
    Posted: Apr 29, 2006, 19:20:00
    Quoted Reply
    Toyota Prius is a hybrid that currently gets 60 MPG. There are also some hybrids that have been made but have not gone in to production that get up to 90 MPG
    RE: Re: Long Term Energy Problem
    Posted: Apr 30, 2006, 00:18:00
    Quoted Reply
    Bush isn't helping the problem at all. He keeps giving tax cuts to these multibillionaires. All the media reports is "Bush sets out for another tax cut". In which dumb ass Americans think it's tax cuts for them. He's setting us back years, if not decades, with this bullshit. Liberals aren't any better, most of them are approving these tax cuts, for which I see do no good whatsoever to the American economy, in which Bush says it helps greatly. Fuck Bush, fuck Republicans, fuck most democrats who vote for these fucking tax cuts, and fuck the American people. I can't believe people elect these dueche bags. My rant, solves nothing but w/e.
    RE: Re: Long Term Energy Problem
    Posted: Apr 30, 2006, 00:59:00
    Quoted Reply
    One word.


    Walk
    RE: Re: Long Term Energy Problem
    Posted: Apr 30, 2006, 02:07:00
    Quoted Reply
    Seeing as how I am in a high enough tax bracket to see some of the tax cuts benefit me... I have no problem with tax cuts.


    RE: Re: Long Term Energy Problem
    Posted: Apr 30, 2006, 02:53:00
    Quoted Reply

    Quote:
    ORIGINAL: weaver

    Seeing as how I am in a high enough tax bracket to see some of the tax cuts benefit me... I have no problem with tax cuts.


    Everyone should be happy when they get tax cuts, not your fault you're getting them.

    But Bush is destroying our economy with those tax cuts. Bush has wars going on around the world, spending money where it doesn't belong, cutting back on education needs, and destroying senior citizen benefits. He still has no problem with making more and more tax cuts, which solve absolutely nothing besides put money in the pockets of people who really don't need it.
    RE: Re: Long Term Energy Problem
    Posted: Apr 30, 2006, 15:51:00
    Quoted Reply
    Wow that really addressed the energy problem.
    What we need to do is quit hugging trees and start drilling for oil. Nuclear energy is cleaner and more efficient than coal, but to many liberals say it is dangerous ,but they never have an idea how to solve it they just critisize like always. The answer is not to bash Bush, Zol t,hat is what is wrong here ,quit bashing and do something. I needed the tax break to help pay for the gasoline made by arab oil Arab oil.
    As for spending both parties SUCK AT IT.
    RE: Re: Long Term Energy Problem
    Posted: Apr 30, 2006, 16:09:00
    Quoted Reply

    Quote:
    ORIGINAL: barney fife

    Wow that really addressed the energy problem.
    What we need to do is quit hugging trees and start drilling for oil. Nuclear energy is cleaner and more efficient than coal, but to many liberals say it is dangerous ,but they never have an idea how to solve it they just critisize like always. The answer is not to bash Bush, Zol t,hat is what is wrong here ,quit bashing and do something. I needed the tax break to help pay for the gasoline made by arab oil Arab oil.
    As for spending both parties SUCK AT IT.

    We need to start using alcohol. Brazil is already years, yes YEARS, further advanced in alcohol use for veichles then USA.

    I'm not only bashing Bush,which looks like you only care to read, I'm bashing eveyone in Washington who isn't doing a damn thing. Bush cut taxes for these corporations for them to advance their technology in alternative fuel, but here's a surprise...they're not doing anything. Didn't see that one coming...

    These taxes should be going into technology for the long run and not the short term solution to make people happy for a small amount of time.
    RE: Re: Long Term Energy Problem
    Posted: May 1, 2006, 00:58:00
    Quoted Reply
    "we need to start using alcohol"

    I'm doing my bit
    RE: Re: Long Term Energy Problem
    Posted: May 1, 2006, 09:35:00
    Quoted Reply
    the problem with most of your suggestions is that it takes time andalot of cashto use these methods. its a fact the we have to find an alternative and very soon indeed. by the time the leaders decide to get movin the economies dependant on oilwill be in the deepest sh*t. :(

    it seems to me that governments are well aware of the 'peak oil' affect (effect?) but drag their feet on the subject. its a hole thats getting deeper as we speak.

    RE: Re: Long Term Energy Problem
    Posted: May 1, 2006, 11:16:00
    Quoted Reply

    Quote:
    ORIGINAL: Sturmbann

    the problem with most of your suggestions is that it takes time andalot of cashto use these methods. its a fact the we have to find an alternative and very soon indeed. by the time the leaders decide to get movin the economies dependant on oilwill be in the deepest sh*t. :(


    They're now giving $100 back to every car owner in America. That's over $16 billion that should be going into alternative fuel funding. Alternative fuel funding per year is $150 million. Give $16 billion to that funding and I think that's a great way to start this...
    RE: Re: Long Term Energy Problem
    Posted: May 1, 2006, 13:52:00
    Quoted Reply
    About a month ago a group of high school shop kids showed off a car they built at one of the big car shows that embarrassed the big car makers at the show. They used salvaged parts to build a biodiesel engine for thier car and got something like 60 MPG. And they proved that you can have both great milage and real power under the hood at the same time..the car did 0-60 in 6 seconds.

    oh, and they weren't from one of those "gifted" schools for the ultra intelligent kids...they were from an alternative school for kids who had flunked out or otherwise been thrown out of regular high schools. So if they can build a car like that out of junk parts, what excuse do the big companies have for not being able to do the same thing?
    RE: Re: Long Term Energy Problem
    Posted: May 1, 2006, 17:20:00
    Quoted Reply

    Quote:
    ORIGINAL: zol


    Quote:
    ORIGINAL: barney fife
    Wow that really addressed the energy problem.
    What we need to do is quit hugging trees and start drilling for oil. Nuclear energy is cleaner and more efficient than coal, but to many liberals say it is dangerous ,but they never have an idea how to solve it they just critisize like always. The answer is not to bash Bush, Zol t,hat is what is wrong here ,quit bashing and do something. I needed the tax break to help pay for the gasoline made by arab oil Arab oil.
    As for spending both parties SUCK AT IT.

    We need to start using alcohol. Brazil is already years, yes YEARS, further advanced in alcohol use for veichles then USA.

    I'm not only bashing Bush,which looks like you only care to read, I'm bashing eveyone in Washington who isn't doing a damn thing. Bush cut taxes for these corporations for them to advance their technology in alternative fuel, but here's a surprise...they're not doing anything. Didn't see that one coming...

    These taxes should be going into technology for the long run and not the short term solution to make people happy for a small amount of time.

    RE: Re: Long Term Energy Problem
    Posted: May 1, 2006, 17:29:00
    Quoted Reply
    Drilling in Alaska and other locations wont solve a thing. It will give the big oil guys more oil to put on the world market so they can continue doing what they are doing now. Drill it up,move it around, and up the price. How is that going to help us? We are making gas at capacity now. More oil has to be made into more gas. The oil companies will not give us any bargin prices.
    We need major conservation and alternative fuels. We can do it if we get the cooperation of the government. But don't forget...it wont be easy. We have an expesive government to run. Big tax loses if we cut back on consumption. We need the money to pay for Bush tax cuts and pay for the mess he is making.
    RE: Re: Long Term Energy Problem
    Posted: May 2, 2006, 16:47:00
    Quoted Reply
    www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net
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