Quote:
Originally Posted by TexasWSP
But see......a lot of it isn't. Natural gas, for example, is a clean burning energy and you don't have to completely destroy the environment to get it. The amount of regulatory measures and environmental checks required to even begin drilling a well are incredibly high. Where you used to have to drill a new well every time you wanted to explore in a new location, I can drill one well and explore deposits in tons of areas thanks to horizontal drilling.
Right now, it is worth it in my opinion. The development of alternative fuels is in its infancy, despite the fact that you hear daily about growing numbers of available biofuels, hybrids, etc. To me, we should drill the oil, have us all benefit from it, and then scale it back when alternatives reach a level of usability similar to gasoline. They just aren't there yet. Gas has a very high energy density and is easy to handle at room temperature and pressure, so it presents a very formidable challenge to alternatives at this point, especially in the transportation sector. Take corn for example. If every single acre of corn in our country was used exclusively for ethanol production you would replace less than a quarter of the gasoline used today. The "cleanliness" of it is only slightly less than gasoline anyways.
Something has to be done here, I'll give you that. I was recently talking to a very high up oil executive...everyone here would know the name....and the conversation was scary. He claimed that unless we do something about the energy problem in our country - develop new ones and allow the old ones to thrive for the time being - our economy will be around that of a third world country in the next two to three decades. I'm not saying that it's true, but it is definitely eye opening.
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Thanks for the previous post.
I will work on getting the reference for you.
I heard what you said that about "biofuels" for ethanol production--we still will not have enough fuel... Most US oil companies say mixed fuels are better. And I remember from 25 years ago during Carter administration, that the Oil Companies did not see profit in self-producing some crude (like it use to) to get more abundant sources from you know who...
The irony is that these ELF freaks think ANY destruction of the environment by human hands is too much. Even after the environmental impact reports, etc. have been completed.
@ bolded--he's right... If something is not done like he said, our economy is going to be worse off. R&D budgets can be increased at area Universities or make it an Gates Grand Challenge/Ansari Prize/Etc. Someone somewhere will come up with a VIABLE realistic solution that has a timetable for a phase out over 20+ years. Not making worse... My Uncle is a VP at a major Energy company in OK. He's saying the same thing...
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