To our next President,
Please make the hard choices needed to wean this country off of oil, and in particular, foreign oil. Our dependence on foreign oil is the cause of many of our current economic problems. We all know resource stability is the real reason our military men and women are dying in the desert so far from home. The massive money we pump into the economy of that region is a big part of the reason why radical middle-eastern leaders can afford to fight these wars. Our $700,000,000,000 worth of foreign oil purchases every year is killing the economy of our nation and turning the Middle East into a bloody, war-scarred, wasteland.
Our excessive oil addiction is also helping to kill our planet. It is contributing to global climate change. Our use of oil is a primary cause of poor air quality and widespread respiratory problems in our cities. It is depleting the ozone. It is destroying our fresh water supply by melting our worldwide ice reserves. It is creating toxic chemical waste. It is polluting our once-pristine oceans and killing the foundations of the entire food chain. We are killing ourselves in order to maintain our addiction to oil. It really has to end.
We seriously need to stop paying the radical leaders of Middle Eastern countries hundreds of billions of dollars of our money for their oil just so they can turn around and use the money to build more bombs to throw back at us. We need to stop funding their armies with our massive oil purchases and bring that oil money back home where we can use it to solve our own problems. We need to stop buying foreign oil.
Mr. T. Boone Pickens' Plan would certainly help move us toward this goal, but please don't stop there. We need to do much more. In fact, we need to do everything we possibly can to stop buying foreign oil. Let's make it our national goal to completely eliminate our use of oil as a transportation fuel. Use every resource at your disposal to make it happen. It can even be done quickly, if we pull together as a nation.
Here are my specific suggestions:
First, pull our troops out of all those foreign countries and put them to work helping us here at home. Let the Army Corps of Engineers use some of these returning troops to design and build the infrastructure for a vast new solar, geothermal, and wind enhanced power grid. Focus solely on renewable sources of energy to create this new power grid. Offer jobs and training to our unemployed masses as part of this effort. Let engineering students work on it for intern credit, as well.
Get the media and volunteers involved publicizing and helping wherever possible. Use the Internet and mass media to inspire and motivate every citizen to replace all incandescent bulbs with free compact fluorescent bulbs distributed at government centers. This will reduce overall power consumption immensely to take some load off of older non-renewable power facilities. Make this project a heavily-publicized nationwide goal and get everyone at every level involved.
Second, use the rest of our troops to build the beginnings of the refueling infrastructure needed to support a nationwide switch to natural gas, fuel cell, and electricity-based transportation. Add one or two natural gas pumps to every gasoline station nationwide to get the process started. Offer assistance in construction of hydrogen production facilities for fuel cells, too. Let the oil companies take it from there, but we need to get them started to guarantee a base distribution infrastructure. Perhaps install emergency charging outlets at motorist emergency call boxes on highways across the nation for electric cars. Do whatever it takes.
The switch away from gasoline is a chicken and egg (refueling infrastructure versus widely available vehicles) scenario which needs a painful first step to be taken. Use the military to help this nation take that first step together. People would love to see our troops here at home solving American problems for a change. If we can get the basic refueling infrastructure put in place, the vehicles will follow quickly.
Third, shift all possible transportation away from oil to natural gas and electric. Force the auto companies to lead the way to a natural gas and electric future by eliminating the production of petroleum engine-based transportation. Supplement the conversion of all existing gasoline engines to natural gas power. Set up conversion centers in every municipality with trained military personnel doing the conversions for free or the price of the parts. Set a deadline for everyone to have it done.
Fourth, encourage the oil companies to further tap our massive resources of natural gas and quickly make it available for sale nationwide. Help them further flesh out the infrastructure for refueling in a nationwide shift to natural gas. Severely restrict any further gasoline distribution for passenger vehicle use. Make it extremely difficult to get gasoline in order to force folks to convert their vehicles.
From now on, strongly encourage the manufacture and purchase of electric vehicles which use natural gas engines or fuel cells(but not petroleum) only to boost their range. The switch to these vehicles will allow us to drastically reduce our oil imports so we really only need the oil we already produce. We may even be able to export some of the oil we have left over. It would be nice to have money coming into this country for a change.
Why use natural gas? It just makes the most sense as the transitional step we need in order to move forward toward an independent, sustainable, cleaner energy future. We have extensive reserves of natural gas available here at home. It's cheaper than oil. The oil companies are already invested heavily in it. It's proven as a transportation fuel with over 8 million vehicles already on the roads. Also, the transportation infrastructure and currently-owned vehicles can be converted to it fairly easily and cheaply. Best of all, it burns much cleaner than petroleum, so it's a responsible choice for easy conversion of existing combustion engines.
It will also help us ease the complete transition over the longer term to purely electric (or fuel cell) vehicles. The natural gas-based extended-range electric vehicles will eventually completely replace the current crop of converted gasoline vehicles. Then, purely electric or even fuel cell vehicles will eventually replace the extended-range electric vehicles once the technology finally develops fully. Electric vehicles can be charged using a wide variety of renewable resources, making them ideal for the long-term future. But natural gas is the in-between step we need to get us there.
In addition, our power grid will be slowly converting to renewable sources over the same time period for enhanced long-term stability in our electrical supply. This will spur investment and faster development in those fields, creating massive new energy industries to add to our economy. This path to energy independence is simple and follows a logical progression which people can grasp and best of all, the necessary studies have already been done. We already know where the best wind and solar power are located. We already know how to convert vehicles to run on natural gas. We can begin to do this immediately using technology we already have.
Why use the military for these projects? It's simple. We have the manpower to make huge changes in a very short time if we use the military. Plus, the President has complete control over military operations as Commander-in-Chief. Rather than paying our troops to solve (or interfere with?) the problems of every other country in the world, let the U.N. take care of that. Let's put our troops to work here at home to create our own nation's long-term energy future. Only by assuring our own future can we make certain we are around to help others over the long term. Only by becoming more resource-independent can we become truly economically stable over the long term.
People are fed up with our massive dependence on foreign oil ruining their lives and putting us at the mercy of overpowered radical Middle-Eastern leaders. Even worse, our Earth is quickly being destroyed by our addiction to oil. We want a strong leader to fire us up to work toward a common goal like Kennedy did with the space program. This is the single goal that can pull this nation together like never before.
Mr. President, YOU could go down in history as the American President who led this nation in solving one of the biggest challenges we ever faced. With inspired national focus and enthusiasm, you could even do all of this within your first term by using the military, volunteers, students, and the millions of jobless folks.
This project could make the national accomplishments of the space program and the "new deal" look small by comparison. Inspire us in this fight. Make national pride a big part of our national culture again. Lead us and the world into a stable energy future. Step up and help us proudly declare our Energy Independence!
Respectfully yours,
Bill Dempsey
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As far as the training goes, nobody does specialized training as quickly as the military. Most guys go into the military knowing nothing about the job they end up doing. They spend a few weeks being trained and then they are experts. The military training techniques are fast and efficient. I'm sure they could train specialized teams to install NG pumps in a matter of weeks. I think the trick is that they train teams, so each man really only needs to know a subset of the entire process. At least that is my understanding. Lord knows I've been wrong before. LOL
I guess my primary point was, this is more dire than they are admitting and it really requires some big changes in our approach.
Thanks for the kind words and thanks for reading!
I think the plan you've sketched out has some merit. I hope someone is listening.
But I agree large cities need cleaner air. This could be done by dismantling the city. Which usually has most of the social problems anyhow. So you would get two birds in one shot.
Then there is the option of oil. Yes, the gooey stuff that America has abundance of that would last, on the conservative side by USGS two hundred years. Exploring again which America has not done in 30 years due to moratorium has great possibilities of new discoveries. Since they made a discovery even with the moratorium on, limiting there abilities.
Now for immediate cleaner air. Hydrogen small dosage in gas and diesel driven trucks have now passed California strick standards. In fact less then 1/3 required standard.
Hydrogen from electrolysis is a small and cheap unit to install to accomplish what you suggest in spending millions and billions and trillions on.
Of course I unlike you, does not look to government to rally the troops. I prefer my individual freedom of choice. Let every American vote their concerns with their pocket book with choices they purchase.
If one really believes in warming. Let them buy a wind mill, or smart car, or housing. If not, let them buy oil and hydrogen. Why force ideas on others via government enforcement.
Is not that what government does best? enforce into your privacy, and anything else one condones or does not want.
We all know Al Gore the drug pusher on global warming sure denies his pocket book any belief in the matter Yet, for personal reasons wants to push his book of fantasy upon a Nation by enforcer government. Where is a person's freedom?
Our last President was in the pocket of his country-club and hunting buddies who owned oil companies in his home state of Texas. He hired a science advisor who was friendly to big oil and was willing to ignore 50 years of scientific research by tens of thousands of climate scientists throughout the world so that big oil could maintain their profits and control over our economy. That science advisor, and a few other oil company financed scientists did whatever they could to discredit the decades of world-wide research on climate change.
Unfortunately, many Americans bought into Bush's "everything is fine" rhetoric, so now we're fighting an uphill battle to re-educate and change attitudes. We're the only country in the world stupid enough to believe everything is fine. Thanks to Bush's energy, scientific, and education policies, we are now considered a nation of resource-wasting, ignorant hicks by the rest of the free world. It's time for our attitudes and our world image to change. We really need to bring this country back to being an inspiring world leader rather than a collection of complacent, ignorant, wasteful slobs. We need to change.
The 200 years of oil reserves you referenced from that USGS survey is sandy shale oil. If we used that stuff to get off of foreign oil, the costs associated with extracting those reserves from the ground would raise the price of gas in this country to $10+ per gallon at current prices. Plus, burning it would still poison our air and eventually kill billions of people in the long-term. Natural gas is $2 per gallon, is far more plentiful here than even the sandy shale oil, has much cleaner emissions, and would help stop the climate change. Personally, I'd rather pay the $2 per gallon for American natural gas, have cleaner air, and save the planet in the process.
Even better would be natural gas powered extended range electric vehicles. Charge it over night and go 40 miles before using any gas or natural gas. If you live 10 miles from where you work, you might never use gas. Plus, you could still go 400 miles before recharging or refueling if you took a longer trip. The on-board natural gas powered generator also means you don't have to fear your batteries running dead when you are halfway home from work one day.
Pickens a man I do not trust after his stock raids in the 80's leaving many workers without jobs. Leaves me with his motives being purely for financial gain. Sure lost a crap load as of late.
Sandy oil, no it actually is shale. It can come out of the ground at $70 a barrel now and they figure once started. Cheaper. Tests of new technology have already been run by three firms here in Colorado under sanction of congress.
Foreign countries want $80 so it is a competitive alternative. When and if oil comes back up in price. Otherwise a mute point and makes oil cheaper alternative.
Now I have been studying climate change on both sides. What I find is lack of information from Global warming alarmists. Much of the data is filled in. Filled in as there is no data available. Unreliable at best.
Global warming people often do just like you do here. Claim they know more then everyone else. Including the thousands of scientists that disagree. Even in Colorado, the College Climatic Professors are evenly split.
Yet I find warmists want to claim their elitist attitude of their knowing and my ignorance of stupidity. If that is the road to be taken. Just claim Global Warming as King and do what ever the hell you do in dictatorships. I will have my day later in dictating something else. Not actually because I do not believe in government regulations.
What happened to convincing scientists. Thousands that stand on the other side. How about convincing the British law where Al Gore got sued and here is what they said: This is a political football that the schools should not be involved with. If you bring it up you must point out the false hoods in the literature.
Wow, they can not even convince the courts of validity of the facts.
Now why not oil when I told you the data exists. That shows electrolysis with water creating hydrogen added to diesel is clean burning. You did not address it at all. A very cheap alternative. So much for all alternatives as options.
Did I mention it increased fuel mileage on big trucks by 20%(own experience). They tell me cars will go 150%, I have not seen data proof positive of this yet.
Natural Gas cheaper. Buying $2 oil now. When one pulls the taxes out of natural gas an oil it becomes a quarters difference. The oil shale in Colorado also has natural gas below it, so you get two for the price of one.
Bush rider. Yeah, I do not agree with much if anything he has done, but then congress fits into the same category.
In fact you should do some research into the Rockfeller who made huge wealth off of oil. They donate to many environmentalist groups and supported the moratorium on oil. Why? Because eliminating oil is the same as running out of oil and the price goes up. What a novel idea. Support people who antagonize your endeavors to create a supply problem to raise prices.
Amazing capitalism is still alive and well and works just fine with a little help from congress moratorium.
When the Bakan reserve was discovered and opened up
(found outside moratorium area) prices dropped.
Plus, the huge, rich oil industry would fight it much harder than they fight natural gas. At least they actually own and sell natural gas, so they would still make money. A hydrogen electrolysis machine at a fueling station (or even in your home) would only need water and electricity in order to provide fuel for vehicles. Too many politicians are owned by oil companies for that to ever fly.
Hell, I prefer hydrogen as a fuel myself, but I figured politics would kill that. I'd love to see hydrogen-powered generators on extended range electric vehicles where the "fuel" is water and where solar panels and/or wind turbines on the roof of the vehicle are constantly refilling the hydrogen tank using on-board electrolysis and a compressor. Imagine driving 600 miles on a sunny day and then putting a little water into the reservoir to do it again the next day without ever plugging your car in.
Getting back to global climate change, there is evidence to contradict warming. For example, the surface temperatures in Antarctica have actually been falling for the past 6 years or so. That has led some to say global warming is totally wrong. But the ocean temperatures under the ice shelves have been rising to the point where large portions of the ice shelves recently broke off and melted into the ocean. Ocean temperatures and currents affect world climate more than any other factors.
The real threat from global warming isn't from us having to deal with temperatures that are warmer while we're mowing the lawn. A 6c change in air temperature won't hurt human populations directly. But it will alter weather patterns drastically by increasing ocean temperatures and altering currents. Drought will burn our forests and decimate our crops. Hurricanes of ever-increasing intensity will pummel coastlines. Tornadoes will devastate areas inland. All glacial ice will melt(not polar). That will dry up rivers fed by mountain glaciers, which supply drinking water for billions, and carry away all of their sewage. Ever expanding pools of raw sewage plus dead animals, fish, and vegetation will breed insects and spread diseases. Famine, dehydration, and disease will kill billions. Ocean levels will rise which will displace hundreds of millions of people, moving them further inland around the world. The property and facility losses will be so vast that it will collapse world economies.
Sure, there is definitely a chance we're all wrong about global climate change. Like anything where you are predicting a likely future based on an historical trend, there is most certainly margin for error. Given what I believe might happen, I'd frankly love to be wrong about it. The thing is, -IF- we're right about climate change, and we do nothing about it, we will literally see billions die, probably within our lifetimes. If we're wrong, then nothing happens. Nobody dies.
I guess my reason for believing comes down to this: Wouldn't it make more sense to cover our asses just in case we're right rather than sit on our asses and bet the survival of billions on the hope that we're wrong?