The Demorats are simply the Party of NO.
And we’re about to pay a HEFTY PRICE not only in dollars but LIVES as well. Petroleum is only the TIP of the energy iceberg.
Yes, solving this problem requires a full and complete multi-faceted attack; not JUST “conservation” will do it. There is only ONE energy source that will run vehicles at this point: OIL. We NEED to continue on this trail while SIMULTANEOUSLY seeking all the other alternatives — which includes not just saying NO to these alternatives.
- Drill for more oil, domestically and internationally; yes, everyone knows it’s no panacea and yes everyone knows it will take years for the additional oil to ramp online — but I want this done if for no other reason than to tank up our strategic oil reserves for the future of our military when push comes to shove;
- Keep the thought of conservation going, but conservation alone doesn’t really address the problem;
- Continue to seek alternative energy sources;
- Continue to refine the quality of hybrid vehicles;
- Continue to examine the feasability of mass-produced hydrogen vehicles;
- Build more infrastructure on every level;
- More and wider surface streets;
- More and wider freeways;
- More and more numerous rail lines;
- More electrical generation stations;
- More coal fired plants;
- More propane plants;
- More NUCLEAR plants
If you think runaway oil prices are upsetting, just wait for what’s in store for electricity. Similar forces are in play. Demand is rising fast; supply is not. The cost to get coal and natural gas out of the ground is going up, and to that expense must be added the cost of the carbon permits that Congress and the presidential candidates are contemplating. Environmentalists are getting power plants scotched. China is sucking up energy. Leave such dynamics in play long enough, and price spikes in electricity follow. But that’s just the beginning. We may be facing brownouts (voltage reductions) and even rolling blackouts.
By as early as next year our demand for electricity will exceed reliable supply in New England, Texas and the West and, by 2011, in New York and the mid-Atlantic region. A failure of a power plant, or a summer-afternoon surge in the load, could make for a blackout or brownout. “There really isn’t any excess in the system,” says Rick P. Sergel, chief executive at the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC).
Recall the summers of electric discontent for California in 2000 and 2001? Wholesale electricity prices skyrocketed, reflecting tight supply conditions (conditions that were exploited, but not created, by traders at Enron). The consequences were a bankruptcy filing by the state’s biggest utility, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (amex: PCG.PR.A – news – people ), and the early departure of a governor.
Multiply by dozens of states. Add in brownouts. Buy candles.
Again, remember who placed the country onto the path it’s obviously taking: lacking the energy necessary to keep it running; namely: The Demorats.
The Governor’s (Schwarzenegger’s) crusade against “greenhouse gases” is, in fact, the single greatest impediment to the era of public works that he has promised, and the crusade for public works construction is the biggest impediment to reducing “greenhouse gases” that he has promised.
In my opinion, for the past 20+ years Americans have sacrificed infrastructure for social programs that have yielded little if any benefit — except perhaps to create an entire “needy” class dependent on government and to eliminate males entirely from black families. And, of course, to ensure we keep the constant flow of worker drones (i.e., Mexican laborers) funneling into our country so as to continue the consistent underclass.
In that amount of time, however, we have done our level best to ensure that the necessary infrastructure to accommodate all the additional people has been seriously curtailed.
–Power generating stations;
–Sources of water;
–Adequate emergency response staffing (fire and police);
–Hospitals;
–Refineries for petroleum distillates;
–Interconnecting surface roads with sufficient capacity;
–Expanded freeways to accommodate future traffic needs;
–Sufficient railbeds to accommodate future interstate rail traffic;
–Airport expansion;
–Sewer capacity, water treatment capacity;
Are you ready, America? Get ready for the 1800s all over again:
- Get ready to be boiling in the summer;
- Freezing in the winter;
- And unable to get anywhere or acquire anything.
I’m afraid, BZ, you misunderstand what tax revenues are for, they are for politicians to dole out to the lazy-ass electorate for promises to re-elect them. they are certainly not for infrastructure like roads, bridges and the like! jeez, where did you go to school?
Guess where the first brownouts will be. I bet heavily on the west coast where they have continuously blocked power generating projects. Altho I did back not building Diablo Canyon because putting a reactor directly on top of an active fault line seemed a little too risky. They have blocked several wind and solar generating projects because of astetics and endangerd insects.
Mark: of course, for Socialism, not for dealing with any hard, tangible assets.
WMD: Concur completely. Our RINO governor has certainly helped to assure this as well. There are plenty of places for nuclear and other stations (just not on active fault lines as you point out – was it on the San Andreas?). The Left want only THEIR version of power which means, if you’re MONIED LEFT then certainly not those SOLAR PANELS near you or those horrendous windmills. Yes, whatever happens, it will occur in Fornicalia first.
BZ
I don’t know if I like the idea of any nuclear plant in California just because of the earthquakes, but EVERY part of our country is at risk for one type of disaster or another.
Right now I wouldn’t give a damn if they wanted to drill in my backyard,have at it….but the libs don’t see it, they won’t see it until ALL are struggling with the basic necessities, then they can blame the authority at the time.
The problem with the left BZ is simple and quick to explain:
NO FORESIGHT.
One must conclude that they want our society to collapse. There is no other logical explanation.
Shoprat: I tend to believe that in general, though I am unsure I have my finger on the REAL reason for these motivations. I cannot understand why.
BZ
To create an excuse for a world wide (socialist) government that all these fools will agree to, that’s why they want the US to fail.
Party of No is exactly right and its about time they are called on it.
I didn’t even see this post, BZ.
Coincidentally, I build poser plants for a living and have my ear to the ground as far as energy goes.
California is currently building and scheduling quite a few gas powered simple cycle and combined cycle power plants across the state.
We are currently building a 1000 megawatt PP in Otay Mesa, CA, and are finishing a 90 Megawatt Peaker Plant in Niland, CA. We were unsuccessful in a bid for an 850 Megawatt Plant, but are bidding on 4 others within the next 3 months.
I can provide conjecture on the other topics, but I am up to speed on the Energy Picture for CA, and can give you a lot more information.