Yesterday, the Democrat’s weekly radio address featured Speaker Nancy Pelosi talking about America’s energy woes. In the address, Pelosi outlined a new ”comprehensive” Democrat energy package that she says will contain some drilling provisions. Which is good, since 69% of Americans support increased drilling for American oil.
Put me down for encouraged, but skeptical. I’ll reserve judgment until I see what the bill actually says. However, I take issue with Pelosi’s argument that House Republicans are pushing a “drill only” plan. Because if she actually sat down and took the time to read “The American Energy Act” she would see that it contains more than just drilling.
The bill contains a renewable and alternative energy trust fund that provides grants for biomass development and incentives for hydroelectric production, solar and wind technologies, cellulosic biofuels and geothermal generation. It also contains provisions for nuclear power, coal-to-liquids and oil shale. The bill also provides a host of tax incentives for people and businesses that choose to purchase electric and hybrid cars.
But one of the most interesting provisions of the bill is Title II, Subtitle B: Tapping America’s Ingenuity and Creativity. This program authorizes the Department of Energy to encourage America’s best and brightest to start developing new energy technologies by hosting competitions paid for with funds raised from private entities. The bill also protects the intellectual property of the participants. These programs would resemble DOE’s successful ‘Solar Decathalon’.
Given that the well funded research department at MIT has already increased its research into energy development with great results, a program like this one could make it easier for smaller colleges and universities to increase their presence in the energy research game. These competitions could also help local companies like NCAT and AE Biofuels.
Clearly, the Republican plan contains many provisions that extend far beyond “just drilling.” It contains provisions for the development of nuclear power, alternative fuel sources, tax incentives for hybrid vehicle buyers and provisions to increase the development of new technologies. It also develops America’s coal, natural gas and oil production
I’m eager to see what Pelosi’s plan contains, hopefully she and the other House Dems won’t make me wait until after the August recess ends to read it.
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How many more people, including the nuts in CA, would be for offshore drilling, if they knew it could be accessed almost imeaditly and would (perish the thought) reduce natural seepage that fouls the beaches today.
Via Powerline:
But there are areas where, if Congress acts to remove existing bans on drilling, oil could be flowing in a matter of months, not years. Foremost on this list is oil off the coast of California. We asked Dan Kish, Senior Vice President, Policy, at the Institute for Energy Research to comment. This is what he told us:
For oil, California is the quickest relief. Existing platforms there would allow access to some of the leases companies paid $1.1 billion for in 1981, but have been precluded from developing for 26 years. California is the nation’s largest consumer of gasoline, so it could go directly to their extensive refinery network, also. The estimates are that 10 billion barrels exist off the coast of California, and tankers full of imported oil and Alaska North Slope oil go through those protected waters every day.
Santa Barbara is also home to one of the largest oil seep trends ever observed, and in one small area 100 bbls per day seep to the surface, except around an existing producing platform that releases the pressure causing the seeps. 100% of the oil on the beaches in Santa Barbara county, and 50% of the oil on the beaches of LA County are caused by Santa Barbara’s seeps. The local group Stop Oil Seeps advocates drilling there to improve the environment.
Take this post and add the one on the Russian invasion and you get this Ramirez cartoon.
http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IMAGES/CARTOONS/toon081508.gif
I suspect there is a natural gas seep in Missoula, probably near the university.
USGS estimates that there are between 66.6 and 115.1 billion technically recoverable reserves on the entire continental shelf, and MMS estimates that there are another 48.5 billion technically recoverable onshore. The notion that there are 100 BBO just waiting to be drilled offshore CA is absurd internet nonsense. You have no idea how powerful the energy companies are - if that oil was there, they would have pounced on it years ago. Environmentalists cannot begin to match the power of the energy lobby.
The idea that they can get it online within months is equally absurd. For offshore oil there first has to be a discovery well followed by additional drilling to assure that there are adeqaute reserves to justify a production platform. The whole process can take ten years or longer. Faced with the hard reality, RNC has launched a propaganda campaign claiming that offshore reserves can be online within months. It’s aimed at the truly stupid. Thanks for helping out.
Here’s what’s cooking: There is a gas price runup, and people are once again conscious of the price of gasoline. They are equally unaware of technical difficulties in brining oil to market. Oil companies have seized the opportunity of public discontent to leverage themselves into places wehre they have not been allowed to go before. They want into ANWR, other offshore areas, likely national parks and wilderness and roadless areas too. They are using people like you to advance their agenda, which is always present and waiting for circumstances to justify implementation.
That 66% of the population thinks we can drill our way to lower prices? You’re part of the 66%. Probably that many people think Saddam was behind 9/11. What’s your point?
Finally, disabuse yourself of the notion that oil companies care about high prices and would lower them if they had access to more reserves. That’s a tooly way to think.
Wow Mark, you have a really high opinion of your fellow Americans. so, if all polls are bs and based on the opinions of idiots, then I guess I can stop listening to the polls that say Obama will win the presidency. whew! That’s a load off my mind.
I guess that will have to pass as your answer. It’s Wileyesque - off-point and evasive. Nice job.
I find it amazing how Mark T can accuse us right minded people that we’re being used by “Big Oil” when he parrots the talking points of the extreme left.
Where did the time line of 10 years evolve from? Petroleum gelogists on staff at Kos, no doubt.. Where ever it came from, it has no basis of truth, only echos bounceing from one talking head to another.
No one on our side has pinpointed an exact starting date for pumping the black gold, all they’ve manitained is months not years in the CA off shore wells case and years in ANWR. Barring multiple lawsuits in both cases.
Mark and comrads who be better served if they’d mix it up a little, 9 tears 6 months or 11 years 2 months, not exactly 10 years 0 months.
It came from the Bush Administration Department of Energy, who says that new offshore oil won’t come on line until 2020 or so and won’t have much impact on price.
I don’t parrot anyone. I’ve made my living in oil and gas, and consequently have paid a lot of attention over the years to stuff like reserves and timelines - I’m no expert for sure, but I’m telling you what I know. You are the one parroting the party line.
The oil may not come online for 10 years but thanks to those evil speculators that the Dems love to hate so much, the expected lower cost of oil in the future can be reflected in prices at the pump *immediately*
That is the biggest reach ever published at this web site, and that is not a reach to say that.
Why do you think there were *immediate* price reactions when Bush lifted the executive ban on offshore drilling? Why do you think futures markets (which is what speculators trade in) react so strongly to market fluctuations? Take an economics class Mark. I think you’ll cover this one at the 100-level.
I right winger offering that I should study economics. How unusual!
[…] Where’s Denny? Pogie got her bright orange hot-pants all in a twist because Congressman Rehberg isn’t spending the entire month of August in Washington, DC. I think she’s missing the point. Rehberg’s return to DC was symbolic - without action from Congressional Democrats, the debate on the House Floor cannot be more than words. I don’t think Rehberg ever claimed different. If Pelosi listened to the American People and reconvened Congress to vote on a real energy plan does anyone think that Rehberg wouldn’t be first in line to get back to work? And guess what. It’s working! […]
