Oil Prices! What can we do?

[MrMyers]

Manhattan Project needed again!

The Manhattan Project involved a scientific team and the government and was created to develop an atomic bomb before the Nazi government in Germany did. They were successful!

I believe that our President today, like Roosevelt in 1939, needs to put together a team of scientists to develop an alternative renewable energy source to replace oil as the fuel of the United States. We need the same sense of urgency that existed in 1939.

What is the urgency?

Today we have troops in Irag and Afganistan trying to bring stability in the middle of the mid-east oil producing region. "While many regions of the world offer greet oil opportunities, the Middle East with two thirds of the world's oil and the lowest cost, is still where the prize ultimately lies" (Dick Cheney Source (http://www.peakoil.net/Publications/Cheney_PeakOil_FCD.pdf)).

We are wasting our son's and daughter's lives on a product that I believe we could replace if we would only try.

Oil prices are a serious threat to our economy and the issue today is whether production can keep up with the demands of the global community. Remember the 1970's when we had a 5% drop in production and the devastating results when gas prices went through the roof. Well we are just in the beginning of that again. Imagine gas prices at $5 per gallon, at $8 per gallon.

Our own Vice President, in a speech before the London Institute of Petroleum in 1999 said "By some estimates, there will be an average of two-percent annual growth in global oil demand over the years ahead, along with, conservatively, a three-percent natural decline in production from existing reserves. That means by 2010 we will need an additional 50 million barrels per day."

If you read the source document you will find quotes from other people that talk about how "by 2010 that about half the daily volume of oil needed to meet projected demand is not on production today" or that "by 2015 we will need to find, develop and produce a volume of new oil and gas that is equal to eight out of every 10 barrels being produced today".

We are obviuosly outgrowing our oil production capabilities and desparately need to replace it as our primary fuel.

What is the answer?

I don't know but I do recognize that the time to act is NOW!

Join me!

In writing, E-mailing our Senators, Congressmen and the President in demanding that we create this project with the same urgency that we used in the Manhattan Project.

My sources were:

http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/
http://www.peakoil.net/Publications/Cheney_PeakOil_FCD.pdf

[Harrison]

A large part of the U.S. problem is its federal government's REFUSAL to tap into 1,000 years' worth of oil in our own Alaska wilderness. This is amount is not only staggering, it's accurate. The federal government is certainly able to use our own resources without being dependent upon any other country, yet it chooses not to do so.

In addition, every time you see a surge to use electric cars or cars run on other methods of energy, it is ultimately squashed as inefficient. Have you noticed that there still isn't a run on building ethanol plants. That's all we heard about last year---how corn was going to be produced for ethanol and that because of all the corn going to that purpose, our food prices would soar (and have!) because there will be a shortage of corn for food purposes? Well, where are the plants? All of a sudden, we are not hearing much about ethanol, are we? Plus, it was reported on the news that ethanol would be AS EXPENSIVE AT THE PUMP as gasoline, so how is this a good thing???

Here is an example of a great idea of using alternative energy that has been showcased on television and works great for PEANUTS:

http://www.greasecar.com/

[MrMyers]

Some thoughts;

The way everything is co-dependent, would you not think that perhaps oil is needed by the planet itself? Are we depleting the planet's lubricant/fuel?

Ethanol needs to be subsidized with federal tax dollars to be cost efficient at the pump.

I like the idea of a fuel cell like the one used in one of the Back to the Future movies!

[LPTaxpayer]

I just hope that as the US enters the recession (and possibly the world becomes entangled in it since other countries depend on the US to buy their products), and oil prices begin to drop (similiar to the 70s and 80s); that the US does not take its eye off the goal of finding renewable/home-made energy.

We did this in the past, and everythig went back to dependence on oil. (I truly hope lessons were learned. ) The US can't afford this oil issue to continue on. We have to keep moving towards a better solution...one made here at home, by US workers.

[Harrison]

Some thoughts;

The way everything is co-dependent, would you not think that perhaps oil is needed by the planet itself? Are we depleting the planet's lubricant/fuel?




That is an excellent question and food for thought.

[EMUJeff]

A large part of the U.S. problem is its federal government's REFUSAL to tap into 1,000 years' worth of oil in our own Alaska wilderness. This is amount is not only staggering, it's accurate. The federal government is certainly able to use our own resources without being dependent upon any other country, yet it chooses not to do so.

In addition, every time you see a surge to use electric cars or cars run on other methods of energy, it is ultimately squashed as inefficient. Have you noticed that there still isn't a run on building ethanol plants. That's all we heard about last year---how corn was going to be produced for ethanol and that because of all the corn going to that purpose, our food prices would soar (and have!) because there will be a shortage of corn for food purposes? Well, where are the plants? All of a sudden, we are not hearing much about ethanol, are we? Plus, it was reported on the news that ethanol would be AS EXPENSIVE AT THE PUMP as gasoline, so how is this a good thing???

Here is an example of a great idea of using alternative energy that has been showcased on television and works great for PEANUTS:

http://www.greasecar.com/
I have to believe that if corn becomes a cash crop because it develops a new use that more farmers will grow more to meet the demand within a couple of seasons, driving the price back down. This is just another excuse producers role out to take more profit in the short term. It's the law of supply and demand that we have been told for so long should rule everything in this country and will solve all our problems. It hasn't and won't, but in this case I think it applies.
As a less harmfull fuel, the jury is still out regarding the carbon emissions and amount of energy required to produce. But if production increases the price for the product will stabalize.
Since this nation only produces 25% of its daily oil use we will continue to be at the mercy of the oil producing nations both in the Middle East and South America unless we reduce our usage by 75%. Even then, the amount of product provided by our nations oil companies are sold at market price, not related to actual production cost. So if the world price is $109 that's what the US producers will charge since it's what they can get for a barrel on the international market. Again, our unrestrained free market at work.
EMUJeff

[Harrison]

If it is true that we import more oil from Canada than from any other country, then why is the Middle Eastern oil so important?

To Mr. Myers, I think we have our oil "Manhattan Project," the government just doesn't want to use it.

[EMUJeff]

I think it's because whatever price the OPEC members set the other oil producing nations sell at or near so they don't miss out on profits. I mean if you can produce a barrel of oil for $35 a barrel and sell it for $75 that's a good profit. But if a major portion of the market is getting $105 a barrel, that means your shareholders are missing out on $30 per barrel of profit. Never mind they're the only ones who will be able to afford it at the pump.
JMO
EMUJeff

[greenrenovator]

This might not be the answer, but time will tell!

President Bush has stated, "the less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil, the more secure we are at home."

Robert Schlesinger, Citing oil need, Bush pushes energy bill, BOSTON GLOBE, (Oct. 12, 2001),




In reality, the less dependent we are on any source of crude oil (nonrenewable resources), foreign or domestic, the more secure our society is overall, war or not. America's solution to energy problems is not to produce more but to consume less, increase energy efficiency.The United States has just five percent of the world's population yet accounts for more than one quarter of the world's total consumption. Other industrialized countries (without their own oil fields) have kept their import levels flat over the years through conservation measures. We must meet the needs of present generations without compromising those needs for future generations. Achieving a balance among extraction and renewal and environmental inputs and outputs, without further burdening the environment. A human community must not decrease biodiversity or consume resources faster than they are renewed; it must recycle and reuse virtually all materials and rely primarily on regional resources. A person must choose technologies for energy that are suitable to their situations.· Alternative Energy (26) (http://www.ifenergy.com/50226711/alternative_energy.php)


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However, I believe that some significant part of today's crude oil prices is due to:· geopolitical tensions with Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East, · rising demand from China and India, continue their economic growth, their appetite for commodities, if production of plastic-based products had not been outsourced to China,the store price of these products would be at some higher level and therefore the demand somewhat less, leading to some reduced level of net oil consumption.· hedge funds and other financial players pushing up the price in futures markets
· due to the dollar weakness versus the euro

If OPEC reverses itself and increases production, the current geo-political trend in the Middle East continue, the current tension in Latin America settles down, and/or U.S. begin larger pull-out of troops from Iraq, then the price of oil could come down to more realistic levels. But oil prices will not fall below $60 to $70 range since the production cost of alternative fuels has a threshold of $60 to $70






Harrison, I hope that someday that you have the opportunity to experience the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for yourself so you could see the magnitude of what would be sacrificed.

[Harrison]

Green,

I would like to see that!

Harrison

[Cherub]

Excellent thread:slider_score10:

[greenrenovator]

Green,

I would like to see that!

Harrison

You will not be sorry if go, but in meantime there is a lot of nice photo of the area by others!