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An Energy Plan to Avoid $5 per Gallon Gas
Guest Column | By KT McFarland | June 26, 2008
Do
you find yourself wondering lately WHAT HAPPENED to America? A few
years ago we had won the Cold War, were the envy of the world, and the economic
superpower. Now we have a collapsing dollar, a record national debt
which is increasingly owned by foreigners, skyrocketing food prices,
and the price of gas has doubled in just two years. We're fighting a
costly and seemingly open-ended war against radical Islam. Much of the
world hates us. And every opinion poll shows Americans think things
will only get worse. It feels like the wheels have just come off the
trolley.
Why such a fall in such a short time? There is no one
reason to blame, just like there is no one person, or one political
party to blame. But oil, and our dependence on foreign oil, is
certainly at the top of the list.
We've known since the oil
shocks of the mid-1970s that our dependence on foreign oil was a
vulnerability, but we've done nothing much to solve the problem. For
the last 35 years every American President and most national leaders
has talked about getting off foreign oil, but the talk never translated to actions.
We
need to get off Middle East oil, ASAP, ideally by substituting fossil
fuel energy with clean and renewable energy, but at a minimum we need
to get off Middle East oil by whatever means necessary. Almost half of
the U.S. trade deficit is because we buy oil abroad. But we can't
afford it, so we borrow money to pay for it. Guess who has extra money
in the bank to lend us? Those same oil exporting counties. It's a
vicious circle. We are borrowing money from foreign lenders so we can
buy oil from them. The wealth America has built up over decades is being
shipped off to the Middle East in a matter of months.
As simple
as that sounds, solving it will be complicated and difficult. There is
no single silver bullet. If it were easy we would have done it years
ago. There are short, medium and long-term solutions, but we need to
begin all of them today. Doing so will make a few interest groups mad,
deny a lot of pork barrel programs, and it is inevitable we will make
some mistakes and head down a few dead ends. But the fear of making
mistakes, or disappointing a few groups, has for too long been the
excuse for doing nothing at all.
For the short term, Washington
needs legislation offering consumers and producers incentives and tax
rebates for investing in renewable energies, and encourages
conservation. We currently have a patchwork of temporary tax credits
that make renewable power commercially feasible. Some of them, like the
corn ethanol subsidies, reflected special interests but didn't make
sense from a national energy perspective. We need to replace those,
immediately, with permanent credits that let the market decide which
technologies work best.
We already have the technology for
making wind, hydro, solar, and geothermal energy and many Americans
have invested in those in their own homes. More need to, but they won't
if it doesn't make sense financially. And every dollar saved on home
heating oil is one dollar less going to pay for Middle East oil. Even
so, the effect on the price of gas will be negligible. That's why it is
essential we have legislation that encourages the use of cars that use
less gas - whether through higher fuel efficiency standards, or cars
that replace gasoline with electricity or cellulosic ethanol and other
flex fuels. Ending the 50 cent a gallon import tax on sugar cane
ethanol from Brazil will have an immediate effect on gas prices.
To
increase our domestic oil production in the medium term, we need to
allow domestic offshore drilling, build nuclear power plants and build
new oil refineries. There is a current federal moratorium on U.S. energy
exploration and production. That might have made sense several years
ago, but not at current oil prices. In fact, most experts think oil
prices will climb even higher in the next few years due to increased
demand from China and India and higher still if there is a terrorist
incident or conflict in the Middle East. We must pass legislation
immediately to allow domestic offshore drilling in states that want it.
Nuclear power is a proven, inexpensive, and clean energy
technology, and supplies almost 20% of America's electricity. Yet we
have not built a new nuclear power plant in over 30 years. Almost 80% of
France's electricity comes from nuclear power.China, India and Russia
are all building new nuclear power plants. We need to build new nuclear
power plants in areas that want them.
Finally, we need to
invest in those technologies that will allow us to turn America's
natural resources into clean energy sources, such as clean coal.
America has one of the largest deposits of coal in the world, but
burning it for fuel emits hydrocarbons into the atmosphere and
contributes to climate change. If we develop the technology to burn
coal without those emissions, whether with carbon sequestration or
another as yet un-invented technology, we will literally solve America's energy problems. Much of our coal lies in our most
economically depressed regions. A new clean coal bonanza will
reinvigorate those communities, by developing an industry which can not
only supply America's energy needs, but which can be exported to other
coal-rich, oil-poor countries such as China.
The time for
caution is over. We can no longer tolerate this or that special
interest group vetoing national energy policy. We can no longer let
vacuous political speeches substitute for a comprehensive, significant
and effective national energy plan. If you don't like $4 per gallon
gas, just wait until it's $5 per gallon.
FamilySecurityMatters.org Contributing Editor KT McFarland is a former top Pentagon official in the Reagan Administration and a frequent television and radio commentator on national security issues and foreign affairs.
Guest columns do not necessarily reflect the views of Accuracy in Media or its staff.
8 Comments | Post a Comment
Ladytexan,
In 2002, Pres. Bush gave a speech that as part of the overall security and in preparation for Iraq War, OIL Drilling Incentives Program should be part of the overall AGENDA.
If you read the DOE’s Energy Plan since 2002, Oil Drilling has always been part of the overall strategy.
But, if see many transcripts from the Congress, you would find that ETHANOL and RENEWABLE ENERGY lobbyists made a good case for Renewables.
The lobbyists are still there....using Global Warming as the main entry. What can you do? Even you Ladytexan mentioned about your great support to the program, right? (Check some of your comments in this website) Don’t blame yourself… blame all the ads in TV and articles.
We have been made to believe that Renewables can provide all our energy needs if we invest so much on the same. Almost half of the US states now implement Renewable Portfolio Standards - the largest subsidy to renewables since 1990s thru the so called “premium” on Renewable Energy Certificates.
Renewables are of course part of the major strategy. But this is not enough.
Somehow we have to make a decision as a people whether we reduce our ECONOMY population/ consumption/ lifestyle)down to the level of third world economies(lowest energy consumption per capita) - the only way to attain Barack’s goal of Global Warming Leadership; OR, or to continue EXPANDING OUR ECONOMY with great care, as the Republican Party is proposing.
In conclusion, lobbyists are REAL and they affect our economic policies and directions.
There is no better way of doing things: Start doing our jobs as people to convince our legislators to ease the Ban on Oil drilling. As Pres. Reagan said long ago:
WE SHOULD ONLY FEAR OUR FATE AS A NATION IF WE STOP DOING NOTHING.
Ban to Oil Drilling, a liberal policy, is tantamount to Doing Nothing.
Thanks God McCain is starting to embrace his own Party’s principles, especially in the aspects of Economics.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT IS THE SADDEST THING?
IT WAS BARACK OBAMA BLATANTLY RIDICULED PRES. BUSH OF HAVING NO ENERGY POLICY.
How hypocritical! Everyone in this planet knows that Barack’s only policy is Ethanol… because he is getting some perks from these large corporations.
NO ONE IN THE MEDIA EVEN TRIED TO QUESTION THE VERACITY OF BARACK’S STATEMENT!
If we had only supported Pres. Bush plans since Day 1 as embodied in Annual DOE Energy Plan approved by the President… we would not be in this current situation.
METHINKS THAT TRUTHFULLNESS AND ACCURACY HAVE LOST THEIR SIGNIFICANCE AND MEANING IN THIS ELECTION PERIOD.
Seeker, they say ‘in war, truth is the first casualty’. They is even more so in politics and especially during the silly season of election year.
But think about this, this President got us into war, under what we now know were not the facts. You can say untruths, or you can say mistakes, but the fact is, we were led to war based on things that were not true.
Now we can believe that this President was ‘duped’ by the intelligence community, that the intelligence community was ‘duped’ by Saddam’s rhetoric, and that Congress was ‘duped’ by the PResident and that’s how it happened. Or you can conclude that this Congress has given this President many, many of the things he has wanted - such as the war, the Patriot Act. They have also been totally bi-partisan in our suicidal border policies. They have worked together for many of the trade deals that have hurt this country. They have been silent and inactive together, concerning the dangerous products that are being imported - food and products from China, food from Mexico, etc.
I’m inclined to believe if this President really, truly intended for drilling to take place, it would have.
Yes, I do think we should drill, but I do not not think it should result in stopping a full scale push to develop alternative energy. Also, I do think both so called parties are playing fast and loose with the truth and with the people of this country.
Is it true there is oil under Gull Island? Oil that could be on line within a year - rather than 5 years? I don’t know, but I think it is worth discussing.
I don’t think anyone believes that renewable or alternative energy, now, can sustain all our needs - maybe not for a long time. I have never heard that. We do know it won’t if it isn’t developed - any more than the oil under Alaska, Gull Island, etc. will do us no good until it is developed.
The fact is, renewable energy - solar, wind, and others are in their infancy as far as applications to individuals, or large scale. When they first discovered petroleum - many people cursed it because it ‘ruined their land’. It was used for very few things. Look, now, at all the many applications for petroleum. That is because it was researched, developed, and put into practice. I don’t think we will have alternative energy as long as politicians have so much financial interest in the oil industry.
Quite frankly, I don’t think alternative energy will happen until big business can control it’s use and keep us buying from them.
Imagine how badly any utility company, any oil company DOES NOT want houses in areas where it can be used, to be totally self-sufficient with solar and/or wind power?
Think how they do not want cities to generate electricity from their garbage and run their vehicles and public transportation on electricity - again?
Think how badly they do not want farmers being able to generate methane and run their vehicles on methane from their own farm waste?
Does anyone think they are going to allow that to happen?
Not unless someone with enough money and enough independence makes it available at prices people can afford.
Granted individuals could do more for themselves in that area. I’m thinking out there in this country, there are tinkerers in their garages that are coming up with very good ways to do this. These will never even be made public, except to be presented as some flake or nutjob - not as long as our media is a corporate media and oil and utilitiy companies have such power.
I am not a fan of Obama (Nobama), I am petrified of the man, but if he does have an interest in renewable energy - how is that different from our very own Pres. and VP. They ARE oil people.
We do agree on lobbyists. I think lobbying should be illegal. I think any elected official talking with one should be censored - the second time should loose his/her position, if they take goodies, they should serve some real time in a real prison. But that would include the oil, pharmceutical, farm (agribusiness), etc., lobbyists.
Actually, I thought President Bush was all in favor of ethanol - was I wrong? If he wasn’t in favor and Congress was forcing the issue, then why didn’t he go to the people with the facts. Why didn’t he tell us that using corn and other grain for ethanol would cause the price of food, and other related things to increase drastically? Why weren’t we told the facts about ethanol and how much it wasn’t really an alternative?
No, I’m thinking we are being ‘treated’ to a charade. I think when we get desperate enough, we will be willing to accept anything - even the Saudis doing the drilling - or some such thing, or God forbid, with China having an interest in it.
The idea that alternative energy can’t be developed or that we will never be able to use it in any amount just seems unreal to me. This world and our nation has developed magnificent things in this century. To suppose that we are not capable of developing alternative energy and practical, individual, and large scale, applications for it just makes no sense. It’s seems as if everyone is buying the idea that we no longer have the ability to create wonderful things. I just don’t think so.
You know, I’m thinking if tomorrow, some company announced they could completely outfit a home with solar power, making it self-reliant, for a mere pittance, it wouldn’t be accepted. I’m thinking the spin would begin and one side would label it a ‘liberal idea that won’t work or may be an attempt to embarrass the Republicans’, or it would be labelled, ‘a Republican idea that will keep the poor people from being self-sufficient’.
We would, as usual, fight with each other and forget the issue involved.
Ladytexan,
Thanks for the clarification.
I too believe that Renewables should be explored and utilised whenever possible. My rationale: economics. Using that as benchmark, you cannot do something about the intermittency of renewables (except for hydro and large-biomass power), you will always need traditional fuels and technologies (storage such batteries for PV) to make their truly useful. We enjoy RE techs generally because of traditional technologies including oil and coal. Coal and natural gas are still your baseloaders. I am a Energy and Power Engineer and I know the limitations of these technologies.
Oil drilling, I favor most given the conditions now. My rationale: economics and finance. An average American should understand that price elasticity of oil products is low. And even at US$6/gallon, I am sure that consumption will fall by the same proportion (50% reduction). I am speaking of today’s scenario.
Why? How many times did I hear Democrats laughed at the idea of oil drilling in “areas with profitable reserves”. How many times did I hear about Ethanol program, promoting it to the public and young people, and so on. Please admit that information dissemination has never been balanced especially in 2005.
On War on Iraq and WMD: Yes, it was Bush’ fault! But not his fault alone - the entire Congress. Didn’t you calculate the period took by this Government before deciding to War? 1 year. And how? All information are out there in the World… even to your own Enemy Saddam. UN strategy of “threats” to Saddam Hussein started since 1990’s.
Do you really believe that Arab leaders and their minions don’t talk to each other? Have been in Mecca? Do you know the universal camaraderie of these people? THINK OF THE PERIOD, Ladytexan. Even in WW1 and WW2, it took only a matter of days for the Germans and Japanese to make their moves against information they received.
Would you believe that nothing really going on with the borders of Iraq? WMD didn’t exist - is one theory. Think of the possibilities: OR IT COULD BE TRANSFERRED - plans, the engineering blueprints, the components, people with technical know how. I’ve been in ME and I know the realities within the ground. If you’ve been there, you would know how underground/black markets are operating, how things are traded and exchanged, how people within borders have de facto understanding of each other. Look at the issue: Why would Iran get its technology from North Korea or USSR, too far away. I don’t want to give specific because I myself did not do the “complete staff work” to dig the facts. But you can hear and observe.
My point is this: “WMD components and blueprints of Iraq did exist” even up to 2001. Where is it now IS THE ISSUE AMERICA SHOULD ALSO PUT INTO HER MIND. Giving up on the idea could be disastrous. Some diggings had to be made. Instead of immediately reducing the troop presence in 2005, the military and CIA should have uncovered what really happened.
Your Premise in Iraq is what most Americans generally believe. Maybe you also listened to talk shows, to speeches in Congress, and MSM.
Example: Pelosi. SHE BLAMED BUSH for everything. According to her, It was Bush who convinced her that there was WMD in Iraq. IS IT FAIR, Ladytexan?
Please recall it that WMD of Saddam Hussein was the main topic of Bill Clinton’s administration in 1998. Let me remind you of her WARMONGERING (Democrats’ language):
December 16, 1998 – Nancy Pelosi opined:
“As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I am keenly aware that the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons is an issue of grave importance to all nations. Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process.”
She was an early believer after all, even befor Bush presidency.
JUST GOT THAT FROM A WEBSITE. I GUESS EACH OF US NOW SHOULD GO TO NATIONAL LIBRARY AND CHECK ALL THE SPEECHES OF THESE ANTI-WAR FLIP FLOPPERS.
MY POINT IS THIS: If we start blaming the President, then let’s go back since WW2 from FDR, Truman, JFK, Lyndon - and see the real threat. At least Bush gave had a good warning sign, 9/11.
Conclusion: Your statement whether this person lied in the past and made us gullible is so unproductive. Democrats are indeed “REVISIONISTS” at a wrong time, if not shabby liars. Sadly, Americans like you Ladytexans have short memory.
Correction:
An average American should understand that price elasticity of oil products is low. And even at US$6/gallon, I am sure that consumption will NOT fall by the same proportion (50% reduction). I am speaking of today’s scenario.
ADDITION:
You will still use oil even at US$10/gallon. DO SOMETHING NOW INSTEAD OF WAITING. Obama’s statement “even if we start now, it will not affect even in 6 years” is the kind of anticipation that will put America in the most dangerous situation.
WE DON’T NEED HOPE… WE NEED ACTION NOW.
Same is true for War on Terror.
Seeker, This is the third time, they keep telling me I haven’t typed ‘the secret word’ correctly.
It is a fact that alternative energy will not fill all our needs now. It is a fact that our technology is limited - though not as limited, I’m thinking, as we are being told.
I remember the telephone from being an oak box on the wall. You twisted a handle and told Myrtle to connect you with Mary, or you used that handle and rang one long and two shorts to get Mary, if you were on a party line. I now see my son with an instrument smaller than a cigarette pack, being able to talk to practically any country in the world, and it’s a computer as well.
That’s in a relatively short span of time. Had we started developing alternative energy in the 70’s, I’m thinking we would be nearer the small instrument doing great things than we would be to the big oak box on the wall.
Yes, it will have to be built using present day technology, etc. That is no different from the steps from that oak box, connected to the phone lines to the present day cell phone. You use what you have and build on it. But if no one had wanted to improve things, we’d still be asking Myrtle to connect us to Mary.
The war - no I don’t have a short memory. I have known of the machinations that we have done in the ME, for over 50 years.
Saddam was a bloodthirsty tyrant when he was our ‘tyrant’ that we supported so he might fight his neighbor, Iran. We were not then concerned that he brutalized his own people or that Iraq wasn’t a democracy. To use that as an excuse to invade Iraq - rings untrue.
I hope I have never given the impression I didn’t think the Democrats worked hand in glove to get this invasion. They just had different lines in the charade.
Yes, Ms. Albright went all over the country talking about Saddam and using the phrase ‘weapons of mass destruction’. She used that in every other sentence. It was almost a mantra.
All that says to me is that this admimistration is not the first to use Saddam as a boogeyman. Didn’t Pres. Clinton bomb Iraq once?? As I remember some ‘conservatives’ at the time thought it might be timely to divert attention from one of the scandals brewing.
So now we are fighting a war in Iraq and I can’t for the life of me, understand how it is supposed to stop terrorism. It is a war that is draining this country and while we are focusing on that, destructive things are happening in this country.
At the same time, China is becoming more and more THE world power - economically and militarily. China is a communist country. They haven’t backtracked from that one iota. Just me, but I’m thinking communism might be more of a threat than Islamic nutjobs.
So we continue thinking it is OK for this country to wage a war on money borrowed from China, and continue to import goods from China. We continue to drain our economy so China can build up theirs, and we work to give them unprecedented access to this country through the superhighway. They will be able to come into this country, bring whatever they want into a Mexican facility - and won’t be checked until some time later.
Does anyone else see a disconnect there?
If we wanted to talk short memories, we might talk about the number of servicemen in this country that died fighting communism. We might ask ourselves why now the people of this country are so willing to believe that some rag tag Islamics are the greater threat to us.
If you read all the posts about Obama being a communist, you would think that was what this country most fears. Yet, never a thought about the fact that China is communist and how we are making China very powerful.
I agree - we need hope. We won’t get that by business as usual or in blind belief in some politician or some mythical political idealogy.
We need action now - we are not getting it from the politicians. The action we are getting is not one that helps this country - just the opposite.
I’m ready to begin the war on terror. I’m thinking we need to do a better job of identifying the true ‘terrorists’, though.
I just heard a blurb from a speech by some congressperson that China is drilling off the shore of Cuba, perhaps as close as 50 miles from US shores!!!!
June 27 at 4:16 pm | #1 | Link
This all sounds good except the coal.
Extracting coal, as least surface mining, destroys a lot of land. It destroys trees needed for cleaning the air, it destroys the underground water table for shallow water. There is some land that was ‘reclaimed’ over 30 years ago and looks beautiful, but still cannot be used for food production.
Coal extraction needs to be rethought in places that has the soil and rainfall for food production.
Also, the idea that some ‘special interest’ group is what is stalling our drilling may be a charade that is being put on for our benefit. If our government had truly wanted to drill, they could have made it clear to the US people that we needed to do this.
This administration is very persuasive when they choose to be and I’m thinking they only half-heartedly tried to get this done.