Is More Oil the Answer?

Posted Monday, November 19, 2007, at 1:42 PM

So I am reading this story from The Christian Science Monitor on Yahoo! today and I can't help but wonder why the United States is not already working hard to fix our dependence on oil. The story talks about America's good friends Hugo Chavez and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and how they set up a two billion dollar anti-US fund and Saudi Arabia's warning of $200 a barrel oil if the US attacks Iran.

Personally I don't blame OPEC for the current situation. It does appear that production is at a reasonable rate, and I am sure that India and China are using more oil than they ever have in the past, driving demand through the roof. We in the United States haven't really done our part either. Many of us continue to drive 14 mile to the gallon gas guzzlers and then wonder why the price is so high, me included.

It is strange to me that our leaders cannot identify a problem as large as oil. Everyday we send billions and billions of dollars to our enemies. These enemies make open threats to us and our allies. They do not have to hide their threats to America, because they know that they are in control of the situation. We know that our economy could be crippled if a country like Saudi Arabia decides that they no longer wish to sell their oil to us. We know that oil and gasoline have byproducts that harm our planet. All of these things staring us in the face and we have done next to nothing to move away from oil.

Recently it was reported that researchers at Penn State University developed a process to convert one unit of electricity into three units of hydrogen gas. This would be a near limitless source of energy and the only byproduct would be water. I really hope that the story I read was accurate and that it is all true, we need it now more than ever. I wish our leaders would stop spending money elsewhere and instead invest in the technology and infrastructure to make hydrogen powered automobiles a reality in the US. What good can come of continuing to financially support our enemies? This is a defense, economic, environmental, and political issue that can no longer be ignored.

Comments
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Good blog Nathan. Thanks for bringing that to our attention.

There is no doubt that we have to move away from oil and coal to a more renewable source of energy. Now seems like a perfect time to do it and many opposing sides can take heart in this finding.

Take away the dollars in oil and you stop funding the terrorist prone nations. Stop funding terrorists and their power dwindles and we do not have to fight a war to defeat them. Of course, being the Americans we are, we will end up feeding them, but we already do that.

Start using renewable and much cleaner sources of energy and we help create a more sustainable future for our upcoming generations. These bacteria could be used to reduce landfills as well!

Sounds like a win, win with more winners to follow. I realize that this is a simplistic outline of "pie in the sky" world, but it sounds like some of it could work.

What a promising development from a University!!!

-- Posted by stevemills on Mon, Nov 19, 2007, at 2:17 PM

Hydrogen Fuel Cells have been developed for several years and several cities have buses that run off this technology.

Oil is most certainly not the answer for this country. In fact I believe it will be our downfall if our leaders, who the vast majority of them , own stock in oil or they get kickbacks from oil companies to keep this nation from investing in more R & D for alternative energy.

I hate to say it, but I hope that Oil & Gas goes through the roof , so it will be economically feasible for other technologies to be used. They will be more expensive at first, but as more people move to it and more vehicles are mass produced that use it, then it will be cheaper. I saw a commercial the other day about Honda coming out with a fuel cell car.

We need to find these other fuels use them and kick ALL OPEC countries to the curb. Then lets charge them higher prices for food and water and mind our own business at home and keep our money in the USA, which also means no more foreign aid for those tyrants.

William

-- Posted by HorseGentler on Mon, Nov 19, 2007, at 2:23 PM

One thing to remember about our 15 MPG gas guzzlers is they can be developed by the factories to get much better gas mileage than they do. I hear they can make a tire last over 100,000 miles, spark plugs that never need replacing also. They just choose not to do it. If they can make an engine run a car 200 mph, then they can develop an engine with close to the same power and tune it to get good mileage. Maybe I'm wrong on this, let me know if so.

-- Posted by ILOVEBEDFORDCO on Mon, Nov 19, 2007, at 3:02 PM

Making more fuel efficient engines would help, but it doesn't remove our dependency on foreign oil. I truly believe that America has the capability to create a renewable energy source that can replace oil and cost less. This project should be ushered in like the space race of the 60's or the civil engineering projects of the 30's. The revolution from developing a renewable, clean energy source would cause change for the better throughout the world. The revolution that results from doing nothing will not be as enjoyable.

-- Posted by nathan.evans on Mon, Nov 19, 2007, at 4:12 PM

Just like there is a cure for many very devestating diseases, but in the name of profit most will not be releases, since we are so accustomed to the same addictions... Oil is no different than prescription drugs, they both serve a huge purpose in the lives of American people, the companies that produce them have CEOs who are multi billionaires, and Congress is lying in bed with them, so our dependence on oil, is slowly killing the U.S. Most people, with the exception of Nathan, myself and a few others are highly unaware that plastics and many other househald tangibles involve petroleum as a raw material. It isn't just gasoline that is going to go through the roof, it is every product that has plastic wrapping, or that needs to be shipped (using oil to get it to and from)...

I am all for energy independence, and it is probably available, but the media is paid not to share too much information, because after all, most people don't take the time to research it on their own. A very unfortunate wake-up call is looming, not doom and gloom like many depict, but it will probably bring the economy to a screeching hault, as you mentioned and it will remind us, that our government says it's fighting terrorism while one of our top importers is a harborer of terrorists, and the minute those folks decide to halt production, they in essence are much more powerful than American could ever be. I feel like, if we can't get away from oil and seek better, more renewable sources, we will see the U.S. invade more nations under the fear slogan known as "terrorism", all because we didn't switch to renewable, cleaner energy when they warning signs, clearly told us to!

-- Posted by darrick_04 on Tue, Nov 20, 2007, at 8:06 AM

The problem with most alternative sources is currently the differential between what it costs to produce and what you get is too small. Oil is realtively cheap to extract and refine (especially if you don't bother to build new refineries for 30 years) and it's abundant. If the US were to tap into it's own "in the ground" oil, we'd be a top 5 oil producer and exporter. Current environmental laws don't allow for the bulk of our oil to be extracted.

Having said that, alternative power production is vital to national interest. I agree with William (still have a hard time calling you "William" :) that the goal should be to kick OPEC to the curb. I think the answer lies somewhere in between with increased domestic production as well as alternative sources. Building houses with in-grid solar, flex fuel vehicles etc are a good start. First and foremost though, this country has to come up with a comprehensive energy policy to direct utilities as well as helping to fund research. We haven't had a comprehensive energy policy in my lifetime and we are now paying the piper.

-- Posted by Tim Baker on Tue, Nov 20, 2007, at 9:05 AM

I agree with William (still have a hard time calling you "William" :)

-- Posted by Tim Baker on Tue, Nov 20, 2007, at 9:05 AM

Don't feel alone I have a hard time calling you Doc :)-

-- Posted by HorseGentler on Tue, Nov 20, 2007, at 10:49 AM

LOL it's only because you know me :)

-- Posted by Tim Baker on Tue, Nov 20, 2007, at 9:39 PM