Why are we still supporting big oil?

Question

Estimates of the cost of producing liquid fuels from coal suggest that domestic U.S. production of fuel from coal becomes cost-competitive with oil priced at around 35 USD per barrel!!! I'm sure there are other more environmentally friendly methods of producing fuel that could be enacted(other than coal)!!! What are we waiting on?

Answer 1

Environmentalists freak out when you mention liquid coal as a power source. Theres your answer.

Oil is not expensive because of the oil companies its expensive because of government intervention, attempted price regulation, and rabid environmentalism. We are at a critical point where if we lose 1 refinery we can't produce enough oil for our demands to be met, causing the price to skyrocket. Expect 8 dollar a gallon gas in the near future if we don't build more refineries, reduce our number of blends of gas, do more oil production from tar sands, and oil shale, and explore more offshore regions for oil.

Answer 2

The answer, unfortunately, is that a transition is expensive and will take a bite out of profits for a while, and that will never be allowed.

Above, poster niccolassc identifies a fuel source with some good bang for the buck.

To me, the answer is a more diverse and well orchestrated energy base.

In coastal regions tidal power and ocean thermal conversion can provide abundant energy for towns and cities. Inland, where suitable, go hydroelectric. Encourage local industries to make solar, wind and geothermal...

Use heavy duty production plants more sparsely, and where they do not impact too heavily on the quality of environment.

The well thought out mix of existing technologies can serve us perfectly well. But as I say there would have to be a period, perhaps ten years, where the big corporations would be willing to get their heads out of short term profits.

It's called building an infrastructure for the 21st Century.

Trust me, if it doesn't happen, will be living in 19th century conditions and worse before long.


___________

GSP4 claims that Bush tried to promote hydrogen fuel, and it's a fact he made a speech about it.

But then he, not the Dems, failed to provide any incentive to fund any of it.

He's good at that kind of speechifying.

Answer 3

You don't have the complete history of synfuels. General Electric and other companies estimate that $35 per barrel is the break even point. They want the US government to guarantee that price, or they won't spend the billions to build the plants.
In the 1970's, after the oil embargo, a company was formed to produce synfuels. Saudi Arabia put them out of business by pumping more oil and lowering the price to $16 per barrel.
The US government cannot guarantee a price floor to any business. Can you imagine the screaming from left wing liberal loonies if we tried that?

Answer 4

Oil shale is very very dirty - it produces not only the standard pollutants when processed - it also makes heavy metals and other nasty waste that is very expensive to filter and dispose.

The good news is there is lots of it here in the US, and it's relatively cheap to mine.

I'm sure that when it is able to be handled correctly, and economically competitive - it will begin being available.

Answer 5

because we cant convince nancy pelosi that energy exploration credits are needed to obtain new sources. wind and water are fine, but businesses operate with a profit incentive and when you eliminate tax credits as ms pelosi wants to in favor of farm aid and when you restrict land usage as clinton did with the montana land grab, the development of new sources becomes next to impossible. liberal extremists forget so quickly that government creates no invention or creativity, small business does. when you stifle it with burdensome regulation and confiscatory tax rates for failed tax and spend schemes as the pelosi/reid regime has and says we have no choice but to do...(EXACT QUOTE AP WIRE) this is the result. tax and spend simply doesnt work and you cant stimulate the inventive nature of the american people when you make it non productive to do so.

Answer 6

The oil companies and their profits is what we are waiting on. Guess who has been buying up all clean fuel technology patents. BIG OIL! They never want them to see the light of day!

Answer 7

Looks to me like only one person answered your question right. Until we are willing to pedal or take an ox cart to work big oil, is going to stay big. Bush early in his presidency tried to invest millions of dollars in hydrogen technology research, but the Democrats stymied his efforts.

Answer 8

I'm afraid if you drive a car that uses fossil fuels you are supporting big oil.

Answer 9

Because Bush makes big $$$$ off of oil. You can tell when they seem like they aren't moving too quickly to find other fuel sources.

Answer 10

I like to drink gasoline straight from the pump!