diesel fumes problem at Rensselaer?

[dakotafred]

schlimm

henry6

However, we have an energy cartel in this country which continues to hold us to coal and oil because 1) their investment nest eggs are there and, 2) they don't want to think nor want us to think, they don't want our politicians to think anything else. Politicians are afraid of change. Energy companies are afraid of losing lots of change if we went with more rail and more electric rail.

How true!!  In the US alone, the proven reserves of oil, coal and natural gas are worth in today's dollars $28.5 trillion.  Canada another $20.2 trillion.  If anyone thinks for one second the companies that control such assets are going to look favorably at conservation and developing sustainable sources, i.e., anything that reduces the value of their assets, "there are several fine old bridges I can offer you quite cheaply."

 

Schlimm has just demonstrated why not just the energy companies but all U.S. residents should be rooting for development of these reserves. It's called going with our strength, as opposed to being held up by a lot of foreign crazies or waiting for that remote day that new technologies are capable of replacing  -- I said replacing -- fossil fuels.

 

That day is surely not yet. Although, Henry notwithstanding, most North Dakota utilities -- can't speak for his -- are getting into wind as backup and (no doubt) a genuflection toward modern public relations. 

 

 

[henry6]

But our strength could just choke us all to death! Lots to say against keeping the status quo in energy use and its not just the environment either. We've got to move with solar, wind, and other energies and not be behind the rest of the world choking on our own stupidity and greed.

[schlimm]

dakotafred

Schlimm has just demonstrated why not just the energy companies but all U.S. residents should be rooting for development of these reserves. It's called going with our strength, as opposed to being held up by a lot of foreign crazies or waiting for that remote day that new technologies are capable of replacing  -- I said replacing -- fossil fuels.

More and more corporate interests, as well as landowners with holdings on coasts, are realizing we have a lot more to lose by continuing to feed the greed of the oil companies.   And the interim report to the UN emphasizes electric generation, including not only using renewables, but also nuclear and natural gas and coal using carbon capture and sequestration strategies already developed. 

[JT22CW]

henry6

But our strength could just choke us all to death! Lots to say against keeping the status quo in energy use and its not just the environment either. We've got to move with solar, wind, and other energies and not be behind the rest of the world choking on our own stupidity and greed

No nation ever choked to death by its strength.  Always by weakness do nations fall.

The USA is anything but "behind the rest of the world" in terms of what energy sources we and they use. Putting faith in "renewables" that are not is what may choke a nation's economy.  Not even Germany, who (depending on the source) often boasts use of solar for over 50 percent of its power needs (a much-debated figure), can do without conventional power sources, whether coal, oil or natural gas.

The entire world is troubled by both stupidity (a term with a very loose definition) and greed.  Those countries whose philosophy is based on anything having to do with Marx or the Fabian Society are more troubled by those problems than those whose philosophy is not.  What is holding the USA back behind anyone else in the world is the failure to develop our resources—and that is the only fact that can be cited here.