George Rebane
It isn’t clear whether we should laugh or cry. But here we are, for the first time since 1949 we will be a net exporter of petroleum products this year. The accompanying figure filched from the WSJ shows that exports started increasing during Bush2’s reign (recall Bush2 was an oilman). Unfortunately, our exports are exceeding our imports because our economy has tanked, and is still mired in the mud (more here).
We used to use about 25M bbl/day; now it’s closer to 20M bbl/day. Today we still import about 9M bbl/day. Five years ago our becoming a net exporter was unthinkable. Now we export the equivalent of about 9M bbl/day because the developing world is fuel hungry, and bidding up prices enough to make sense to send it there instead of consuming it here. Meanwhile, we are wound up tightly in our underwear still trying to figure out an energy policy while the delay continues to kill and deny jobs, and at the same time substituting polluting ‘green’ energies that make no economic sense whatsoever.
It brings a tear to me eye to think about Obama sabotaging the Keystone XL pipeline project from Canada to Texas refineries which are the most modern and efficient in the world. To think about all the corn that is going into engine-corroding biofuels that reduce no one’s carbon footprint, and only raise food prices here and among the poor of the world. To contemplate all the Chevy Volts driven by propagandized dolts. Now there is a piece of work. In actuality it is a coal-driven car that gets no more range from its iffy battery than did the Roberts electric car more than a century ago.
No one dares contemplate the number of coal-fired electricity generating plants we have to build if the government forces us into those IEDs – yes, these Inadvertent Explosive Devices are bursting into flames and GM has now recommended that they not be driven until it can figure out why they spontaneously combust. The under-educated greenies have apparently overlooked the total pollution and cost budgets required to field any significant number of ‘clean energy’ vehicles. ‘Clean’ ain’t cleaner, and it most certainly is not cheaper.
So here we are, anticipating an economy on its butt for the remainder of the decade that will make us a net energy exporter for the first time in 62 years. I keep wondering whether all this occurs by accident or does someone in Washington really know what’s going on. Oh yes, I forgot that we do have the Department of Energy – what was I thinking?
Meanwhile, we are still trying to ram manmade global warming down the country’s throat. An enterprise that is now shown corrupt from every angle you care to look at it. (More here, and also see NC2012 for a fuller and ongoing account of this national trail of tears.)
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