Everything that I've been saying and posting in various citations is all here. If you understand anything about Peak Oil by now, you will understand the administrations actions. They know about this stuff...and I find it funny just how in the dark just about everyone else in the US is about it!
Bush pushes nuclear power
ENERGY: President says nuclear power is a long-term solution, but offers no short-term relief plan
BY RON HUTCHESON AND SETH BORENSTEIN
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
WASHINGTON -- Faced with growing public discontent over high gas prices, President Bush offered some new ideas Wednesday for meeting the nation's energy needs but said he couldn't provide any quick relief.
Speaking at a Small Business Administration conference, Bush hailed nuclear power as part of a long-term solution to the nation's energy challenge and outlined plans to encourage construction of oil refineries and facilities for storing liquefied natural gas. Experts said the proposals might help ease America's fuel pinch in the long run, but wouldn't break the nation's reliance on fossil fuels or foreign oil.
"I fully understand that many folks around this country are concerned about the high price of gasoline," Bush told a friendly audience in a Washington hotel ballroom. "We're doing everything we can to make sure our consumers are treated fairly, that there is no price gouging."
Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, said he would incorporate Bush's new proposals in the energy measure now before the chamber. This bill includes a proposal to allow oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska as well as tax incentives for new energy technologies and energy production.
Bush, whose aides blame high oil and gasoline prices for his sagging poll numbers, has expressed concern about gas costs three times in the past week. On Monday, he encouraged Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to help keep prices down by expanding crude-oil production during a meeting at the president's Texas ranch.
But there isn't much he can do about prices at the pump, at least in the short term. Independent energy experts said it would be several years -- if ever -- before Americans could see any benefit from Bush's proposals.
Last year, imports accounted for nearly 58 percent of the 20.5 million barrels of oil used each day, according to the Energy Department. Only about a third of the country's oil came from imports in 1973 when the Arab oil embargo prompted long lines at gas stations.
The biggest controversy may erupt over Bush's proposal to direct federal agencies to consider letting petrochemical companies convert closed military bases into oil refineries. Critics focused on his pledge to simplify regulations governing the expansion of refineries.
Courts have blocked the administration's attempts to ease a rule that required refineries and coal power plants to add up-to-date pollution controls when expanding a plant.
Refiners say the requirement discourages plant expansion that would boost refining capacity, ease fuel shortages and lower prices. Environmentalists worry that dropping the requirement would lead to more pollution.
Industry leaders said it is not clear that companies would want to build new refineries because the business historically has not been highly profitable. While demand and profit margins are high now, companies are not convinced those margins will remain high enough to justify new refineries.
Still, industry representatives said Bush's proposal sends a positive message and helps allay concerns over finding suitable locations for refineries. "You ought to encourage the people who want to take the risk and this does that," said Bob Slaughter, president of the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association.
Bush's plan to increase supplies of liquefied natural gas would give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, not state regulators, final approval over plans for new terminals to receive shipments of liquefied natural gas. Natural gas turns into a liquid when it's chilled to minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit, making it easier to ship.
Liquefied natural gas terminals often encounter strong opposition because of fears of explosion or terrorist attack. Although most of the more than 40 proposed liquefied natural gas terminals are clustered along the Texas Gulf Coast, others are planned for Philadelphia; Providence, R.I.; Long Island Sound, N.Y.; Pleasant Point, Maine; and Coos Bay, Ore.
The Bush plan also calls for providing a new incentive to build nuclear power plants by reducing the "uncertainty in the licensing process" and providing "federal risk insurance to mitigate the additional cost of unforeseen delays."
Industry analysts questioned whether this would be enough to spur construction. Investors have been leery of the upfront costs needed to build a nuclear plant compared with other forms of electricity production.
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The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and Associated Press contributed to this report.
A few tidbits I found interesting in this article...
Speaking at a Small Business Administration conference, Bush hailed nuclear power as part of a long-term solution to the nation's energy challenge and outlined plans to encourage construction of oil refineries and facilities for storing liquefied natural gas. Experts said the proposals might help ease America's fuel pinch in the long run, but wouldn't break the nation's reliance on fossil fuels or foreign oil.
The Bush plan for Peak Oil is drill for more oil and gas, weaken pollution regulations so we can burn more fossil fuels, stabilize regions where we can get more oil and gas, built a crapload of nuclear plants, and attempt the very expensive and very dangerous process of shipping LGN. The experts are right, none of this will break our reliance on fossil fuels. More on nuclear power in a bit...
The biggest controversy may erupt over Bush's proposal to direct federal agencies to consider letting petrochemical companies convert closed military bases into oil refineries. Critics focused on his pledge to simplify regulations governing the expansion of refineries.
This will be a big waste of money and is actually collosally stupid in the long run. In 15-20 years, oil will be so expensive that these things are probably going to be abandoned. They will make our Presidents friends and family a lot of money in the short term though...the land is free and it is accessible to many large population areas. A very attractive deal...
Also, it is interesting to note that most of these old military bases are superfund sites. Putting a refinery on these areas pretty much ensures that the land will never spring back or be useful to humans again.
The Bush plan also calls for providing a new incentive to build nuclear power plants by reducing the "uncertainty in the licensing process" and providing "federal risk insurance to mitigate the additional cost of unforeseen delays."
Industry analysts questioned whether this would be enough to spur construction. Investors have been leery of the upfront costs needed to build a nuclear plant compared with other forms of electricity production.
For one thing, fissile material is also a non-renewable resource. It will run out too. What then? Building nuclear plants will only be a short term fix for Peak Oil, but it will leaves some very long term consequences. The waste produced is highly dangerous and will outlive us by thousands of years. The amount of waste that will be produced if we try to provide for our countries energy needs with fissile energy will be absolutely staggering...
And the laughable plan of this administration is to put it in a hollowed out mountain that is criss-crossed with active faults. In fact, every few years, Yucca mountain, the entire mountain, jumps on a system of normal faults. The land around Yucca mountain is literally tearing itself apart! Reno Nevada and Salt Lake City Utah have been measured by sattalite to be moving away from each other! Some of this nuclear waste will be dangerous for millions of years! I cannot even begin to rant at how utterly stupid this is!
Our energy glut in this country is so bad that we will have to build a crapload of these things in order to keep up. This will take a long time and it will be very expensive. A nuclear power plant takes years to build. You can't rush this kind of technology. It may take 15 years before some of these plants can come online to relieve the energy shortage.
Meanwhile we have an infrastructure that depends on oil. We have a fleet of cars, trucks, ships, airplains, tractors etc that need oil. The price of oil is going to rise and rise and rise and nothing is being done to convert this over to electric...and somethings can't be converted to electric. Can you imagine an electric 747?
The Bush plan is truly a Hail Mary. They are hoping the high gas prices don't tank the economy before they can get this thing off the ground. Fat chance. Our Wal-Mart way of life depends on oil. Everything you buy somehow has the price of oil worked into it. High oil prices will raise the prices of everything in this country!
A much better solution in my opinion is to invest in building a new infrastructure now. Invest in alternative energy sources. PUSH FOR CONSERVATION!!!!! These are the only real solutions that will make a difference.
Our entire way of life depends on oil and wasting energy. This will not continue. Our leaders are making decisions about a gargantuan problem that very few people even know about. These decisions will make our leaders and their friends money hand over fist, but it will end up hurting everyone in the long run.
We are right now wasting our money and our time for the benefit of the few. Is it any wonder why some people who know about this have taken on a "glood and doom" attitude?
upnorthkyosa
