Rick Murray
Why the need for a national energy plan
By Rick Murray
Once again the American people are mad about energy as gas prices climb ever higher. The call for drilling is being renewed. Sen. Roy Blunt recently submitted a bill to limit CAFE standards as an effort to reduce prices at the pump. But what no one is discussing is the total package, a true, comprehensive national energy plan with the goal of making our country completely energy independent in ten years or less.
Eight years ago, a private group embarked on a massive study to come up with a real, workable plan. The group consisted of representatives from all aspects of the energy industry, including people representing alternative fuels. Also included were scientists and economists. Nothing at the time of this study was overlooked, even the environment.
Among the proposed solutions was the obvious, at least to the study panel. Drill now. Open closed wells. Shale, sand, and more need to be expanded. (At the time, it was recommended more study into this, especially the fracking process with a close eye on water supplies.) Eliminate or at least reduce CAFE standards, as they really do nothing more than increase the costs at the pump by making refineries shut down several times each year to change blends.
Build more nuclear power plants and allow for recycling fuel rods and other sources for used nuclear fuel such as warheads that have been retired. Clean coal is not an oxymoron. It should be used to its full capacity until enough nuclear plants can be built to offset the need. Technology exists to trap carbon emissions which can be used in many other forms to include being pumped into tapped wells to bring unreachable oil deposits to the surface where it can be used.
We need more refining capacity immediately. We have not built a new refinery in over 30 years. Existing refineries cannot keep up with demand, and eventually they will break down for good. There are some refineries that had broken ground and started construction. Immediately allow them to be built and issue permits for more. Existing refineries need to be rebuilt and expanded. Allow them to do it.
Many other forms of fuel need to be used and/or expanded to include solar, wind, hydrogen, algae, and much more. Everything at the time was looked at.
Part of the problem according to sources, especially in wind and solar, is government subsidies which, they say, actually hold back expansion. Rather than encouraging ways to make these technologies more affordable while maximizing efficiency, the subsidies encourage high prices to be offset by taxpayer dollars. End all subsidies on all fuels, and force all energy forms to compete with each other in a fair and open market.
Other changes need to be made to include possibly ending the EPA and making serious reforms to the Department Of Energy and other departments such as the http://www.eere.energy.gov/. Changes in the way things such as oil and gas are marketed need to be addressed, as well, to allow for domestic supplies to be sold in this country for our use first, and surpluses then being allowed to be sold on the world markets.
The economic panel also cited many of the benefits of instituting such a plan. For one, if Congress showed they are serious about making our country energy independent, OPEC would immediately respond by increasing output, thereby lowering prices. In addition, once the plan starts, thousands of jobs will be very quickly created to accommodate the drilling and construction. In other words, a real national energy plan would jump-start the economy and last for many years.
Another aspect is national security. In addition to many other factors, world events would have little or no affect on our energy prices or availability.
So why is there not even a real national debate on this?
© Rick Murray
March 14, 2011
Once again the American people are mad about energy as gas prices climb ever higher. The call for drilling is being renewed. Sen. Roy Blunt recently submitted a bill to limit CAFE standards as an effort to reduce prices at the pump. But what no one is discussing is the total package, a true, comprehensive national energy plan with the goal of making our country completely energy independent in ten years or less.
Eight years ago, a private group embarked on a massive study to come up with a real, workable plan. The group consisted of representatives from all aspects of the energy industry, including people representing alternative fuels. Also included were scientists and economists. Nothing at the time of this study was overlooked, even the environment.
Among the proposed solutions was the obvious, at least to the study panel. Drill now. Open closed wells. Shale, sand, and more need to be expanded. (At the time, it was recommended more study into this, especially the fracking process with a close eye on water supplies.) Eliminate or at least reduce CAFE standards, as they really do nothing more than increase the costs at the pump by making refineries shut down several times each year to change blends.
Build more nuclear power plants and allow for recycling fuel rods and other sources for used nuclear fuel such as warheads that have been retired. Clean coal is not an oxymoron. It should be used to its full capacity until enough nuclear plants can be built to offset the need. Technology exists to trap carbon emissions which can be used in many other forms to include being pumped into tapped wells to bring unreachable oil deposits to the surface where it can be used.
We need more refining capacity immediately. We have not built a new refinery in over 30 years. Existing refineries cannot keep up with demand, and eventually they will break down for good. There are some refineries that had broken ground and started construction. Immediately allow them to be built and issue permits for more. Existing refineries need to be rebuilt and expanded. Allow them to do it.
Many other forms of fuel need to be used and/or expanded to include solar, wind, hydrogen, algae, and much more. Everything at the time was looked at.
Part of the problem according to sources, especially in wind and solar, is government subsidies which, they say, actually hold back expansion. Rather than encouraging ways to make these technologies more affordable while maximizing efficiency, the subsidies encourage high prices to be offset by taxpayer dollars. End all subsidies on all fuels, and force all energy forms to compete with each other in a fair and open market.
Other changes need to be made to include possibly ending the EPA and making serious reforms to the Department Of Energy and other departments such as the http://www.eere.energy.gov/. Changes in the way things such as oil and gas are marketed need to be addressed, as well, to allow for domestic supplies to be sold in this country for our use first, and surpluses then being allowed to be sold on the world markets.
The economic panel also cited many of the benefits of instituting such a plan. For one, if Congress showed they are serious about making our country energy independent, OPEC would immediately respond by increasing output, thereby lowering prices. In addition, once the plan starts, thousands of jobs will be very quickly created to accommodate the drilling and construction. In other words, a real national energy plan would jump-start the economy and last for many years.
Another aspect is national security. In addition to many other factors, world events would have little or no affect on our energy prices or availability.
So why is there not even a real national debate on this?
© Rick Murray
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(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)
