Obama thinks fake high gas prices promotes green economy
Many are blaming Obama, and he hasn’t shied away from the blame. By having high gas prices the Obama administration think they can get the American public to buy into electric vehicles and alternative fuel sources.
From Politico:
DOE is working to promote alternatives such as biofuels and electric vehicles, Chu told House appropriators during a hearing on DOE’s budget.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/73408.html#ixzz1o6bguLrH
The problem is that Obama is faking the high gas prices. They don’t have to be this high, and he doesn’t have to get the American public to buy into the “green” economy and “energy independence”. As the commander-in-chief, Obama can make the Department of Defense (DoD) focus on getting the military on alternative energy sources. As the largest oil consumer in the world, the DoD is the perfect player for funding the development of alternative fuels and renewable energy sources.
Below I will review four factors that influence high gas prices:
Military usage of oil
Obama could mandate the DoD to consolidate it’s budget to completely focus on how to get it off oil using alternative fuels and renewable energy technology. If Obama were serious about getting America into a green economy, this is where he should start.
Monetary policy leading to devaluation of dollar
By allowing the Federal Reserve to go unchecked with creating more debt-backed dollars, Obama and the congress are responsible for the devaluation of the currency. This is one of the biggest contributors to the increase in gas prices. Oil isn’t getting worth more, it’s just that the dollar is worth less. If congress took back the power of money generation, and changed from a debt-backed currency to Kilowatt hour backed currency, the dollar would regain strength, and we would purge the world of the parasitic private banks.
Wall street fraud going unpunished
Speculation of oil prices based on rumors of war and the growing demand from emerging markets. Our domestic oil production is the highest it’s been in 8 years (yes, that means Bush made less US oil than Obama). If you wants to point fingers, look no further than Goldman Sachs. Congress bares the responsibility of Wall Street Fraud. Darrell Issa and Michele Bachmann are working for the oil speculators by slowing down the rule enforcement of Dodd-Frank which is supposed to punish oil speculation. Obama should call them out specifically, and let the American people know that Darrell Issa and Michele Bachmann don’t represent the people, but they represent Goldman Sachs. Unfortunately, Obama also represents Goldman Sachs.
Demand from emerging markets
Emerging markets demand has doubled world oil consumption in five years. To meet rising demand from emerging markets, Petrobas plans to increase production to 3 million barrels a day by 2015.
Read more at http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Latest-News-Wires/2011/1204/Emerging-markets-will-boost-oil-demand-Petrobas
Emerging markets include countries that account for a majority of the Earth’s human population. If they demand oil at the same rate per capita as the US, nobody will be able to afford it.
The Bottom Line
You can see with these four issues Obama could influence the high gas prices by doing the following:
- Getting the military off oil for energy
- Lead the idea of getting off of debt-backed currency that devalues over time
- Punish oil speculators that increase the cost of oil at the expense of society
- Join with the emerging markets to develop renewable sources of energy in order to allow the United States to ween itself painlessly.
The American people can have cheap gas while the green energy economy is inclubated by the DoD and DoE until it’s ready for civilian consumption.
Videos about high gas prices:
Post Carbon Institute
Check out the communities page at the Post Carbon Institute. There’s some great info about sustainable communities.
Solyndra vs Oil Subsidies
What is the big ‘deal’ about Solyndra? Why are we letting this company go? Compared to what we spend on subsidizing the oil industry the Solynda loan is a drop in the bucket. The oil industry does not need subsidizing.
If we compare the annual big oil subsidies to the Solyndra loan, we gain the appropriate perspective of the issue.
Eric Curren from the Energy Bulletin outlines the hope of cutting big oil subsidies:
While the GOP House leadership seeks $60 billion in savings from programs including food-aid for pregnant women, public transportation and the EPA, Democrats say they can find most of that amount just from cutting oil subsidies.
Zachary Shahan wrote a great synopsis of the issues we are dealing with regarding energy independence, green jobs and global competition. Here Zachary highlights the main reason that Solyndra was defeated by China:
Bottom line: China has identified solar exports as a national priority, and it has tailored national policies and devoted national resources to achieving that goal. The strategy is working – at the expense of U.S. companies and American workers.
Here David Miller of Solyndra hints at the source of the problem for the US solar manufacturers:
Despite strong growth in the first half of 2011 and traction in North America with a number of orders for very large commercial rooftops, Solyndra could not achieve full-scale operations rapidly enough to compete in the near term with the resources of larger foreign manufacturers. This competitive challenge was exacerbated by a global oversupply of solar panels and a severe compression of prices that in part resulted from uncertainty in governmental incentive programs in Europe and the decline in credit markets that finance solar systems.
The Solyndra technology seems so promising. Bailing out a company like this will return real benefits of improved energy production that fits into the plan of ridding ourselves of the need for fossil fuels. Unfortunately the US currency is based on the oil trade. We will not become energy independent until we change the way our money works.
R. Buckminster Fuller had a great idea as described in his book ‘Critical Path‘. Instead of basing our currency on debt, we change our currency valuation to be a derivative of kilowatt-hours. If the dollar was redeemable for kilowatt-hours instead of being debt that had to be repaid to a foreign corporation, we would change the system to be supportive of energy independence from fossil fuels.
Read more about these issues:
Holmgren’s 12 design principles
I’ve just stumbled upon “Permaculture“. It completely resonates with my vision of becoming a nation of producers instead of consumers. Holmgren’s design principles are applicable to design systems of all kinds. I am looking forward to learning more about the application of the principles in my life.
Oil for energy is so 20th century
Let’s get with it people! I heard China will be importing electric cars by next year. Why are we not leading the world in alternative energy deployment? As we bicker over our failing banking system and where to drill, other countries are leapfrogging us in developing renewable energy solutions.
Fort Bliss working torward energy independence
Its amazing that we are still dependent on foreign states for our energy. The military should be the first energy independent organization under the US government to prove out the concepts and create markets of scale to be able to implement scaled down solutions for residential markets.
While energy savings might be nice for civilians, it could be absolutely vital for the military. For example, if a terrorist attack dumped the electricity grid, an energy-independent Fort Bliss — or any military facility — would still be able to function and respond.
Palm Desert, California has breathed new life into the solar business
From the City of Palm Desert:
February 2, 2010 The City of Palm Desert has announced the upcoming release of $6 million in new funding for its popular Energy Independence Program. Half of the new funds will be dedicated to loans for energy efficiency improvements with the other half reserved for loans for solar projects. The funding will be available to Palm Desert property owners who submit a completed loan application beginning Monday, February 8.
The City’s Office of Energy Management, 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, will accept applications from Palm Desert property owners on a first-come, first-served basis. Property owners can apply in person by appointment only. Applications submitted by contractors on behalf of property owners will be accepted by appointment with a limit of one application per company each day.
Applications will be reviewed by Office of Energy Management staff, with written notification of approval provided to customers when their application is officially complete. Staff will schedule appointments with customers whose applications are complete to review and discuss the loan documents and processing. If an application is deemed incomplete, notification will be sent to the property owner that they must resubmit. Resubmissions will be accepted while funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The program makes these energy saving measures more affordable by allowing the City to loan money to residents and businesses at competitive interest rates without the credit checks or appraisals associated with home equity and other types of personal loans. Borrowers can repay the loans over time as part of their property taxes. If the property is sold, the improvements and the outstanding loan balance can be transferred to the new owner.
Check out the only Solar power and Energy Efficiency company owned and operated in Palm Desert, California: Renova Energy Corp.
Are you a Geothermal noob?
In an earlier posting I noted that geothermal energy is best in moderate climate zones. I think I may have been wrong and should have said “temperate” climate zones. I am also a geothermal noob. But thank goodness for the internet.
virtual geothermal
I recently found a site focused on building awareness of the potential of geothermal energy:
The current production of geothermal energy from all uses places third among renewables, following hydroelectricity and biomass, and ahead of solar and wind. Despite these impressive statistics, the current level of geothermal use pales in comparison to its potential. The key to wider geothermal use is greater public awareness and technical support. http://www.geothermal.org/what.html
To remove your status of geothermal noob, check out this PDF from the University of Utah:
It looks like Nevada is geothermal central.
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- Obama thinks fake high gas prices promotes green economy
- Post Carbon Institute
- Permaculture Design on Display at Occupy Wall Street
- Solyndra vs Oil Subsidies
- Holmgren’s 12 design principles
- Oil for energy is so 20th century
- Fort Bliss working torward energy independence
- Palm Desert, California has breathed new life into the solar business
- Are you a Geothermal noob?
- Get the Grid
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