John Ryden is an Engineer with a background in Finance and Economics. Here he will discuss how energy production, energy use, and conservation affect us and the rest of the world with a focus on the economic implications.

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Elitist Environmental Restrictions on Energy Development Could Worsen Global Warming

4 comments

May 29, 9:12 AM

by John Ryden, Global Warming Examiner

Rising oil prices cause demand destruction. Oil demand destruction can be very painful for the average consumer. Even with soaring oil prices, our politicians continue to restrict development of America’s proven and probable oil resources. Some environmental elitists feel that higher oil prices and restrictions on energy development will ‘force’ our country to adapt clean energy technologies like solar and wind.

The problem is that ‘clean’ alternative energy is just not available in the quantity needed to replace the energy resources we are loosing. Without viable alternatives to substitute for oil, it represents a real reduction in living standards. We can only produce a small fraction of our increased electric demand with solar and wind power systems. It will be many years before our capacity to produce these types of systems will even come close to meeting new energy demand, much less replacing existing fossil fuel capacity. Driving an electric car would be great, but there aren’t any affordable cars available right now. It will be several years before even a small percentage of new car buyers can buy one.

Oil demand destruction can also have very negative implications for global warming.

It is more likely that pressure will develop to use dirty, alternative sources like coal to fuel, heavy oil, tar sands, and oil shale. The production of fuel from these resources emits much more carbon dioxide than drilling for conventional resources. Even if we prohibit the production of ‘dirty’ fuels in this country, do we also prohibit the import of dirty fuels from other countries? When we fail to develop our oil and gas resources in this country, does that mean Canada develops more oil from oil shale? Are we going to stop buying oil from Canadian Oil Shale? Does an oil shortage increase our coal exports to other countries? Doesn’t that also increase global warming?

If energy becomes unavailable in this country, does it drive business (and jobs) to countries like China that seem all to willing to use dirty energy sources? We could end up with the worst of all situations; more global warming, a weak economy, fewer jobs, and a lower standard of living.

Topics: Global Warming , Coal , Carbon Dioxide , China , oil , Alternative Energy , solar energy , environmentalist , oil shale , tar sands

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Bush signs $25 billion loan guarantee to auto industry postponing their collapse

6 comments

October 1, 3:12 PM

President Bush signed the bill authorizing $25 billion in loan guarantees to the auto industry. U.S. auto companies are being hammered by high gasoline prices, weak consumer spending, the credit crisis, and tough competition from foreign imports.U.S.... Read More
Topics: Global Warming , oil , gasoline , GM , consumption tax , John dingell , loan guarantee

Off shore oil development is back on - for now

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September 30, 3:47 PM

Little noticed during the congressional debate on the financial bailout plan has been the passing of continuing resolution for funding the government into next year. With the partisan rancor in congress and the upcoming election, a lot of spending bills... Read More
Topics: Bush , oil , Alternative Energy , nuclear , McCain , oil shale , Obama , Nancy Pelosi , California , offshore drilling

Chavez to sell China oil currently going to US

2 comments

September 24, 4:42 PM

Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela, is currently in China making deal to supply China with up to 1 million barrels of oil per day by 2011. Under the agreement, China will invest $4 billion in Venezuela’s oil industry to secure this supply of oil.... Read More
Topics: China , oil , ExxonMobil , Mexico , offshore drilling

Arctic sea ice second lowest coverage on record

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September 23, 5:11 PM

NASA reported that Arctic sea ice reached its lowest extent for the year on September 16th. Each year the sea ice cover contracts during the summer and then grows again during the winter. The maximum extent is in March of each year.This year the sea... Read More
Topics: Global Warming , Greenhouse , Arctic , Methane

Global warming costs from Hurricane Ike

1 comment

September 17, 4:51 PM

Damage in Florida from Hurricane Andrew in 1992The amount of damage from Hurricane Ike is going to total in the tens of billions of dollars. I have seen estimates where the insured costs are likely to be as high as $20 billion.This is going to be... Read More
Topics: hurricane , hurricane ike

Hurricane Ike – in harms way

3 comments

September 15, 3:22 PM

Hurricane Ike has moved out of Texas, but left a wake of destruction in its path. It appeared that the hurricane started moving North just before landfall. This moved the eye right over Galveston. I was watching some of the Fox live coverage with Geraldo... Read More
Topics: Global Warming , hurricane ike

Hurricane Ike storm surge could be greater than Katrina

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September 12, 7:54 PM

Hurricane Ike is heading towards Galveston, Texas. The storm is a Category 2 storm, very close to Category 3 strength. The storm is huge. Hurricane force winds extend up to 120 miles from the center. Tropical Force winds extend out to 275 miles.The potential... Read More
Topics: Global Warming , hurricane , ike

Natural gas producer promoting – natural gas

1 comment

September 12, 4:01 PM

CNG-NOW!Chesapeake Energy Corporation is promoting the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) as an alternative to gasoline in cars. Chesapeake Energy Corporation is the second-largest independent producer and third-largest overall producer of natural gas... Read More
Topics: Global Warming , Bush , Carbon Dioxide , natural gas , natural gas vehicle , CNG

Congress to develop energy policy

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September 10, 12:06 PM

Democrats in Congress have been put on the defensive by the electorate who collectively seem to understand that we need to develop our country’s oil and natural gas resources. The idea that not drilling off-shore will somehow solve our energy... Read More