To Mars!
I never set out to write about energy all the time, but because it's such a crucial issue, and one that will effect virtually everyone on the planet, there are items that come up that I feel I need to write about. That is for the four or five people that actually read this thingy. Today President Bush made a speech and laid out some new energy initiatives, and when I read the AP story all I could think of was his State of the Union address where he stated that we're going to Mars. After that pearl of wisdom, even the Conventional Wisdom Washington class of pundits wrote: Huh? So here's what the president wants:- Build new fuel refineries on abandoned military bases.
No new U.S. oil refineries have been built since the 1970s, mostly because of the lengthy process to obtain environmental permits from state regulators and opposition from local communities.Let's remember, the U.S. Government doesn't build oil refineries, oil companies do. If the oil companies could make money from building refineries, they would build them. In recent years oil companies have consolidates and shut down refineries. Guess why? There's already enough of them to process the amount of oil coming down the conduit. Why invest in new refineries when you already have enough capacity?
A top independent oil refiner, Valero Energy Corp. said expanding its current fleet of refineries makes better economic sense than building new refineries at closed military bases. Lack of refining capacity is frequently cited by experts as a reason why gasoline prices have surged.
- Give companies incentives to build new nuclear power plants.
From NBC:
Nuclear power accounts for about 20 percent of the country’s electricity. Some utilities have expressed interest in building a new reactor, perhaps as early as 2010, but want assurance of a smooth regulatory process to get financing.This is one of those issues where I love the hear the free market, post e-bubble, right wing, think-tank economists spouting on about how all those lilly-livered green types are obstructing their vision of American energy independence. They whine and wail about how environmentalists are standing in their way, and how all of these bureaucratic rules and regulations are stifling their access to the mountain of cash that's just out of their reach. Someday it might dawn on them that there's a really good reason the electric companies don't want to build any more nuclear power plants: they're not profitable. It just costs way too much to manage, staff, and defend, a nuclear power plant than it's worth. Never mind the costs of doing away with all the waste that nuclear plants generate. Besides, no one wants these plants anywhere near where they live. These NIMBY's aren't worried about the environment; they're worried about the safety of their children.
To address their concern, the president directed the Energy Department to develop a federal “risk insurance” plan that would kick in if there were lengthy delays in licensing a new reactor. Administration officials acknowledged such a program would need congressional action and said they could not speculate on its cost.
As for France, they get 70% of their energy from nuclear power. There's no way Bush is going down the path of those Cheese Loving Surrender Monkeys. No way.
posted by FuzzFinger @ 4/27/2005 05:49:00 PM
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