Open Up Oil Reserves!

[cat_man_mike]

Myth:It takes a lot of water to make ethanol
Fact:Most of the water used to make a gallon of ethanol is reused in the plant to make more ethanol. It is not dystroyed. It is like boiling water to make pasta, removing the pasta, and making another batch in the same water. You may have 5 gallons for one dish of pasta, but that 5 gallons gets used over and over.

The oil propaganda puts a lot of misinformation out there, we are running out of corn, (corn is going to be $10.00 a bushel if we use it for ethanol? I call B.S.)it takes x amount of gallons of water just to make one gallon of ethanol which is putting our water supply at risk. If you are soooooo worried about the water supply, why am I not hearing anything about the oil refineries poluting our water supply???????? Seems kinda hypocritical. And, I hear people bit** and moan all the time about the cell towers in the up ruining the scenery and disturbing the wildlife, but have no problem putting up oil derriks all over in some of the most beautiful areas of our country. Again, "as long as it benifits me, it is ok" is at work here.

 

[prowrench]

Some things to ponder.
Anyone ever thought that some people are grinning ear to ear as the price of oil goes up and up? Kinda helps their oil-is-evil-we-should-all-ride-bikes-agenda doesn't it? I don't know all the facts by any means, but I do know there is BIG business in the alternative fuels scam.
Ethanol is not the answer. At least not yet. It takes oil to make it, and you burn nearly twice as much of it as gasoline to perform the same task.
The technology for other methods of energy are so expensive, it really makes them out of reach. Bottom line is, we need oil, and will continue to need oil for many many years.
Opening up the reserve is a publicity stunt. Nothing more.
If we all beat the crap out of an environmentalist, and steal their fat checkbook, we can drill to our hearts content.

 

[skutr]

Does anybody actually think that the goverment actually gives a rat's a-s about us? I got a 3% raise at work and gas goes up 20%. Great - I'm 17% in the hole... Thanks Mr. Obama. Keep up the good work.

 

[bobsledder]

From a farmer/American coalition for ethanol

Higher grocery prices have more to do with energy costs than corn costs. Crude oil at these high prices makes it more expensive to process, package, and ship everything - including groceries.
Research has found energy prices to have at least twice the impact on the Consumer Price Index for food than corn prices do.
Less than 20 cents of your food price dollar goes toward on-farm costs like grain; more than 80% of the real cost of food comes from off-farm costs, energy-intensive costs like processing, packaging, labor, and transportation.
Gas prices have more than doubled since 2002, costing Americans more than $250 billion annually.
Analysts say oil and gas prices would be 15% higher if ethanol producers weren't expanding their output; at today's retail gas prices, ethanol is a value of about 50 cents a gallon to American

 

[bobsledder]

My thoughts

Ethanol can be made with many types of grass, crop stover, vegetables and even sawdust among other things. When any of these systems become more economical than using corn I will grow what they need.
I haul my corn to an ethanol plant and they make fuel, DDG’s (dried distillers grain for live stalk and people feed) and several other co-products. It is not a perfect system, what is? We as a world need to invest in renewable energy as experience shows us that technology is opening new opportunities every day.
I need to make money also; I can’t live on years of break even ore below. I don’t pile my money up I spend it! A saying I have is IF I make $20 I’ll borrow $20 from the bank and spend $50. Optimism makes me think I will figure out a way to make the other $10 back and more.
We as a nation must not think we are against the world rather we are a part of the world, protectionism is what causes inefficiency.
Bob

 

[upbarleyboy]

We are getting screwed with current gas prices no logic to it we are getting ripped off. Come on Obama open up the oil reserves & keep the recovery going. Wait & in 2 years you will be gone. Act now & you will be a doer & good leader.

I agree with most of your statement. The part about Owebumma potentially being a doer and good leader though.....well he's proven that's just a pipe dream.

 

[Cat Woman]

Drill, Drill, Drill.

I dread what is going to happen at about $3.75 - $4.00 per gallon! We always had some home foreclosures going on, BUT it was not until the gas hit $4.00 per gallon that the XXXX hit the fan.

They should have started "drill, baby drill" 2 years ago.

No kidding. When I got diesel lastnight it was $3.93 . Needless to say I didn't fill it up.

 

[cat_man_mike]

This will probaly get this thread deleted

All of you people all over Obama seem to forget that we would not be in this mess if your buddy Dubya would not have shreaded all the renewable energy research budget for 8 years to help all of his big oil buddies in texas. We where well on our way to clean renewable energy for those who wanted it. Not a complete change over, but imagine gas prices if 1/3 of the country was driving 50mpg cars, electric cars, and hydrogen fuel cell cars? In 8 years the infastructure for hydrogen delivery would have been in place and all of the jobs it would have created may have helped out a little with this pesky unemployment situation. Remember the huge budget surplus we had in 2000 that could have paid for it? Watch "the smartest guys in the room" it is a documentary about Enron and the California energy crisis. The Bush administration really took it to us and now we are paying for it. So before you start in on the current President, do a little research into 2000-2008.

 

[BluByU]

All of you people all over Obama seem to forget that we would not be in this mess if your buddy Dubya would not have shreaded all the renewable energy research budget for 8 years to help all of his big oil buddies in texas. We where well on our way to clean renewable energy for those who wanted it. Not a complete change over, but imagine gas prices if 1/3 of the country was driving 50mpg cars, electric cars, and hydrogen fuel cell cars? In 8 years the infastructure for hydrogen delivery would have been in place and all of the jobs it would have created may have helped out a little with this pesky unemployment situation. Remember the huge budget surplus we had in 2000 that could have paid for it? Watch "the smartest guys in the room" it is a documentary about Enron and the California energy crisis. The Bush administration really took it to us and now we are paying for it. So before you start in on the current President, do a little research into 2000-2008.

Really, really. Come on man.

 

[anonomoose]

I don't know all the facts by any means, but I do know there is BIG business in the alternative fuels scam.
Ethanol is not the answer. At least not yet. It takes oil to make it, and you burn nearly twice as much of it as gasoline to perform the same task..

This simply is NOT true. Each gallon of gasoline that has 10% ethanol in it, saves us 10% of the cost to refine $100 oil.
Also corn fuel which is basically what E-85 is will get you about 85% of the same distance as a gallon of 100% dino fuel. Anyone with one of those E-85 machines can verify that. The oil companies obviously don't like corn fuel, and disseminate all sorts of propaganda about using up our food supply and gee whiz we need to drill all over the hill and dale....like that is going to bring the price down....when in fact they already have lots of places to drill but aren't doing it...lots of oil to refine...but won't refine it....thereby regulating the cost of fuel that YOU and I must pay to drive our machines around.

The technology for other methods of energy are so expensive, it really makes them out of reach. .

Not natural gas....it cost a few bucks to convert and use it in what we already have....but are we using it? No we are not....because we don't have a supply place to stop and fill up with. Yet we use it all the time for home heating don't we? It is readily available is much cleaner and all we have to do is get it ready to pump into tanks at the stations, but guess what....who owns the control of the pumps?? Who do we depend upon to fuel up with corn gas??? They have zero incentive to do any of this because they don't want alternatives....and understandably so.....why cut into 77 billion dollar profit margin if you don't have to

Bottom line is, we need oil, and will continue to need oil for many many years.
Opening up the reserve is a publicity stunt. Nothing more.
If we all beat the crap out of an environmentalist, and steal their fat checkbook, we can drill to our hearts content.

We can drill a hundred wells all over your town, but it doesn't mean that the oil will go there....fact is it is a commodity, just like corn, and it is going where the price is the fatest....which very likely will be Asia....so they drill in your backyard, and it gets shipped to Asia....you risk the dangers of a drilling mess up and watch the ship sail away. If we could pass a law that says ALL oil that is drilled in or just off the coast MUST stay in the USA...or even North America, I would be all for drilling....but it doesn't stay here and the oil companies obviously are not volunteering to keep it here either...they just shrug their shoulders and say....hey...free enterprize...and put their hands out for your hard earned dollars. It's all about the money....been that way for a very long time.

I have a friend who works at a refinery and he tells me when to hold up buying gasoline and when to get my butt out there and buy as much as possible. It is very predictable....price of crude goes up and refining increases....prices fall and it decreases....

We need OFF the oil merry-go-round....NOW!

 

[cat_man_mike]

Really, really. Come on man.

Great aguement, you really supported your stance on the issue.

Let me reply to your "Really" with my own......

Yes, really!

 

[jonesin]

are we drilling now or are we still on a drilling freeze?
look up US funding foreign oil, we are funding projects all over the world costing us taxpayers billions and the current admin and the enviro's won't let us drill here.
its too bad, we could set our own price for fuel, more jobs, rev up the economy....
tapping the reserves should be saved for a real emergancy, like lowering the price right before the next pres election!

 

[BluByU]

Great aguement, you really supported your stance on the issue.

Let me reply to your "Really" with my own......

Yes, really!

Not trying to disrespect you nor do I want to argue with you. It's just funny to me when people go down the "blame the last guy" road. But to be fair there are many arguments that don't makes sense.

I don't post my argument because I don't have the facts and/or understanding of the situation to back it up. I could say all day long that we need to drill or buy fuel efficient cars or blame the dems or the pubs, But Gas will still be $4.00 / gallon and I will still have to drive 60 miles to get to work. The only option I really have is to change the way I live my life.

 

[xsledder]

...do a little research into 2000-2008.

How about you do a little research, say 1977-1981.

 

[prowrench]

Anonomoose-Wow! Tore me a new one. That's ok, my skin is alligator-thick, and I've read many of your posts over time and you seem to be pretty intelligent and logical.
As far as the e85 goes, my parents have 2 of them (tahoe and silverado) and the mileage is nearly half, not quite, I did embelish a little, but real darn close.
Natural gas, sure. But to get it readily available to put in our vehicles=huge money. Expensive infrastructure.
Keep our oil here? You're darn right! Or charge accordingly. It would work.
In the end, it is all money, just like you said. It is huge scam and we are ALL the butt of the joke. Many of us have real plausible means of repair to the system, but too bad we do not have the power (read $) to do anything about it. Sucks.
Still though, oil reserves=publicity stunt.

 

[harvest1121]

My friend who is a farmer is laughing about e85 and how they are making more now then they ever have. And the funny thing they would never use it in any of there trucks. The only people that like e85 are farmers and the government.

 

[jonesin]

All of you people all over Obama seem to forget that we would not be in this mess if your buddy Dubya would not have shreaded all the renewable energy research budget for 8 years to help all of his big oil buddies in texas. We where well on our way to clean renewable energy for those who wanted it. Not a complete change over, but imagine gas prices if 1/3 of the country was driving 50mpg cars, electric cars, and hydrogen fuel cell cars? In 8 years the infastructure for hydrogen delivery would have been in place and all of the jobs it would have created may have helped out a little with this pesky unemployment situation. Remember the huge budget surplus we had in 2000 that could have paid for it? Watch "the smartest guys in the room" it is a documentary about Enron and the California energy crisis. The Bush administration really took it to us and now we are paying for it. So before you start in on the current President, do a little research into 2000-2008.

I'm sorry, when talking about oil reserves, i was thinking strategic, I forgot all about all that oil that GWB stole from Iraq and gave to his oil buddies, lets tap in to that!

 

[harvest1121]

Oh I forgot Bush shut down the Gulf of Mexico. I hope those wind mills fuel my cars and create jobs.

 

[fusion]

Just because you type 500 words essay's and multiple paragraphs doesn't mean you know whats going on, and visa/versa. Ethanol is NOT the answer to America's fuel problems. Ethanol costs more to make than the energy gained from burning it. It's garbage fuel, and inefficiency is the reason. I have no problem with farmers growing corn to produce ethanol. I DO have a problem with farmers being subsidized to produce it and I also have a problem with the states mandating that I buy the garbage in my gas. Remove the subsidies, and let ADM produce all the ethanol they want. Let them try to sell it on the open market, at the pump, as an alternative to regular unleaded, non-reformulated. Ethanol and ADM will be out of business in a year or less.

We have the oil in the continental US, including off-shore and Alaska. As Ms. Palin says - drill baby, drill. It's there - go get it....and watch the price of spot crude fall like a rock.

 

[anonomoose]

Anonomoose-Wow! Tore me a new one. ...., but too bad we do not have the power (read $) to do anything about it. Sucks.
Still though, oil reserves=publicity stunt.

Was NOT my intent to stamp on anyone.

But I do follow this pretty closely. It IS clear that the oil companies are in cahoots to keep control of the energy markets.

Ever wonder why E85 pumps sit out there in the weather at gas stations while all the dino fuel is back up under the canapé? It is NO accident.

I am not trying to change anybodies minds, because some wouldn't be changed if you could use a can opener.

Oil is a commodity....sold and exchanged on a WORLD market, so pumping all over the place would not be the great price reducer that the oil companies would have you believe it would be....yes they want to have a free hand in drilling all over the place....and so what if a spill screws up the environment for years later....gosh...we need the oil and who really cares about the gulf of Mexico or Alaska....I don't go there anyway.

But the facts are that corn oil, is renewable. Maybe it won't be the final thing in energy, but it sure does help. Why shouldn't the companies that make the fuels from corn have the same subsidies that the big oil companies get? Or better still get rid of ALL subsidies and let them compete even up, so long as the oil companies don't purposely drop fuel prices low enough to run the ethanol plants out of business. Banks have a maximum rate that they can pay on savings....just so the big banks don't run the little banks out of business. It should be the same for a company that is giving us another option for energy, eh?

No we have to have mis-information from the "petroleum institute" which is no where near biased....just like the old "Tobacco institute" used to show you how good smoking was for your health...kept flies away, and was a great company to invest in. These are avenues of mis-information that speal out garbage like "corn gas costs more to make than they get for it"...or "stuff competes with human food" or that it takes "two gallons of dino fuel to make one gallon of corn fuel"....the list is long and if you understand economics at all, you would know that NOBODY would produce it if any of this were true.

Subsidy is 45 cents per gallon for corn gas.....or 7 billion per year. Oil companies get 8 billion per year....so look what is calling the kettle black!!

Just because a few farmers won't use it in their tanks...doesn't mean it is bad...it just means they have a CHOICE. I know one farmer that uses it exclusively and has not had a single issue doing that...and he has dozens of tractors combines and all the other stuff most farmers own.

"It uses way too much water...." if you ever saw one of these plants churning away in South Dakota, it sits right out in the middle of nowhere with corn fields all around and runs and runs, and the water they run off of doesn't amount to a hill of beans. Suck it right out of the ground.

Once folks start think'n and stop believing everything they read about how "baaaaddddd" corn gas is...then we are at the beginning of not being so dependent upon oil.
We need to build machines to run on this stuff so that we HAVE A CHOICE.

We need to diversify greatly. We need to retrain how we live and drive and how we view the world. Collectively America is the greatest country in the world, but we are NOT alone in energy use. There is a six ton gorilla in the room....and the gorilla is about to start moving around. We need to deal with it NOW....not wait until we have nothing else to fall back on. It is THAT simple. And you can "drill baby drill...til your drill gets dull and it won't change a darn thing....because WE are not in control of what THEY do with the stuff.