Comments on: Will Alternative Energy Run Out Of Gas?

Clean-Energy Field Getting Bitten By Credit Crisis, But Long-Term Trends Point In Its Favor

[egresor]

that point about gas prices not be proportional to the reduction in price per barrel price is something people completely miss.

the only reason gas prices have been reduced is consumption is reduced.

that is evident when they attempt to increase prices by cutting back production---but it didn''t work. prices still dropped at the pump.

which proves it isn''t quantity of availability that reduces prices but conservation and lessened demand.

so increasing availablity isn''t a deterrent to high prices. that''s been shown all along, but the tag lines from the oil companies say that it does.

so who do we believe? them or our own eyes?

and people think getting anwar will reduce prices in the US? lol

and tho i''m a supporter of bill clinton''s economic policies (with some major---that''s major reservations) because it in fact was more balanced. it is DESPICABLE for a former President being paid money by another country to advise them on how to handle their interests in the US.

we still also recall the sweetheart trade deals he made with japan-----and his 3 million dollar speaking fee from them after leaving office. you got your payoff BILL!
now it''s Dubai?

not that he''s the exception. other politicians write their books and sell tremendous numbers to people just to get them money for what they''ve done in their interests. not so blatant, but just as wrong.

bill YOU SUCK!

[oneworldusa]

OPEC backed off on energy prices for years during the Carter administration when he developed a plan to reduce dependence on foreign oil in the 1970s. OPEC got so scared that it reduced prices for decades to ensure Americans bought their oil instead of investing in alternatives. Too late now, we are moving forward regardless. Once we can get off their oil,

[m-lamonica]

After writing this article on Friday, I saw a Frontline documentary called "Heat" that''s well worth watching. You can watch it online here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/heat/

The reporter talked to executives from oil, coal, and big auto companies from around the world about the feasibility of other forms of energy. Overall, it shows how difficult it is to deal with global warming because of the world''s heavy reliance on fossil fuels and growing energy consumption. Above all, it really emphasizes the importance of government policy, coordinating with industry, on our energy use.

[prodgodq]

The whole premise of this article is flawed. First, it assumes that oil and gas prices are going to continue to decline. Second, it presumes that alternative energy is not subject to the global recession. EVERY business is subject to the global recession.
As some previous posters have correctly shown, the easiest way to affect this country is through energy.
I believe that it''s absolutely imperative that we develop at least some energy independence, or there won''t be an "America" as we have come to know it.

[windmaster12]

The Global Economy is Teetering, in Part,
by the High Energy costs last year--
Faltering businesses were pushed over the edge--

The USA''s enemies know we are most vulnerable
through economic subterfuge

Getting a Marshall style program to stop the
flow of funds to dangerous regimes is imperative.
One of the greatest National Security threats we face

We can argue over which is the best alternative
But lets find one fast--
Before our enemies reduce us to breadlines!!!

[of11of]

if everyone builds a few of these ( http://www.otherpower.com/otherpower_wind.htmlsimple ) air generators and keeps at it, learn as we go, (come on people, - don''t be so wimpy).., and spend the same money we would''ve spent on 3 or 4 dollars a gallon for fossil fuels, (we''re spending it anyway?), on already searched, researched and learned methods, while also cutting back on a lot of UN-necessary luxuries, wouldn''t we get better at it?. I''m willing to bet we would get better at it. Humans are known for intelligence and adaptability. My ''74 chevy pick-up is a dinosaur. I love it but it needs to be in my antique collection.. I say humans because saying ''us americans'' would just be well un-american. hmm

[missingamerica]

Conserve on your use of gasoline and oil. The drop in Oil from 150 to 68 dollars a barrel came after americans started to do this.

Posted by mroutside12 at 10:01 AM : Oct 25, 2008

lolll...are you sure about that?

Going strictly by supply and demand, your position suggests that global demand has gone down by over 50%, in line with the reduction in oil prices.

Massively successful conservation attempt, that...

Or, perhaps, the explosion of the funny-money (CDOs, etc.) removed the leverage people were using to speculate in the oil markets...

Or perhaps the oil companies stopped speculating in the oil commodities market with their own windfall profits out of fear that a more honest Administration was on the horizon...

[missingamerica]

If we do not actively pursue alternative energy, then we need to nationalize the oil companies. Otherwise they and/or OPEC and/or speculators will just rape us again - and again, and again, and again.

People are running too close to the edge in the "paycheck-to-paycheck" cycle. We either control energy costs, or ripple affects from price surges could cause another tipping point - assuming we recover from the current one.

Nobody has an extra spouse to send to work anymore in an attempt to deal with higher energy costs. We already sent them to work in the ''80s in our - *economically - successful attempt to cope with both higher energy prices and the initial impact of Republican "trickle down" economics.

(I say "economically" because I think that, overall, not having one spouse at home full time for the kids had and is having serious effects in the social realm.)

[jng123-2009]

alternative energy is not likely to just go away. itisn''t just about cost; it''s about the Concept. where i live, everyone recycles, and uses reclaimed water for their lawns. people are working on ways to use the methane produced from landfills as different energy sources. a japanese man has produced a water car. that''s right, it only runs on water. and not just purified water, but any kind, including salty water or even tea. just think, no more stopping by mcdonalds for a cheap coffee cuz your machine is built right into your vehicle''s console!

[noboundary]

The most abundant and most sustainable energy resource is without a doubt solar. If natural gas is used, it should only be used in fuel cells which deliver a conversion efficiency at least double that of a conventional steam turbine. And of course, all cars should be electric. Putting these technologies all together would mean the death of OPEC and the resurgence of American technological supremacy.

[gmcnally2]

Battery Technology is coming. Solar Technology is coming. Truly renewable and free power from your roof to your car. Of course, then no more gas tax. And no more pound of flesh for the energy companies every paycheck. Switch over to an electric car now, beat the rush. Can always upgrade the battery system. And battery tech is nearly to the point of long range practicality where they can be recharged in minutes with special equipment. It is perfectly clean, it is quiet, it is efficient, it is proven. Get on board, be part of the solution. Demand we repower America.

[sleepyric]

At Somerset, PA. - on the PA turnpike, stop and get a coffee and a danish and see the 6 mountain top windmills. I wish there were 60. They are impressive, logical, beautiful, and they work! More please. In fact, you could put on in my back yard if you wanted.

[patriot2381]

Sheep are easy to fleece. People are sheep, green is fleece.

[BeyondGreen]

PUHLEASE!...OPEC just cut production by 150 million barrels a day to manipulate production hence supply and demand. We all know what happens in that scenario. The damage done by the past year of exorbitant gas prices will be long lasting and has all but destroyed our economy Families have been stretched to the max between filling up the family car to get back and forth to work, higher utility bills and the effect of high fuel on every consumer product we need to purchase. Jobs and homes are being lost at record rates..We need to wake up and realize how much our dependence on foreign oil and our slavery to OPEC has hurt our economy.We have so much available to us between free energy such as wind and solar to technologies such as hybrid and elec plug in cars that it is just ridiculous to continue on the path we are on. The cost of charging and driving an electric car would be equal to paying 60 cents per gallon of gas. The problem is electric cars cost too much for the average Joe (pun intended) :) Our government tries to stimulate our economy by handing out 168 BILLION dollars in stimulus checks.How much good did that do our economy really? And now Bernake wants to hand out another stimulus check. Solar and wind are free sources of energy.Let''s invest in getting those set up. Jeff Wilson just published a new book called THE MANHATTAN PROJECT OF 2009. Very interesting read.Our goverment needs to get serious and develop a plan to get us off oil.

[albertw40]

Don''t you love these CBS computers that censor. I wrote a little comment, and the computer listed Vice President Cheney''s name as *** Cheney. What a hoot.

[albertw40]

No alternative sources of energy won''t be forgotten, not of Barack Obama is elected. I believe him when he says alternative energy and energy independence will be a priority. He is smart enough to know where the future lies. I''m hoping we can get back on the right side of history. George Bush''s first act was to have *** Cheney hold a secret meeting with oil producers. We still don''t know what happened in that meeting, but we do know these eight years brought greater, not less, dependence on oil. Bush refused to sign the global warming treaty. Again he was on the wrong side of history. The same with his "go it alone" foreign policy. And of course Bush''s "deregulation at all cost" philosophy caused an economic meltdown. Talk about being on the wrong side of history! If Obama is elected, my prayer is that he will work to put us on the right side of history on all these and several other important issues.

[andor3]

"We IMPORT LPG by the tanker loads because we don''''t have enough, or did you miss that? "

No. Do the research. If you seek an energy source that the U.S. has in abundance, you find natural gas. Not only do we have a lot without importing (reduce dependence on foreign oil), but it is clean burning and easy to use in cars and trucks on the road now.

[nothappyatall]

Those huge wind turbines are another issue, they DO make noise people nearby object to- the blade tips travel faster than the wind so they produce a low pitch whoosh sound as they pass the vertical tower. The generators up top have been measured to produce up to around 106 db''s.
They are ugly and people don''t want to see them- the NIMBY syndrome.
Also, a bunch of NEW ones in Maine had to be replaced due to gearbox problems, others have failed in various ways with the blades coming apart, shattering or "exploding" in spectacular displays when speed limiting brakes failed in windstorms or lightning hit- Ive seen the video clips and the news reports and they have some design and quality problems- they are too dam BIG

[nothappyatall]

The entire state of Alaska had only provided at most 14% of the oil we use in the USA, but Alaskans themselves use 76 barrels of oil per capita for each of the 700,000 residents there- they consume themselves 1/5th of all the oil they pump and is #1 for highest per capita use of all 50 states.
Alaskas oil prod declined 65% since peaking in 1988

The US uses over 20 MILLION barrels A DAY, the USA produces 1.8 million barrels a year (2007) of which Alaska produced 263 million (but the state consumed 1/5 of THAT- or roughly 50 million)
Alaska prod only 4.8% of all the crude and oil products supplied to the US- counting all sources.
Ethanol, wind and solar will never amount to a few single percentage points of the whole- hel1 the entire prod of Alaska''s oil fields has amounted to only 4.8%, the US population and demand grows every year.

Natural gas if demand increases will see PRICES increase dramatically, and why not? the producers/distributors/middlemen all want as big a cut as they can get

[nothappyatall]

"natural gas is abundant and if exploited properly would greatly reduce dependence on imported oil."

We IMPORT LPG by the tanker loads because we don''t have enough, or did you miss that? been in the news because people dont want LPG offloading terminals and the explosion risk of a container ship packed full of explosive liquified pressurized gas in THEIR "backyard."
Did you also miss the supply and demand ratio? increase the demand for LPG and the PRICE skyrockets like it did about 3-4 years ago to double per therm.
Its not the "libs" or the "Dems" who dont want drilling in ANWAR, its the envirofreaks who file LAWSUITS to block it and protest it.