The good that clean coal can do extends around the world -- and into its skies. Once we supply the means of clean-burning coal and carbon capture, nations everywhere will pursue the same end: abundant energy with low carbon emissions. China in particular has enormous coal reserves that could power its continued economic growth cleanly and efficiently. And by mastering the technology, America will lead the way" FYI...clean coal does not exist.Clean coal is a misnomer.Its an oxymoron. It is about as real and practical as hydrogen cars...if even that.It has not been developed and who knows when it will or even possible.The clean coal campaign is just a pr stunt to keep current coal usage going on a wing and a prayer because coal is highly polluting and is one of the biggest global warming threats. I think mc cain is sincere about the situation but the fact that he champions fossil fuels means he has corporate hacks pulling his strings.I also think once in as president he would be have his hands tied by the gop agenda which is to continue business as usual regarding fossil fuels.
The issues surrounding recent discussions on US offshore drilling for oil has significant impact for all Americans where Obama and McCain talk about in http://pollclash.com . The soaring oil prices are affecting the costs of everything from food to gas. There are also significant issues on local and global environmental impact. While there are many issues, we need to look at our next leader and determine which will have the best course of action going forward. Here's where your vote and voice can count. Watch the two video clips below submit your vote. Also, leave a comment if there is more you wish to say or an issue you think should be raised within the context of this clash.
Im just happy the Mid east has been able to repay our banks all the loans we had lent them, it was a staggering sum they owed USA banks. Now the mideast kingdoms are once again solvent and the loans were paid off. Money always finds its true owner. Gasoline like smokes is a self imposed expense, most live close to where they work so everyone has alternatives. Public transportation, motorcycles, bicycles etc. If there are problems in the system then the free market will find the solution,,,not the govt which all to often is the source of the problem.
Gas prices could fall to $2 if Congress acts, analysts say "WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The price of retail gasoline would fall by half, to around $2 a gallon, within 30 days of passage of a law to limit speculation in energy markets, four energy analysts told Congress on Monday. Testifying to a House Energy and Commerce Committee subcommittee, Michael Masters of Masters Capital Management said the price of crude oil would drop closer to its marginal cost of around $65 to $75 a barrel, about half the current $135. Fadel Gheit of Oppenheimer & Co., Edward Krapels of Energy Security Analysis and Roger Diwan of PFC Energy agreed with Masters' assessment at the hearing. Other witnesses say speculators aren't a major factor in oil prices, however."
MCCAIN SCORES WITH OFFSHORE DRILLING PROPOSAL By Dick Morris And Eileen McGann "John McCain has drawn first blood in the political debate following Barack Obamaâs victory in the primaries. His call yesterday for offshore oil drilling â and Bushâs decision to press the issue in Congress - puts the Democrats in the position of advocating the wear-your-sweater policies that made Jimmy Carter unpopular. With gas prices nearing $5, all of the previous shibboleths need to be discarded. Where once voters in swing states like Florida opposed offshore drilling, the high gas prices are prompting them to reconsider. McCainâs argument that even hurricane Katrina did not cause any oil spills from the offshore rigs in the Gulf of Mexico certainly will go far to allay the fears of the average voter. For decades, Americans have dragged their feet when it comes to switching their cars, leaving their SUVs at home, and backing alternative energy development and new oil drilling. But the recent shock of a massive surge in oil and gasoline prices has awakened the nation from its complaisance. The soaring prices are the equivalent of Pearl Harbor in jolting us out of our trance when it comes to energy. Suddenly, everything is on the table. Offshore drilling, Alaska drilling, nuclear power, wind, solar, flex-fuel cars, plug-in cars are all increasingly attractive options and John McCain seems alive to the need to go there while Obama is strangely passive. During the Democratic primary, he opposed a gas tax holiday and continues to be against offshore and Alaska drilling and squishy on nuclear power. That leaves turning down your thermostat and walking to work as the Democratic policies. McCain has also been ratcheting up his attacks on oil speculators. With the total value of trades in oil futures soaring from $13 billion in 2003 to $260 billion today, it is increasingly clear that it is not the supply and demand for oil which is, alone, driving up the price, but it is the supply and demand for oil futures which is stoking the upward movement. The Saudis have made a fatal mistake in not forcing down the price of oil. We could have gone for decades as their hostage, letting their control over our oil supplies choke us while enriching them. But they got greedy and let the price skyrocket. The sudden shock which has sent America reeling is just the stimulus we need for a massive movement away from imported oil and toward new types of cars. The political will for major change in our energy policy is now here and those, like Obama, who donât get it need to rethink their positions. To quote FDR, âthis great nation calls for action and action nowâ on the energy issue. What has been a back-burner problem now has moved onto center stage and McCain has put himself in the forefront. The Democratic ambivalence stems from liberal concerns about climate change. The Party basically doesnât believe in carbon based energy and, therefore, opposes oil exploration. Thatâs why Obama pushes the windfall profits tax on oil companies - a step that tells them âyou drill, you find oil, and weâll take away your profits.â But Americans have their priorities in order: more oil, more drilling AND alternative energy sources, flex-fuel cars, plug in vehicles and nuclear power. With his willingness to respond to the gas price crisis with bold measures, McCain shows himself to be a pragmatist while Obama comes off as an ideologue to puts climate change ahead of making it possible for the average American to get to work. Of course, the high price of gas makes it inevitable that the US will lead the world in fighting climate change. With $5 gas, Americans will switch en masse to cars that burn less gasoline. Already we have cut our oil consumption by 500,000 barrels a day in the past year (about a 3% cut). The move away from oil will be exponential from here on out, dooming radical Islam and reversing climate change at the same time. But while we are getting new cars, we need more oil and McCain has flanked Obama on this issue. Big time."
IMAO: Obama Vows to Ban Profits in First 100 Days "WASHINGTON (AP) â Sen. Barack Obama on Sunday said as president he would strengthen government oversight of energy traders he blames in large part for the skyrocketing price of oil. "Read my lips: No New Profits!" "Some people blame low oil supplies or high oil demand for the recent spike in gasoline prices," said the presidential hopeful, "but these are just outdated economic theories. The real cause is speculative trading in the oil futures market. Trading by unscrupulous, unpatriotic profit-mongers. My administration will put a stop to this by making it illegal to sell oil futures for more than was paid for them. Without the market distortion caused by the so-called 'profit-motive', our energy market - under the prudent and level-headed guidance of the federal government - will once again become both free and fair." Obama said that he intended to implement his "No New Profits" pledge within his administration's first 100 days, promising to expand his economy-saving plan to other markets as his tenure progressed. "Although I've long stood against the 'excessive' profits made by oil companies," said Obama, "the fact is that ALL profits are inherently excessive. That's why I vow to extend this program to other markets as well. Food, precious metals, stocks, bonds - all will eventually be both bought and sold 'at cost'. With all price fluctuations banned by the force of law, America will finally have a stable, sustainable, plannable future, unmarred by the evils of fear or uncertainty." The Democratic contender, however, reassured his audience that this new stability would not interfere with the creation and implementation of new government programs. "Some of my critics contend that without profits, we would be unable to collect the new taxes necessary to implement important new government programs like Universal Health Care, but we will find a way to make the wealthy pay their fair share. They'll just have to sell off their mansions and limousines." "At cost, of course," he concluded."
I just heard these genuises on CSPAN. This moron Krapels said specs buying oil futures are like some rich speculator started buying all the houses in yur neighborhood. He doesn't seem to appreciate the difference in buying a house and being long a futures contract. Masters could barely talk, one of the dumbest sounding people I have ever heard testify to congress. Gheit made little sense either. Of course they sounded like Nobel prize winners compared to the committee chairman, one Bart Stupak of Michigan.
What I don't understand is how can we (the US) stop speculation on oil. Yes, we can stop our pension funds etc from being in that market (oil futures) but oil speculation will go on, if not here, then in London, Dubai etc, right? We've got to do all of these things in parallel: limit speculation, drill, build better cars, deploy more aggressively energy technologies we have and also continue exploring alternative types of energy.
From Senator Mitch McConnell: Gas Prices Petition For too long, Washington Democrats have refused to find real answers to Americaâs energy challenges. Instead of working toward energy independence, their reaction is to beg Arab nations for more $135 per barrel oil. The result? Since Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid took over the Congress 18 months ago, the price of gas has increased from $2.33 to $4.02 per gallon -- an increase of nearly 73% -- and yet they have failed to offer any plan to attack this problem. We have opportunities and solutions right here at home. Congress should be expanding energy exploration through: supporting environmentally responsible exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; allowing limited deep sea exploration off of the U.S. Coast to take advantage of available resources ; repealing bureaucratic barriers to innovation which can lead to less expensive sources of energy, including oil from shale and new hybrid batteries; development of coal-to-liquid fuels, using Americaâs most abundant energy resource to replace Middle Eastern oil promoting new conservation and âgreenâ sources of fuels. This common sense action plan will lead to lower energy costs by reducing our dependence on costly foreign oil and creating good-paying jobs both in Kentucky and across the country. Americans donât hide from challenges; we work hard to find solutions. And the demand for energy continues to rise both within our borders and across the globe. Thatâs why we must act now to increase our energy supply to secure our independence from foreign oil and give our overburdened citizens some relief. Please join me in supporting S.2958, the American Energy Production Act, by completing the short form below and submitting your information to sign this petition. Thanks in advance for your help with this important cause. Petition at: http://www.teammitch.com/site/c.lsK....asp?c=lsKWL9PKLpF&b=4244179&msource=MM0806E1