Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by intrepid on April 17, 2009 at 9:17

Lloyd Doggett never bothered to reply to me when I wrote him about supporting natural gas as a transportation fuel.

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Permalink Reply by Jon Williamson on April 17, 2009 at 10:06

We just need to keep hammering them. They almost expect us to all go away. That has pretty much been the American way, blindly following.

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Permalink Reply by intrepid on April 17, 2009 at 14:28

I think they just haven't "got it" yet that gas can really help the country make the turn. Somehow we need to help them "get it".

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Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on April 17, 2009 at 14:51

intrepid. I am afraid the only guaranteed way to get a national energy policy that places an emphasis on natural gas is for the ng stake holders to give bigger campaign contributions to members of congress than the coal lobby. Facts and common sense just have never seemed to work. And narrow regional interests will fight to the bitter end to maintain their industry and jobs regardless of any irrefutable link to affects on climate damage.

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Permalink Reply by The_Baron on April 20, 2009 at 4:15

As long as coal is the cheapest way to generate electicity, it will be hard to ban lignite. Taxes and stiffer regulations on coal will cause power companies to switch, but with much of our infrastructure based on coal any switchover will be slow. In the meantime, those who can least afford it will bear the brunt of higher electrical rates.

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Permalink Reply by The_Baron on April 20, 2009 at 5:42

I agree that in the long term coal is more expensive, that is why most new power plants are gas fired.

The problem is not with the new plants, but the exisitng infrastructure. Almost half of our nations electricity is derived from coal. Any switchover will be slow.

Permalink Reply by The_Baron on April 20, 2009 at 6:37

You say punished severly, but the utiilities will only pass on any taxes or costs from cap and trade to the consumer. Hence my arguement that the poor will suffer the most as rates rise to compensate for the tax.

Permalink Reply by The_Baron on April 20, 2009 at 7:21

I am not disputing the bad effects of coal.

As someone who derives his income from the exploration of oil and gas, I see coal as a dirty and less desirable form of energy. That does not change the fact that it is cheap.

As for Tobacco, I smoke. I am an educated intelligent person who knows about the evils of tobbacco. I pay more for insurance because I smoke. Despite this, I enjoy it and will continue to enjoy it until communists like you take it away. I also consume salty foods, regular sugary sodas, Fast Food, alcohol, and I like my beef cooked med. rare (even burgers). I do so out of choice, because it makes me happy.

As for creating jobs, cap and trade taxes force a painful economical switch which does not create jobs, only transfers them to other fields. For every new solar panel installer working there is a coal miner out of work. These programs will also continue to grow our beauracacy.

It would be far better for the government to offer subsidies to clean energy, while and levy a small tax on "dirty" energy that rises at a slow predictble rate to account for a smooth transition.

We can not change overnight, but over time, we will change, one way or another. It would be foolish to turn our backs on a source of energy that we have in such abundace domestically.

Permalink Reply by intrepid on April 17, 2009 at 14:35

I've been acquainted with Doggett since he was a freshman Texas House member back in the early 70's.

He's a good politician. That's probably why he came across to you as helpful and honest if you only met him once.

Now, I'm not saying he's unhelpful or dishonest. He's always been a liberal and you have to keep in mind that liberals ahve never been big on promoting O&G unless they are getting some really big campaign contributions.

Like every politician Doggett doesn't seem to really understand how gas can help the country.

I think he would be more helpful if he understood.

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Permalink Reply by intrepid on April 19, 2009 at 11:53

I just read your reply in another thread about marketing CNG as a transportation fuel. Dead on accurate. Sad to say.

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Permalink Reply by Laman_71106 on April 17, 2009 at 11:34

Hey Buck, I got the same e-mail from Sen. Vitter. Must have been sent to all old phone guys.

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Permalink Reply by ken hatcher on April 17, 2009 at 13:48

Well, we know one thing....it's been awhile since we sent our email's to him so he must have received a bunch.

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