Why Offshore Drilling Can Bridge Gap to U.S. Energy Future

The Democratic and Republican conventions have arrived amidst a litany of calls for government-sponsored energy projects on the level of Apollo. Despite progress in fields from solar to wind and batteries to biofuels, Popular Mechanics' editor-in-chief says Americans should be careful what we wish for--scientists have more to offer than politicians.

Sadly, our government's track record isn't any better in picking energy sources that it does support. Coal has been a national priority ever since Jimmy Carter put on that cardigan. Yes, coal is plentiful, but it is an environmental headache all the way from strip mine to smokestack. Then there's ethanol. It was less than a year ago that leaders of both parties decided that ethanol made from corn would be a brilliant alternative to foreign oil. Speeches ... Full Story »

Posted by Kaizar Campwala
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Topics: Presidential Election 2008, Energy, Green Technology, Oil and Gas
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Posted by: Posted by Kaizar Campwala - Aug 27, 2008 - 12:18 PM PDT
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Fred Gatlin
3.6
by Fred Gatlin - Oct. 1, 2008

A relative good story about energy needs. This is a complex issue requiring a myriad of decisions, which is very difficult for our government. Making complex decisions are almost impossible for Congress and the President.

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Kaizar Campwala
3.5
by Kaizar Campwala - Oct. 1, 2008
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Norman Rogers
2.2
by Norman Rogers - Oct. 1, 2008

This story is skimpy for such a complicated subject. Certainly the government's thinking has been clouded by global warming myths. Wind and solar are borderline nonsense. Ethanol is a disaster. The government subsidizes wind, solar and ethanol. Brilliant! Natural gas is good because of the new source - shale gas. Coal is good because it is cheap and can be converted to oil. Both parties are pushing stupid policies, but the democrats are far worse because they actually believe in global warming and windmills.

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Ormond Otvos
1.8
by Ormond Otvos - Oct. 1, 2008

Bad journalism. Looks like a Pickens plant. Ignores conservation, rapid ramp up of solar, wind. Ignores grid-tied efficiences. Makes ethanol decision look like scientists did it. Scientists advised against grain-based ethanol. Never mentions Energy Return on Investment. Doesn't mention vast advances in nuclear Modularized Pebble Bed Reactors as baseload. Doesn't mention infrastructure tie-ins with employment as alternative to building cars. Doesn't mention mass transit. Just another pitch for more CO2 from sources Pickens can get rich from: Natural gas will rise in price, of course.

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Howard Lutnick
1.0
by Howard Lutnick - Oct. 1, 2008

Norman Rogers is a lazy man. Smoking cigars on the back lawn all day. Has not worked an honest day in a long time. Flatulence is his middle name. Viagra is the code name for his wild side. Dishonesty is the only reason for him to break a sweat. Where is a rich, hard-working woman, that Norman can meet.... So that he can continue his sloth-like life? And can she buy him a real big house? He has a lot of baggage to move in. Norman is impotent. Norman has many children, and ex-wives, most of which, hate him... cause he is a shit! Norman has legal judgements against him, cause he is a bad man! Norman is boring. Norman is going to rot in hell, because of all the evil that he has committed! Norman does not know... but within the last ... More »

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