U.S urges Alberta to expand oilsands by "five-fold"

[RougeUnderoos]

It's no secret that I'm a bit of a dummy, but when George was giving us all that blunt talk about how America is addicted to oil I thought at least part of the idea was to try to use less, not switch to a better looking dealer and use more of it.

[Lurch]

It would be nice if you would elaborate on this statement. I'm not sure if you said this 'tongue in cheek' or you are completely oblivious to reality.

As noted by Bobblehead (thanks!), very much tongue in cheek. Although, I must admit my personal hard work would be 17% responsible for raising world oil prices and putting Alberta in such an envious position, but unfortunately my lazy brother in SK has counteracted my efforts, and the oil price is now solely a world market as a result.

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

It's no secret that I'm a bit of a dummy, but when George was giving us all that blunt talk about how America is addicted to oil I thought at least part of the idea was to try to use less, not switch to a better looking dealer and use more of it.

Well in 2 years time you'll have a whole new president saying the same thing.

If you are a betting man. Put your money on more use in the future. China and India are gobbling up oil and should pass the US in consumption.

So the question is...

Will Alberta get smart and sink some of the profits into new tech??? Do we have those kind of leaders?

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

It's no secret that I'm a bit of a dummy, but when George was giving us all that blunt talk about how America is addicted to oil I thought at least part of the idea was to try to use less, not switch to a better looking dealer and use more of it.

It's not about using more, it is about being less dependant on the middle east.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

It's not about using more, it is about being less dependant on the middle east.

No, it may not be about using more, but that is part of the message. Decrease Middle East dependency by 1.5 million barrels a day, increase Canadian dependency by 4 million barrels a day. I know it's a little more complicated than that, but all signs point to the gas station.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

No, it may not be about using more, but that is part of the message. Decrease Middle East dependency by 1.5 million barrels a day, increase Canadian dependency by 4 million barrels a day. I know it's a little more complicated than that, but all signs point to the gas station.

OK.

If you are anyone you know have suggestions on how to move away from oil dependancy, GWB and the rest of the world are all ears.

My point is that George, the US and everyone else have a serious problem with dependancy to fossil fuel energy. And nobody knows what the solution is. Since the problem isn't solved it's easy to blame George or those greedy americans or the mean old oil companies (I know you just singled out GWB) but everyone is to blame ... or better put everyone is in this together.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

OK.

If you are anyone you know have suggestions on how to move away from oil dependancy, GWB and the rest of the world are all ears.

My point is that George, the US and everyone else have a serious problem with dependancy to fossil fuel energy. And nobody knows what the solution is. Since the problem isn't solved it's easy to blame George or those greedy americans or the mean old oil companies (I know you just singled out GWB) but everyone is to blame ... or better put everyone is in this together.

I don't expect anyone to move away from oil dependency any time soon, but they could think of a compromise. Something along the lines of "use less oil, get more from Canada" instead of "use less oil from the Middle East, use a lot more from Canada".

It can't be all that difficult to use technology that they already have to make the average car on the road 10 or even 20% more fuel efficient over the next decade. That would put a significant dent in the 1.5 million barrels a day they need from the Middle East.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

If you are anyone you know have suggestions on how to move away from oil dependancy, GWB and the rest of the world are all ears.

Whatever happened to the DYI America we all know and love? Come on, this is a country that put a man on the frickin' moon in under a decade, and a nuclear device in under 5, because they collectively decided to put their minds to it.

If the U.S made a decision today that an alternative energy source is as big a priority as those two challenges were (and personally, ensuring that your country doesn't come to a total and utter standstill is probably more urgent than beating the russians to giant rock), it could solve this problem in 10 years time.

The U.S needs to challenge it self and figure out an energy source that is not about being more efficient with oil, but having nothing to do with oil period. It's not an easy challenge, but the U.S has some of the smartest people on earth within it's disposal. It can make it happen if it wants it to happen.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

OK.

If you are anyone you know have suggestions on how to move away from oil dependancy, GWB and the rest of the world are all ears.

My point is that George, the US and everyone else have a serious problem with dependancy to fossil fuel energy. And nobody knows what the solution is. Since the problem isn't solved it's easy to blame George or those greedy americans or the mean old oil companies (I know you just singled out GWB) but everyone is to blame ... or better put everyone is in this together.

At one time there was a law that car makers had to have a certain MPG overall. This seemed to work and encourage manufactureers to develope more fuel efficient vehicles.

I believe trucks were exempt and has led to SUVs being classified as trucks and the gas guzzling has escalated.
George could have done something.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

OK.

If you are anyone you know have suggestions on how to move away from oil dependancy, GWB and the rest of the world are all ears.

My point is that George, the US and everyone else have a serious problem with dependancy to fossil fuel energy. And nobody knows what the solution is. Since the problem isn't solved it's easy to blame George or those greedy americans or the mean old oil companies (I know you just singled out GWB) but everyone is to blame ... or better put everyone is in this together.

Funny you should say that . . . . front page of the Wall Street Journal today makes this observation:

Mild winter weather has something to do with it. So does heavy selling by financial funds. But a largely overlooked factor in the recent plunge in oil prices may portend an end to the multiyear rise in crude: For the first time in years, the developed world is burning less of it.

Fresh data from the International Energy Agency show oil consumption in the 30 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development fell 0.6% in 2006. Though the decline appears small, it marks the first annual drop in more than 20 years among the OECD countries,

http://users1.wsj.com/lmda/do/checkL..._whats_news_us

Sorry, I don't have access to the full article but I'm sure other articles on this will pop up.

Cowperson

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Whatever happened to the DYI America we all know and love? Come on, this is a country that put a man on the frickin' moon in under a decade, and a nuclear device in under 5, because they collectively decided to put their minds to it.

If the U.S made a decision today that an alternative energy source is as big a priority as those two challenges were (and personally, ensuring that your country doesn't come to a total and utter standstill is probably more urgent than beating the russians to giant rock), it could solve this problem in 10 years time.

The U.S needs to challenge it self and figure out an energy source that is not about being more efficient with oil, but having nothing to do with oil period. It's not an easy challenge, but the U.S has some of the smartest people on earth within it's disposal. It can make it happen if it wants it to happen.

Those were all done under war time conditions, so all the Americans need to do is start a war! Wait a sec.....

All jokes aside, the conditions where a lot of breakthrough innovations were made were done under reactionary circumstances. It's kind of the way politics seems to work (from what I've seen, anyway). Don't worry about it until it's a problem, even though you can see that it's GOING to be a problem in the future. My guess is they do f-all until we live in Costners waterworld, or China and India put a big straw into the middle east and suck all the reserves out of it.

[Lurch]

Fresh data from the International Energy Agency show oil consumption in the 30 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development fell 0.6% in 2006. Though the decline appears small, it marks the first annual drop in more than 20 years among the OECD countries,

Just my opinion, but I would bet that this is a result of very high prices in 2005 and the first half of 2006. I'd lay good odds against an actual decline this year, especially if prices stay around $50/bbl. US consumers are nothing, if not short-sighted. SUV sales plummeted in 2004 to early 2006 - any bets on a recovery in that sector?

I think the article is remarkably poorly informed for the WSJ, at least from what is posted. If you look back to oil consumption declines in the early 80's during the last big price spike, OECD consumption actually fell over 5% from 1980 to 1981, and by nearly 12% by 1983. In fact, OECD consumption did not surpass 1980 levels until 1991 - remarkable really IMO. The OECD reaction to the latest price run-up (now over) was almost stunningly muted by comparison.

[SeeGeeWhy]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

OK.

If you are anyone you know have suggestions on how to move away from oil dependancy, GWB and the rest of the world are all ears.

My point is that George, the US and everyone else have a serious problem with dependancy to fossil fuel energy. And nobody knows what the solution is. Since the problem isn't solved it's easy to blame George or those greedy americans or the mean old oil companies (I know you just singled out GWB) but everyone is to blame ... or better put everyone is in this together.

It is going to take a major shift in the life style of so called "first world nations".

The lowest hanging fruit for petroleum use is personal automotive transport. Figure out what it means to reduce that, and you are well on your way to solving the problem.

Oil will always have its uses, though.