Ames Jones: More Oil! More Gas!

by: Phillip Martin, Progress Texas

Sun Oct 14, 2007 at 08:57 AM CDT

In an op-ed in the Houston Chronicle this morning, Republican Elizabeth Ames Jones --- our current Railroad Commissioner of Texas --- argues for (surprise, surprise) the expanded use of oil and natural gas. Here are some of her arguments:

Worldwide energy consumption is expected to increase 40 percent in the next 25 years, and widespread adoption of alternative energy sources is decades away.
It's a traditional talking point of conservatives to talk about effective use of alternative energies as if it's going to happen around the same time as we have flying cars. The fact, though, is that renewable energy and energy efficient technology are available today. Wind and solar power are available now -- businesses just need to invest in them.
Modifying our personal behavior to conserve energy by doing such things as using better light bulbs, insulating our homes, and buying better appliances is simple. Republicans argue that forcing anyone to modify their behavior in such a way is unfair and unrealistic -- but remember, these are the same people who want to force families to love one another.
Strict environmental rules and targeted tax credits for drilling in hard-to-reach reservoirs are tools that have kept Texas the nation's top producer of oil and natural gas.
Don't get too impressed by those "strict environmental rules" -- especially when you remember that Houston competed with L.A. for dirtiest air. Or the fact that, " Texas leads the nation in the number of treatment plants and industrial facilities that fail to meet pollution standards for the wastewater they dump into rivers and streams." (Source).
Our country's energy dependency makes us dangerously vulnerable in economic terms and compromises our national security.
Not drilling for oil in the Arctic Wildlife National Refuge (which Ames Jones advocates for) endangers our national security --- but starting a war in Iraq makes us totally safe.

I'd be much more impressed with the argument by Ames Jones if there was a straight-up capitalist argument: it helps profits to drill for oil and gas. Pretending that it's environmentally safe and that we need to drill for oil to protect our national security is disingenuous.

If we really want to protect our energy dependence, then we need to live cleaner lives. Oh, and maybe listen a little to that Nobel prize winner.

Tags: Elizabeth Ames Jones, Energy, pollution, On the Issues, (All Tags)

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Ames Jones: More Oil! More Gas! | 1 comments

Ames Jones: More Oil! More Gas! (0.00 / 0)

Phillip,

There is going to be an increase of oil usage because there is going to be an ever greater population explosion creating greater need.

What I can't understand is why these socalled engery producers refuse to explore in finding ways to exploit the second most abundant massive energy source on the planet; an energy source second in power only to sunlight..that being utilizing our ocean(s) deep currents to power electrical generators.

Beleive me if manned submersibles that can submerge to well over 1000 feet can be developed...then surely hundreds if not thousands of remotely controlled "unmanned" submersibles cram packed with electric generating equipment with massive water/corrosion proof ship to shore electric cables can be developed sunk to depth and utilized to generate low cost electricity.

This is what makes me scream out loud.

Nobody in our government leadership will even respond to this when its addressed to them...and I have sent this suggestion (among other common sense suggestions) over the past 20 years to well over 100 house and senate representatives.

In the not too far distant future, as supplies are being depleted at an every increasing rate, crude oil is going to be needed more to keep all the wheels and gears of industry that we depend on to keep everything going LUBRICATED.

One can't help but notice is that only "new technologies" are being concentrated on are the things that can be controlled by the mega-energy producers now in control of all the oil.

One of the reasons, if not THE reason the mega-energy producers won't do anymore about developing solar energy is because it would be unconstitutional for the government to grant them license to sell energy made from sunlight.

On the other hand, the deep ocean current energy sources, like the Gulf Stream as one example, is in international territory and fair game for anyone with the guts to develop and use it.

Agree or not?

Shed your politcal party skins and think for yourself...you'll find it much more refreshing than sucking on the tailpipe of a political party propaganda machine.

by: The Independent Ax @ Tue Oct 16, 2007 at 16:06:17 PM UTC

Ames Jones: More Oil! More Gas! | 1 comments

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