8 Responses to The Obama Energy Plan

1. Jules Gordon says:

   October 24, 2008 at 1:27 pm

   Your Honor,

   If you wish to discuss this issue, I will be happy to.

   Let me start by saying that I have seen this list for decades.

   Nothing will happen in the implementation of any alternative fuels as long as gas costs less than $3.00.

   Already Eco investment funds are drying up since the price of gas has come down below $3.00.

   As an engineer, I have conducted many technical tasks for the Department of Energy (DOE) and found they, as in any bureaucratic entity, just process information and do not effectively achieve any technical and economic success.

   Going to the moon is one thing, determining the best technology in a menu of choices is another. The federal government is subject to political pressures (I want coal research for my state. But, congressman, there is no coal in your state.) Once failure is evident, the federal bureaucracy cannot admit failure and all kinds of excuses are cooked up including lying. IF ENRON WERE A GOVERNMENT ENTITY, IT WOULD STILL EXIST.

   The greed of the private sector can better provide economic solutions. Cheap gas cannot be surpassed at this time.(already the private sector has to take over commercial application in space)

   So let’s look at Obama’s menu of solutions, typical of the list we have seen for years as politicians repeated the mantra, “we must free ourselves of foreign oil”.

   So your honor, let me ask you a question. Do you believe that an effective solutions will be achieved in Obama’s 2 terms?

   Jules

   Jules

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2. Bill Manzi says:

   October 24, 2008 at 3:47 pm

   Some of your criticisms are valid, and your point on the current price of oil is unfortunately true. Despite that I do believe that there is an opportunity to move the ball in this area, and while I cannot say I believe that some of the target numbers will be reached, I do believe that real progress can be made. If the dollar continues to strengthen and oil continues to fall then maybe we see less progress than we hope for, but something is better than nothing.

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3. Jules Gordon says:

   October 25, 2008 at 12:09 pm

   Your Honor,

   Something is better than nothing is not efficient unless you want to waist money, a bad idea at this time.

   The government may be better off removing impediments to the development and distribution of energy and letting the private sector make it’s choice.

   The government may want to fund some basic research into long range concepts that show promise.

   My idea; Hydrogen is available for all from the air and from water and is one of the most abundant energy resources we have.

   No mining, no drilling, no messing up Ted Kennedy’s view and no refining just separate it from its molecules and use it. It can be handles similar to natural gas. Its products of combustion is water.

   The research should go into separation and safe handling.

   What do you think?

   Jules

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4. Jules Gordon says:

   October 25, 2008 at 12:12 pm

   Your Honor,

   It appears as if Obama is going to win and carry a super-majority into the legislature as well.

   However, if McCain wins I will be the most obnoxious blog mate you can imagine.

   It’s your time.

   Jules

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5. Bill Manzi says:

   October 25, 2008 at 12:21 pm

   Jules,
   With all of my strutting lately I am living in terror that a big upset occurs and I will have to face your revenge for all of my poll citations showing a big Democratic year. If things go wrong for Obama in November I just ask that you spread some of your “joy” over to Jim (the original).

   Bill

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6. Jules Gordon says:

   October 25, 2008 at 6:20 pm

   Your Honor,

   I have noticed you have thrown a blizzard of YouTube discussion at me. Your even enthused for that fine gentleman, Al Franken. I guess a state that gave rise to Jesse Ventura will think nothing of honoring Al Franken.

   My secret dream; Obama loses in a squeaker, Prop#1 votes “yes” , the federal government stops covering MassHealth.

   Nah, not likely.

   What did you think of my Hydrogen concept? As an added note, hydrogen burns (piston engines for cars, turbines for electrical power (No atomis plants needed) and it can be distributed in pipe lines to homes.

   How’s Joe Biden doing for you?

   Jules

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7. Bill Manzi says:

   October 26, 2008 at 4:01 pm

   Jules,
   I am not totally up to speed on the merits of hydrogen, but understand that it is not an “energy source” but rather a method of storing energy that has been created. If the energy created is from renewables then hydrogen is a promising avenue for the future. Hydrogen battery technology has been touted as something with great potential use. I am for more production of energy from multiple sources, but I am hung up on renewables because we need to get rid of this dependence on foreign oil, it is killing us and our economy. My statement that “something is better than nothing” was a reference to potentially not hitting the mark of twenty percent of our energy coming from renewables in ten years. If we hit fifteen percent that is something, and it certainly is better than the status quo. Drilling for more oil domestically is not a bad thing. It is just that it will not give us what we need as a nation.

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8. Jules Gordon says:

   October 26, 2008 at 7:58 pm

   Your Honor,

   We can’t discuss what we do not know. Let me educate you about hydrogen. Hydrogen is one of the most abundant energy sources in the universe. The sun works by converting hydrogen to helium in an atomic reaction.

   It is every where. If all the world were as rich as we are now and had a corresponding use of energy, hydrogen would never be used up.

   When hydrogen is burned it combines with oxygen at a 2:1 ratio (H2O) or what we call water.

   Hydrogen, when configured as a hydrogen cell, generates electricity as long as the hydrogen fuel lasts. As long hydrogen does no run out the cells generate electricity. Hydrogen can be replenished just like gas.

   Iceland has been running hydrogen car experiments and has some hydrogen “gas” stations.

   It can also be used like natural gas in a standard piston engine. Again the products of combustion are water.

   Neither you nor I know if we can add substantially to our oil stocks by domestic drilling. We will never add anything if we don’t try. Drill and find out. The taxpayer doesn’t pay for the search.

   I can see some free coffees coming from Obama’s promises which will be ineffectual, but will be costly once the super majority gets their greedy hands into the effort.

   As an aside, I see you catching hell from some of your admirers in the local paper.

   Well, I’m on your side. Whoops, maybe you did not want anyone to know that.

   Jules

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