Needlenose

The latest in novel renewable fuel sources - one for which the U.S. and Western Europe have vast reserves.

For some time now I’ve been meaning to write an indepth, thoughful post describing the two possible models for alternative energy development in the U.S. - centralized power production in high-sun regions and shipping the power long distances versus decentralized power production using a ‘next generation’ power grid.

But in another proof that procrastination (sometimes) pays off, this nice SF Chronicle staff writer has already done the work - getting renewable power to the people.

Check out this Scientific American article that details the massive amounts of water used to produce our energy - in an increasingly water-strapped world. Then consider one of the issues with the T. Boone Pickens energy plan - much of the U.S. natural gas reserves require - you guessed it - lots of water to extract. And some ‘fracking’ chemical additive whose identify the industry refuses to divulge.

Nope, no legacy peace treaty...just a stinking pile of crap!

A couple of days ago, I was joking about the Shrubya transition plan - wondering if he would leave a trashed WH and pop all the “Os” out of the computer keyboards.  But on seeing Condi’s failure to make even an iota of progress on a ‘legacy’ peace deal in the cis-Jordan, I further reflected on the transition from Clinton to Shrubya, then contrasted it with the current transition.  Clinton left Shrubya with:

* a balanced budget
* $2 billion budget surplus
* under $6 trillion national debt
* fewer Federal employees than his predecessor
* an economic boom
* high levels of unemployment
* the virtual elimination of Big Ag agricultural subsidies
* a 98% agreed-upon peace deal for the cis-Jordan involving S. Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, the occupied territories and Jerusalem with Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinians
* an anti-nuke deal with Little Kim in N. Korea

What presents have King George the Witless left for Obama?

* $400+ billion dollar budget deficit (not counting the cost of the Iraq war)
* $12 trillion national debt (doubled in 8 years)
* a surge in the number of federal employees and paid political appointees
* the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression
* 6.5%+ unemployment highest level in 14 years (since his daddy, King George the Clueless)
* unprecedented levels of corporate welfare Big Ag and Big Oil tax breaks and subsidies
* complete breakdown of cis-Jordan peace talks and 2nd intifada, massive unrest and hardship in the occupied territories and regional ‘cold war’
* Nuclear-armed Little Kim
* election of hard-liners in Iran, virtual elimination of moderate faction
* And to top all that off - a failed costly war in Iraq and a failing war in Afghanistan

And to remember King George the Witless and TurdBlossom’s biggest complaint was a few computer keyboards missing “Ws.” I never thought I’d miss Clinton.

My gut reaction to the thought of bailing out those U.S. car companies who have been pushing massive, dangerous polluting gas guzzlers on us for obscene profits and who have been shamelessley lobbying Congress to oppose CAFE standards over the last decade is - fuck them!

But on reflection, here is the perfect opportunity to get what we want, while they are in distress.  Sure, let’s bail them out, but only if:

The government gets a significant piece of each company (for some period);

The companies are unable to lobby Congress during the bailout period;

A significant chunk of the cash is put into R&D for low emission/no emission vehicles;

The company agrees to produce vehicles with 35+ MPG by 2010, 45 MGP by 2012 and 55 MPG by 2014

Otherwise, fuck ‘em, let ‘em fail.

…otherwise why would he give them so much oil?  I guess the long-running Repug embargo of Cuba will soon come to a screeching halt.  Ironic, no?

Neo-Socialist Leaders of the Western Hemisphere: Chavez, Bush & Morales

Chavez & Morales will no doubt applaude Shrubya’s socialist nationalizing of some US banks; still, I’d bet they are puzzled as to why he didn’t start with the more profitable oil industry rather than the depressed financial services sector.

Ex-Soviet Man Buddy took me to task for T. Boone Picken’s ad for the Picken’s alternative energy plan that’s currently running on the site.  Yes, T. Boone is a reprehensible Repug who helped finance the Swift Boat Pricks in ‘04 (amongst other crappy actions).  Yes, his plan is self-serving (as he owns NG and wind power resources) and rather limited.

However, in defense of Pickens, he is showing some leadership on the subject, investing millions of his own bucks and his time at a time when our elected leaders are standing around like clowns in the jungle when asked about the subject.

When I get some time, I want to write an in-depth post about two potential alternative energy futures, depending on the ‘plan’ we follow.  I don’t actually endorse Picken’s plan, it represents the ‘wrong’ approach to solving our problems.  However, what he is laying out is significantly better than the status quo.

Ex-Soviet Man Buddy asked me “If Shrubya started an alternative energy project on his Crawford Ranch in 2009, and wanted to advertise on on Needlenose, would I put up his ad?”  If it’s really about alternative energy, hell yeah!

Seems like everybody is coming out of the woodwork nowadays with a plan for U.S. energy independence ‘within 10 years’ based on renewable energy.

Oilman & corporate raider T. Boone Pickens has spent a bundle recently on TV & news ads pushing his Pickens Plan. I haven’t had a chance to go through it yet, but I’m going to guess that it involves all the ‘usual corporate suspects’ still sending us monthly bills for power.

Former VP and failed Dem Prez candidate Al Gore is announcing his own 10-year renewable energy plan today. Hopefully I’ll get some time this weekend to pore through the wonkery.

Kinda reminds me of that other crazy Texan, Ross Perot, during one of the Prez debates back in the day: “Lot of plans out there…just gotta pick one!” That’s the key ingredient missing - serious Federal leadership on the matter. Currently both Dem & Repug ‘Congressionals’ seem obsessed with the long established energy policy: giving rim jobs to Big Oil in exchange for campaign contributions.