Hi Ray - yeah the CAFE increases are pretty small - but easily politically feasible. When even Car & Driver editorials are calling for higher standards, it would not take much political courage to push thru higher numbers. However, with GM and Ford now a junk status, hitting SUVs right now could push them over the edge, and lead to a political backlash all through the rust belt.
Will agree that transport uses the vast majority of oil.
This is as close to a reality based Bill - not much 'hydrogen economy' wishful thinking in it. I do need to review it, I hope the energy efficent Hooters is still in the bill.
The Rocky Mountain stuff isn't marginal, it's solid (15-20 years ago it was kinda of new) and the geology has become much better known.
A lot of the West is not 'fragile' it's close to raw rock, with a surface made up of volcanic ash fall or lava, or places where glaciers pushed all the top soil off.
The 'commons' was originaly a term for a place cattle and sheep could graze. I'm not sure you or I are going to lose much sleep over a place that takes 50+ acres to support one skinny cow. (or cow unit, as the BLM terms it.)
Of course, if we were farmers getting paid not to grow something, we would not want to see an oil well which might impead our non-growing.
As for the ground water, the bonding requirements and cementing technology for wells are much better, so ground water contamination is much less likely.
Besides, most Western States have towns and features named "Bad Water", "Alkali Flats" , and "Dead Horse Wells" - hints that the water wasn't that great to start with.
Sensitive places like the Warner Antelope Refuge aren't going to be drilled. But if you've driven from Lake Albert up to Burns - 90% of that should be open.
There are lots of places in the Great Basin that are so desolate the UFOs don't even visit.... |
