Wally:
RE: At the risk of over simplifying a complex issue, why are we building more electrical power plants fueled by natural gas, when gas seems to be in short supply (without trying to increase the gas supply at the same time)?
I've been puzzled by this too. Also, there has been a giant push to convert diesel buses and other trucks to natural gas...where do you suppose all that natural gas comes from, and what impact does it's consumption have on the rest of the natural gas market??
RE: Coal-fired plants.
I'm no environmental expert, but I believe that coal plants produce huge amounts of toxic gases. Also, and perhaps more importantly, coal plants produce vast amounts of fine particulates, which science may prove have far-reaching health effects. (Actually, the ill effects of coal dust were proven 100+ years ago in Europe...though I suspect that pollution control efforts have made great advances since...)
What amazes me the most, though, is the virtual absence of political attention to this problem (vis a vis a national energy policy), as you mentioned. No energy policy toward oil, gas, natural gas, or alternatives. Politicians will fawn all over themselves to prevent 100 jobs from leaving the state, but seemingly ignore billions of dollars leaving California into the pockets of out-of-state energy barons. Or...at least ignore the problem until it has mushroomed into a disaster. (Where where California politicians one, two, or three years ago on this issue???)
Oh...the requisite brinker thought...
I wonder if this energy problem in California will become an exogenous event that may explain BB's recent blunders?
Regards,
Bill Shepherd |
