<European gas supplies and a more than gentle cough from RussiaThe Oil DrumPerhaps we are getting a little more attention>

310 comments on Tuesday Open Thread: W's Speech and Why We Should Love High Gas Prices...

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Leanan on April 25, 2006 - 10:27am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
No details yet, but I suspect it will be that ethanol thing.  That's what's causing the shortages on the east coast, Texas, etc.  He's relaxing the deadline for the switchover, probably.
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Consume More on April 25, 2006 - 12:47pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
This is correct-- Bush has asked the EPA to undo the deadline to switch away from MTBE, I believe.  

There was an interview on NPR at noon today with Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee representing the Committee on Energy and Commerce.  When invited to comment on Bush's statement today she sounded fully supportive of reducing environmental impediments to cheap gas.  I don't remember many specific quotes from the interview but "over the top" environmental protection is one that comes to mind.

So here we are. Despite decades of warnings about peak oil, and in disregard of the lessons of the 70's, we're again going to remove environmental protections so we can keep gas "cheap" in order to continue our gluttonous lifestyle.  It's just the beginning, IMO.

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Ben on April 25, 2006 - 12:53pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
It wouldn't be so bad to phase-in the Ethanol switch.  How many millions (billions) of gallons were sold with the old blend?  Waiting a month or two in some cities so that the refineries can catch up on their production won't make a long term difference.  Instead of mandating that all refineries switch today, let 30% switch this month, and another 30 in two months, etc.  In four months we've made the switch with less gnashing of teeth.

An indefinite suspension would be stupid, I think.

Finally, guess which way I think they'll go?

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Charles Mackay on April 25, 2006 - 10:53pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
The whole of GWB's four point energy program doesn't even amount to a hill of beans.

As discussed above, not adding the last 12 million barrels of oil to the SPR over the next six months isn't much.  And who here doesn't think the minute the next hurricane strikes the Gulf Coast, the SPR wouldn't be tapped anyway.  Last year the SPR was even tapped for a tug accident!

On to MTBE.  The President is only deffering the implemenation of the changeover to ethanol by 20 days.  More problematic, as far as I can tell, suppliers and providers of MTBE products will still be liable for lawsuits starting on May 6.

Tax credits - so we have a energy conservation that encourages the purchase of additional vehicles!

Hydrogen cars saving the day, don't make me laugh!

 

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tom deplume on April 26, 2006 - 11:54am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
How many beans are there in a hill? How many gallons of biodiesel per hill of beans?
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