Junk Science: Greens Thwart Gasoline Production

[XDConvert9mm]

Junk Science: Greens Thwart Gasoline Production

Thursday, June 12, 2008
By Steven Milloy

Four-plus-dollar gasoline is forcing Americans to realize that we need increased domestic oil production to meet our ever-growing demand for affordable fuel. But even if the greens lose the political battle over drilling offshore and in places like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, they nevertheless are way ahead of the game as they implement a back-up plan to make sure that not a drop of that oil ever eases our gasoline crunch.

The Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council, or NRDC, successfully pressured the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to block ConocoPhillips’ expansion of its Roxana, Ill., gasoline refinery, which processes heavy crude oil from Canada, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

The project would have expanded the volume of Canadian crude processed from 60,000 barrels per day to more than 500,000 barrels a day by 2015. After the Illinois EPA had approved the expansion, the green groups petitioned the federal EPA to block it, alleging ConocoPhillips wasn’t using the best available technology for reducing emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

Apparently, the plant’s planned 95 percent reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions and 25 percent reduction in nitrogen oxides wasn’t green enough. NRDC’s opposition is quite ironic since ConocoPhillips and the activist group actually are teammates in the global warming game. Both belong to the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, a coalition of eco-activist groups and large companies that is lobbying for global warming regulation.

So even though ConocoPhillips is aiding and abetting the NRDC to achieve the green dream of absolute government control over the U.S. energy supply, the enviros still are in take-no-prisoners mode, refusing to allow the expansion of a single refinery.

Imagine what the rest of us can expect from the greens.
Meanwhile, in California, green groups are working through the state attorney general’s office to block the upgrade of the Chevron refinery in the city of Richmond. The $800 million upgrade essentially would expand the useable oil supply by permitting the refinery to process lower-quality, less-expensive crude oil.

California Attorney General, ex-Gov. and climate crusader Jerry Brown claims the upgrade will produce an additional 900,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year. But Chevron says the upgrade actually will reduce the emissions by 220,000 tons.

Whose figure is closer to the truth?

It’s hard to know for sure at this point, but it’s worth noting that material false statements made by Chevron are prosecutable under the federal securities laws and California state law, while Brown and the activists pretty much can say whatever they want without legal accountability.

Whatever the facts are, Brown and the city of Richmond insist that Chevron eliminate 900,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions so that the upgrade will be "carbon neutral." While the greens remain vehemently opposed to the project, it seems their plans for blocking the refinery might go awry as Brown and the local government eventually may side with Chevron rather than the greens, but only because the company has deep pockets and is open to being shaken down.

Brown and the city have proposed that Chevron ensure that half the total emissions-reduction projects be undertaken on-site at the refinery and the other half be done either in the city of Richmond itself or elsewhere in California.

Translating the latter part of this "offer that can’t be refused:" Chevron essentially must purchase 450,000 tons of "carbon credits" annually from the city of Richmond or the state. As the street value of carbon credits is about $10 per ton, Chevron is being "green-mailed" to the tune of perhaps $4.5 million per year to upgrade its refinery — amounting to perhaps a 1 percent annual "tax" on the gains in gross revenue produced by the upgrade. And the local government officials are not the least embarrassed about this extortion.

"When you’re dealing with a refinery where the project will cost close to a billion dollars and someone like Chevron with tremendous resources, that’s not a constraint, so they should do everything possible," an unidentified state official told Carbon Control News in a June 9 article.

The farcical nature of the entire transaction is underscored by that state official’s apparent lack of understanding about how greenhouse gas-induced global warming is supposed to work.

The official told Carbon Control News that the greenhouse gas emission reductions "are vital to protect low-income minority communities in the Richmond area, which already suffer disproportionate pollution impacts."
Climate alarmism, of course, is based on the notion of global emissions causing global warming, not local emissions causing local warming; moreover, the allegation that low-income minority populations are disproportionately harmed by industrial emissions — the basis of the so-called "environmental justice" concept of the 1990s — hasn’t stuck since no scientific evidence supports it.

Though green and local government shenanigans can be a source of endless amusement, let’s get back to the main point. As the 2005 hurricane season dramatized, oil production, itself, is only one factor in determining gasoline supply and prices.

Damage to Gulf Coast refineries by hurricanes Katrina and Rita reduced gasoline supplies and increased prices worldwide — a real problem given that U.S. refineries operate at or near capacity thanks to other green constraints.

We may produce all the oil we need, but if we can’t refine it, then it won’t do much for reducing gasoline supply problems. So while working to expand domestic drilling, we’ll simultaneously need to expand domestic refining capacity.

It will be quite the Pyrrhic victory to finally produce oil from ANWR and then not be able to do anything with it.

FOXNews.com - Junk Science: Greens Thwart Gasoline Production - Opinion

With all the Green debate going on I thought this article to be very relevant. It will serve us no purpose to generate more Oil domestically if we won't be allowed to refine it.

The bolded portion is worthy of particular note because the Greens are able to make any absurd claim they want with no repercussions in their quest to finish killing this economy.

Everyone's looking for scapegoats. The above IMO identifies a fair sized portion of the problem. There are others to be sure, primarily 30 years worth of Congressional idiocy on this issue.

Get your bicycles in shape everybody! We're gonna need em.

ETA: This is a Fox/Faux News story, so all with objections to the source please be prepared with backup data from an equally reputable source.

[JeffXD]

Originally Posted by XDConvert9mm

Get your bicycles in shape everybody! We're gonna need em.

Forget a bicycle, I am getting horses and a wagon. And thats when tend to you and yours really comes into play. When I use deadly force to protect what I am raising and growing.

[DanTheEldest]

I'm beginning to think there needs to be a member-based nationwide lobbying organization established for "petroleum rights" in the same way that the NRA, GOA, etc. work for gun owners. Like it or not, everybody needs gas and this intentional hobbling of our economy by greenies goes far beyond simple concern for the ecosystem and needs to be counteracted.

[JeffXD]

Originally Posted by DanTheEldest

I'm beginning to think there needs to be a member-based nationwide lobbying organization established for "petroleum rights" in the same way that the NRA, GOA, etc. work for gun owners. This intentional hobbling of our economy by greenies goes far beyond simple concern for the ecosystem and needs to be counteracted.

But the green crowd is doing what is "best" for the planet and everyone on it. It doesn't matter that most of us don't know we need protection from ourselves.

I fear this is a run away train that has alerady left the platform. It has reached a point where if one isn't totally supportive of "green initiaves" they are looked down upon as second class. More and more politicans are getting on board, not because they believe this crap but for reasons of electability. Kids are being indoctrinated with this stuff. As bad if not worse than teaching kids that ALL guns are bad. The tragic about it all, I would venture to say that many of the people that are supportive of the oil hatred and other environmental causes don't even know why they support them other than "Its the right thing to do".

I have said it before, and I guess I probably have to say it again. I am not against seeking alternative energy sources. I am however against the demonizing of pertroleum and doing everything possible to shut down anything related to exploration and production of petroleum. Go find something to replace petroleum if you want to, but don't cut off the ability to find and process it domestically in the interim. That WILL result in further economic problems and is just plain stupid. I am also not sure if they realize that nearly EVERYTHING we use daily is dependent on oil in someway during its production. Cut off oil and we are essentially back to pre World War II times. Hell, your toothbrush is even dependent on petroleum.

So, if the envrionmental types want to go down this road then they better be ready to live the life that goes along with it.

[AZXD]

Solution ??

[Brickboy240]

The Green Mafia loves the high gas prices. They secretly wish they'd go higher, quicker...this is how they plan on forcing us out of our cars. This is actually something they LIKE.

They don't care how it wrecks the overall economy. They don't care if you have to go into debt paying for gas or sell your car or lose your job. They don't care if you cannot get anywhere due to the lack of mass transportation. They don't care how many people in the enegry sector lose their good paying jobs. They don't care if you sit in a 95 degree house in July and sweat your butt off or sit in a 30 degree house in January and shiver. They don't care if you have to ride a bike everywhere or walk many miles. They don't care if you are comfortable and in fact see YOUR discomfort as a badge of honor in their crusad

(remember Obama's "we just cant keep drivin our SUVs and keep the thermostat at 72 degrees anymore" speech?)

The only thing that matters to these guys is us NOT using any more oil, period. Thats all they care about.

They have NO real plans to introduce alternative fuels but only to ask existing privately owned businesses to stop doing what they are in business to do and try something else. Their big plan is "don't use oil, period" ... thats it. Is that a plan to you?

Oh...and the supposed global warming? Well...what if we all live like its 1840 and the warming continues? Will the Green Mafia take the blame? Of course not! They'll be long gone or they'll say "we did not do enough...sooner" or some other nonsense. The fact is that if the Green Mafia is dead-ass wrong...they take no responsiblilty for actually being wrong.

Now..knowing this...why would anyone support these modern day mafioso types and their plans? Would any of you allow someone to set up your business plans if they had no responsibility or impact if thigs go awry or they are wrong? Who conducts business like this? That is exactly what they're suggesting we do...is it not?

The oil, coal and automobile industry bring you things that make your life easier and more comfortable. The Greens don't bring you a damned thing and ask you to give up your comforts and live like it was the 1700s

Knowing this..which group would YOU rather support and see prosper the most?

- brickboy240

[JeffXD]

AZXD... Why are you brining Jimmy Carter into this?

[AZXD]

Couple that statement with Michelle Obama's stump speech words ...

"And Barack Obama will require you to work.

He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism, that you put down your division, that you come out of your isolation, that you move out of your comfort zones, that you push yourselves to be better, and that you engage.

Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual - uninvolved, uninformed..."

and you do find a pretty picture being painted as to the mentality being used to control the situation and the people via legislative strangulation.

Originally Posted by Brickboy240

(remember Obama's "we just cant keep drivin our SUVs and keep the thermostat at 72 degrees anymore" speech?)
- brickboy240

I agree. They intend to make the population suffer via high prices. The agenda cannot be met head-on ... So they are using side-door methods to force their will upon the nation.

It makes me sick, anrgy, and having feeling of contempt toward the whole process.

[AZXD]

Hmmm, Hadn't thought of it that way.
I guess hitting a few with a hammer would have the same effect

Originally Posted by JeffXD

AZXD... Why are you brining Jimmy Carter into this?

[Sirius1963]

Originally Posted by Brickboy240

They have NO real plans to introduce alternative fuels but only to ask existing privately owned businesses to stop doing what they are in business to do and try something else. Their big plan is "don't use oil, period" ... thats it. Is that a plan to you?

- brickboy240

That's an easy plan to come up with!

I'm surprised nobody posted the article (or I just missed it) about Dems wanting to tax oil Company profits.
Senate Republicans block proposal on oil profit tax - Jun. 10, 2008

The Democratic energy package would have imposed a tax on any "unreasonable" profits of the five largest U.S. oil companies and given the federal government more power to address oil market speculation that the bill's supporters argue has added to the crude oil price surge.
"Americans are furious about what's going on," declared Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and want Congress to do something about oil company profits and "an orgy of speculation" on oil markets.

Makes you wonder that "unreasonable" is... among other things.