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The Leonard Lopate Show

Is Energy Independence Desirable?

Everybody is talking about energy independence, but is it really achievable, or even desirable? Robert Bryce savagely attacks our cherished green beliefs about alternative energy sources and the entire concept of energy independence in Gusher of Lies: The Dangerous Delusions of Energy Independence.


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[1]
Posted by: Richard Perez
April 29, 2008 - 08:55AM
Bethpage NY

Pleas ask how closely he's looked at the science vis a vis the politics associated with alternative energy production (green production of a sigificant portion of our energy needs seems plausible numerically in the near term from my vantage point)? The numbers should dictate the debate not the other way around.

[2]
Posted by: Paulo
April 29, 2008 - 12:10PM
Paterson, New Jersey

My main concern about "energy independence" is the effect that extracting ourself from an interdependent economic system will have on foreign policy. There's an old saying that if goods don't cross borders, armies do. If we don't need their oil, oil-producing countries will have no value to us. Of course, oil-producing countries also funnel those financial benefits to the top, ruling class. That's a negative impact, but what will they do without oil to sell?

[3]
Posted by: anthony clune
April 29, 2008 - 01:29PM
Brooklyn

please ask about cellulosic ethanol and other emerging technologies

[4]
Posted by: Chad Harris
April 29, 2008 - 01:29PM
Ridgewood

Isn't it true that if we find solar alternatives for our entire nation we can end all of this? Can't we have battery powered cars?

This all makes no sense. It's an easy fix. The end justifies the means.

Solar collecting roads, paint, roofing tiles, the desert.

[5]
Posted by: Paulo
April 29, 2008 - 01:30PM
Paterson, New Jersey

It's been shown that blaming ethanol for the rising food prices is a red herring. The foodstuffs that have gone up in price are not used for ethanol.

I'm interested in what he has to say, but I had to call him out on that.

[6]
Posted by: markbnj
April 29, 2008 - 01:30PM
online: http://my-poem-a-day.com or markbnj.blogspot.com

I think that the speaker is currently biased since he is working as editor in chief of an industry rag.

Ask him if he thinks a "manhattan project"

development of alternate energies

(ie, RESEARCH Dollars) to get $1.00 (per watt) or less solar panels, as well as alternate ideas.

[7]
Posted by: Eric
April 29, 2008 - 01:31PM
B'klyn

But oil companies receive about 19 billion in subsidies annually. And have enjoyed this subsidy for decades

[8]
Posted by: smidely
April 29, 2008 - 01:32PM

Germany committed to subsidizing solar for a set period (20 years) by agreeing to purchase energy at a set rate for that long from anyone with a solar panel.

That's an example of using govt. subsidies to create positive change.

Oil and Corn subsidies are not in that catagory -- subsidies have existed for more than 60 years.

[9]
Posted by: Chad Harris
April 29, 2008 - 01:34PM
Ridgewood

"It's been shown that blaming ethanol for the rising food prices is a red herring. The foodstuffs that have gone up in price are not used for ethanol.

I'm interested in what he has to say, but I had to call him out on that."

YOU ARE RIGHT!!! These prices are because oil is so expensive.

George Bush has spent nearly a decade doing nothing.

Solar, solar, solar.

The sun does it all! We need solar panels everywhere. New clean battery technology.

[10]
Posted by: Bill
April 29, 2008 - 01:34PM
Brooklyn

I can't believe your guest actually mentioned the term "Peak Oil". The media refuses to discuss thie reality.

[11]
Posted by: Chad Harris
April 29, 2008 - 01:35PM
Ridgewood

"But oil companies receive about 19 billion in subsidies annually. And have enjoyed this subsidy for decades"

And these companies are supposed to spend the money "discovering" alternative fuels but none do.

[12]
Posted by: Brock Pennington
April 29, 2008 - 01:36PM
NYC

Get him to talk about the amount of oil Canada supplies the US. It will shock you.

[13]
Posted by: Demetri
April 29, 2008 - 01:37PM
NYC

The idea behind energy independance is to ease the shock which will certainly occur when oil runs out. Also to ease the shock on the economy when OPEC decides to treat us like a yoyo.

[14]
Posted by: wanda
April 29, 2008 - 01:37PM

follow the bio ; follow the money ...

[15]
Posted by: Chad Harris
April 29, 2008 - 01:42PM
Ridgewood

The free lunch is SOLAR.

[16]
Posted by: markbnj
April 29, 2008 - 01:44PM
online: http://my-poem-a-day.com or markbnj.blogspot.com

(see more on my blog for further info...

What about small (many) turbines inside the

subway tunnel converting into electricity.

Not big ones, but ones with small bulk

that will be powered by passing trains...

Supplemental energy is the way to start

[17]
Posted by: EricF
April 29, 2008 - 01:46PM

energy markets international and i agree the "engery independance" slogan can be used in silly ways.

however, it seems to be a bit late in the game to rely on an unfettered subsidy-free market to solve all energy problems. oil and nuclear have enjoyed subsidies and protections for decades and competitive advantages gained won't go away instantly even if all subsidies stopped this instant.

AFAICT huge subsidies would be required to create a level playing field, which is unlikely, but some subsidies seems reasonable.

[18]
Posted by: Graham
April 29, 2008 - 01:46PM
New York

This guy is a shill for the old line energy industry (oil, coal, and gas). This interview is nearly as dishonest as the one Lenny ran a couple of weeks ago with the two promotors for the nuclear industry.

Did he really say a few minutes ago that people for energy independence are racists against Arab people?

[19]
Posted by: Zach
April 29, 2008 - 01:47PM
Upper West Side

Natural gas is somewhat renewable. Humans and every other animal make it every day as does all our decomposing garbage

[20]
Posted by: markbnj
April 29, 2008 - 01:48PM
online: http://my-poem-a-day.com or markbnj.blogspot.com

a NEW "manhattan project" to develop

ALL ways of getting new energy is the way to go.

As well as a federal energy tax credit that will allow homeowners to deduct costs of altering their existing (and new) development.

And btw, I hope the us auto industry goes away because of

the problem of their insistence on pushing something they can sell (hydrogen cells...)

That is scandalous...

[21]
Posted by: erick
April 29, 2008 - 01:50PM
Rochester, NY

What about aluminum/gallium for creating hydrogen?

[22]
Posted by: Bill
April 29, 2008 - 01:50PM
Brooklyn

I would like to know where your guest thinks we will be in 50 + years. What technologies will we be using to produce energy? How will life be different?

[23]
Posted by: markbnj
April 29, 2008 - 01:52PM
online: http://my-poem-a-day.com or markbnj.blogspot.com

Ah zach...

Yes... Methane... Using Methane from feed lots,

dairy farms, as well as 'dumps'.

That would be great.

There was a recent article on a mine in china that is taking the methane from thge mine, and feeding it into turbines to generate electricity.

Don't remember source.

[24]
Posted by: EricF
April 29, 2008 - 01:52PM

a common problem for alternate fuels is refueling infrastructure. one reason its easier to sell alternate fuel vehicles to fleet owners is they usually have their own refueling infrastructures.

[25]
Posted by: markbnj
April 29, 2008 - 01:53PM
online: http://my-poem-a-day.com or markbnj.blogspot.com

Bill : in 50 years where will we be?

I predict... in caves, with fur-skins one, in a pre-historic neo-society.

[26]
Posted by: Gene
April 29, 2008 - 01:55PM

Re: new Manhattan Project

We got to the moon in 9 years--only 12 years since mankind was able to put a satellite in orbit.

It can't be that impossible to significantly decrease our dependence on oil/coal/nuclear.

Any candidate that strongly advocates for such an all-encompassing alternate energy program--from big business development to incentives for individuals-- gets my vote.

[27]
Posted by: erick
April 29, 2008 - 01:57PM
Rochester, NY

We don't drill in ANWR because there is only 2 years of oil there at our current rate of consumption total.

[28]
Posted by: Ron
April 29, 2008 - 03:50PM
Boise, Idaho

Energy independence is about national sovereignty.

The USA has interdependent relationships with other countries today, both economically and militarily — however, if America’s economic or military “interdependence” were to become “dependence” to the point of undermining national sovereignty, there would be a public outcry... much like we see today regarding America's oil dependence.

Extremists on the political Right mistakenly believe that energy independence will mean a retreat from global economic interdependence, a direction that would disrupt the global free market and lead America toward economic and political isolationism. In contrast, extremists on the political Left mistakenly believe energy independence will mean independence from all hydrocarbons and nuclear energy. Green extremists confuse energy independence with environmental issues. Energy and environmental issues do converge within the issues of resource sustainability and environmental pollution, but otherwise energy independence is not an environmental issue.

See:

http://www.AmericanEnergyIndependence.com

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