The reason other things, like small engines, are being regulated is there’s a lot more ‘bang for the buck’ there. They put out such a high level of pollution (for a short time, sure) that spending a few bucks to reduce it will be more efficient (in pounds pollution/dollar) than clamping down on the already clean cars.
Small engines have a big impact on acute local pollution. That is the reason two stroke outboard production has been curtailed unless they meet polution standards. The same for other small motors use in recreational vehicles. By themselves, they do not have the same impact as autos on our environment in a global sense, but on the local level, in heavily populated areas and around fresh water, they are a big contributor to Pollution.
So, small engines may not enter into a discussion concerning changing weather patterns as much, but they certainly do if your kid has asthma or you to fish in a nearby pond. It is hard to justify controlling outboards as a contributor to global weather change trends, but in “Polluting for Pleasure” http://www.amazon.com/Polluting-For-Pleasure-Mele-Andre/dp/0393334694 it was shown to have a big impact on our environment in specific areas, namely water. This publication was one of the major drivers in this area. The same holds true for all of these small engines. Local polution can be just as harmful for many.
Oil prices haven’t “dipped”, they have collapsed…Huge shock-waves will move through the global economy as the winners and losers sort things out…
Exactly. Drilling permit applications in Texas are down 50%, with widespread capital budgets cuts. Thousands of good paying jobs will be gone. That’s the way it works. Government tax $$ are taking a hit, too.
Rumor has it the saudis are willing to let the price drop to $20 a barrel, just to mess with US, let the free market reign! I do not like the history of oil spills from pipelines, derailed tanker cars, or the fact that you can see ND at night due to the burnoff, and fracking, sorry secret we cannot tell you what we are injecting into the ground, benzine and a whole lot of other natsies my guess.
Are they burning that much stuff off?Thats a shame,why cant they run this stuff through a Waukeshau or turbine gen set?
Something interesting from a reporter. It seems the last oil spike coincided with Lybia going " off line " and the increase in world “glut” coincides with they coming back on when the U.S. and other countries also increased their production. If this is true, then it isn’t just one factor and regardless, supplies are not stabilized as the world market still depends a lot on the Middle East. Keep pushing for alternatives like nat gas and conservation or we slip back into the same old…
Bottom line is, there is still a lot of black gold for countries to make $$$$$ from and our environment is a secondary Concern. Staying relevant is number one and it’s a bidding war to do so.
The changes in production from Libya are very small compared to the increase in production from the US. So this current drop has very little to do with Libya.
A prominent oil Trader, Dan Dicker, was speaking last night and he said we should expect low oil for the next 6-12 months minimum. He went on to say:
Right now the US is the largest oil producer in the world but that will change with the lower prices. The Saudi’s can produce a barrel of oil for $10 while in the US it is closer to $60. The Saudi’s know that with these lower prices the US will be forced to shut down most of their wells.
Goldman Sachs reported that Trillions of dollars in Oil exploration investments are at risk. Oil producing states like ND, OK, TX, will feel it over time. This is the world market at play.
Right now it seems great. Gas is under $2/gallon in some places. Everyone has a few extra dollars in their pocket every week.
This is just one big cycle we can get caught up in… or not. As someone else said this is the time to invest in renewables and not get complacent with low oil prices. When gas hits $5/gallon in two, three years people will be sorry they bought that guzzler.
Everyone over 50 has seen this several times.
"The Saudi’s know that with these lower prices the US will be forced to shut down most of their wells. "
Should read:
“The Saudi’s know that with these lower prices the US will be forced to shut down many of their drilling rigs.”
Once drilled, a well can produce at quite low oil prices. It’s the drilling that’s affected.
I paid $2.159 for regular yesterday in Mayland of all places. The price is that low even on the heels of two state gasoline tax increases in less than one year. It must be time to buy that International XT! But should I buy the CXT, SXT, or MXT? Decisions, decisions…
@texases
I know you may be fixated on my comment about Libya but I only point out the obvious concernng timing. . Please read the whole thing. There is more then one factor and just dwelling on Saudie Arabia as the only factor is as wrong as only considering increased oil production here or the extra 350k barrels a day Libya produces. Low prices are still driven in part by the Middle East in a quest to keep oil as relevant as possible on the world market.
Canada has the same interest in promoting oil with all the Black Gold in shale shale oil.
You’re right that there are a number of things driving the oil price drop, including Libya. The US’s increase of 3,000k over the last few years, Russia’s 500k increase, Iraq’s 1,000k increase, the decision of OPEC not to cut rates all are causes. Just making the point that the reporter’s conclusion that Libya’s small change caused it is simplistic, ignoring the much bigger causes.
The reporter made no such comment about causation. He did say, that it shows in his study, that there is more then one factor. It’s obvious to me there has been a moderation in the increase in demand for some oil productss and even flat demand along with the surplus or gasoline production here in the US. I personally don’t want to see the efforts that got us to this point, undermined. He als feels that this time next year,barring any unforeseen political even, oil will be back up to $75 a B. Just like interest rates should be increased (prime)here, oil should sell for a representative amount for the economy In general t be healthy.
Which one of us was it (Doc, Mountainbike?) that said you should check the credentials of those writing textbooks or producing studies? Always have to be on your guard about reporters in particular concluding anything based on their study. Edward R. Murro and Walter Cronkite are gone and no one that I can see taking their place.
That looks like single digit fuel economy
It’s reassuring to see someone else here remebers Edward R Murrow. I don’t feel quite so old.
@Bing
How can you doubt the veracity of any reporter on Fox. They don’t need credentials. They are all “fair and balanced”.
yeah, if you want the truth go to MSNBC, al Sharpton shoots it to you straight at 6pm
The most insightful commentary of current social and political events is South Park.