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JIM ‘PAPPY’ MOORE: American Energy Policies

By Jim “Pappy” Moore

America’s first energy priority should be always having abundant power at the lowest possible costs. Cheap, plentiful energy keeps industry buzzing, keeps food chains moving, keeps agriculture growing, keeps people warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather. It keeps people moving to their jobs, on their vacations, and in their buying and selling of goods and services.

An excess of energy assures America not only meets its own needs but allows it to profit from selling energy to other nations. This helps our balance of payments with foreign countries and enhances our independence while giving us leverage on other nations.

Let’s be clear about this fundamental truth: ALL energy production from all sources is needed in America. So-called “green” energy will never come close to meeting our energy needs. Windmills are useful, but very limited in their utility. Solar is also useful, but also very limited in its utility. The safest, cleanest, most easily produced power is nuclear. We should have many more nuclear plants.

Oil, gas, and coal are all key components of America’s energy independence. The much-maligned “fossil fuels” are not fossil fuels at all. They replenish within the Earth, and there is no indication they will subside any time soon. Let the oil and gas and coal industries do what they do: create jobs, create cheap energy, and keep America running.

The notion that electric vehicles will replace cars and trucks running on gasoline or diesel or natural gas is utter nonsense. Most of the power which runs the tiny percentage of vehicles which are electric comes from coal, or natural gas, or some oil product. Those cars do not create any electricity. They store in their batteries electricity created by some real source of energy.

With only a tiny percentage of all vehicles electric, there are already problems satisfying the needs of those consumers to charge their EV’s batteries daily. California is a good example of a place which advocates for EVs but cannot even produce enough electricity to power the tiny number of electric vehicles they have. The EVs plugged in at night strain their grid and threaten the ability of most citizens to keep their homes cool in hot weather and warm in cold weather.

If a person wants to have an electric car, they are free to do so. There should be no tax breaks for having one. The recent tax rebate per EV of $8000 resulted in an immediate bump in prices of $8000 by the EV manufacturers.

No special efforts should be made to make sure EVs have plentiful electricity. If that is a problem, get a propane tank, fill it with gas, and have a generator which can provide electricity for the vehicle to charge its expensive batteries. Burdening the grid to charge EVs hurts all the consumers who do not drive EVs.

Hybrid cars appear to have utility as long-range vehicles because they can also use gasoline, but strictly electric vehicles are better fitted to provide personal transportation for commuters in big cities. That should be their market, not the 95% of America which is not part of a big city.

The batteries for electric vehicles are environmental disasters. Strip mining is necessary to get the materials for EV batteries, destroying much land and leaving behind a mess. The batteries have a limited life and they are built into the frame of the cars and trucks. Changing them out after a number of years makes the cost of doing so prohibitive. If they ignite they create a fire that is difficult to put out and can burn for days. If your EV starts burning in your garage, you’ll be lucky if it doesn’t do major damage to your house.

Those who think they can dictate by government fiat the types of energy which will be used are going to find out their delusions about green energy will not keep factories running, air conditioners on, cars on the road, and food on the table. Get used to having fossil fuels. They are here to stay. Get used to nuclear energy. It is the most renewable energy source and we do not need parts from China to build it.

Copyright 2022, Jim “Pappy” Moore. All rights reserved.

1 Comment

  1. David Griffis on September 12, 2022 at 9:13 am

    Jim
    I agree with all of your points except your statement: “The much-maligned “fossil fuels” are not fossil fuels at all. They replenish within the Earth, and there is no indication they will subside any time soon.” That comment probably deserves more elaboration.

    Dave

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