Oh, Thank You, Thank You ExxonMobil!!
Filed under: Legislation and Policy, Green Daily
I just read the ExxonMobil advertorial in the NYTimes. The second in a 3-part series, this one is titled "Energy close to home." It is a very well-done piece that cherrypicks information. For instance, while admitting that the US is the world's leading oil consumer, it notes we are the No. 3 oil producer. It doesn't mention the we are No. 3 out of about 80 countries providing oil to the US economy. Nor does it say we are No. 3 but slowly declining in production or that the U.S.-sourced portion of our oil supplies is only about one third of our needs.
To be sure, we need U.S. and ExxonMobil oil production - I use about four gallons a week myself - and I credit the geologists and petroleum engineers of the world for getting it to us. After all, we need it to keep ourselves moving while we transition to the vehicles you read about here on ABG and their non-petroleum energy sources - biofuels, hydrogen, renewable electricity, plus the alternate lifestyles global warming will require - more biking, walking, telecommuting, etc. The point is we can't live a 21st century life using 20th century habits, not if we want to remain a strong and free society.
The advertorial is meant to attack the U.S. policy of keeping certain energy resources "off limits" to current exploration and production. While tempting, isn't it best that we sip rather than slurp up the last of our remaining petroleum sources? After all, once we use it all up and we are not done transitioning, what do we do then? Turn all our petroleum-dependent vehicles into horse drawn buggies or large planters? Our oil has to last till about 2050. That is a stretch.












Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-30-2007 @ 11:55AM
Dave K. said...
Exxon-Mobil has been dieing to get at the last scraps of oil in the US for decades (ANWR, ect), to be sure they will probably be developed some day but it's in our intrest to delay them as long as possible, then maybe oil will be so expensive it will be worth taking extensive precautions exploiting these last little bits in sensitive locations.
Remember oil is also plastics, pesticides, industrial chemicals, and many more irreplacable things essential to our civilization, it's really too valuable to burn!
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11-30-2007 @ 3:14PM
Golden Boy said...
"The advertorial is meant to attack the U.S. policy of keeping certain energy resources "off limits" to current exploration and production."
What's wrong with at least exploration? Wouldn't a wise energy policy include knowing at least where the oil is located?
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11-30-2007 @ 3:29PM
TG said...
** To valuable to burn indeed**...
Not in your life. There is no oil shortage!
Here on Vancouver Island, out behind Cumberland, central Island area, there are claims posts bearing the Standard Oil name.
There are oil slicks on the swampwater surfaces around this area.
Burning oil is the current godmine of ExxonMobile and Chevron. They have the Golden goose pumps in place and we are the suckers who pump this smelly and unhealthy fuel into our cars while paying golden egg prices.
Every little terrorist bomb blast feeds this wonderful rip-off machienery.
Bio-fuels are just a diversion to extend use of oil and gas through various mixes..E10..E45..E85 etc.
Governments love it too due to the fantastic cash flow.
Electric Auto tech is here and practical today but ExxonMobile, Chevron and GM contribute to all political groups so resistance is extremely high. = TG
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11-30-2007 @ 5:17PM
Edslel said...
If the United States built more nuclear power plants then perhaps the United States would be less reliant on oil. Heck, if France produces 80% of their electricity needs from nuclear why can't we do the same?
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12-01-2007 @ 6:10PM
Dad said...
"It is a very well-done piece that cherrypicks information. "
Don't most of the authors at www.autobloggreen.com "cherrypick"?
This is like the kettle calling the pot black, if you know what I mean!
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12-03-2007 @ 1:30PM
gsolman6 said...
I guess the advetorial did not complain about the fact that U.S. oil companies can drill on taxpayer-owned lands royalty-free.
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