EPA response to the Gulf / BP oil spill:
See http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/ I know that the Administrator was down these in the last couple of days, and that there’s a huge gearing up on this issue.
Category: energy-series
Background on Energy: gas and coal
Due to the demand for coal dropping due to the worldwide recession, Ukrainian coal mines are shutting down or not paying their workers, with a large glut of unsold coal. After the Russian company Gazprom decided to play politics with its natural gas supply to the rest of Europe, the Europeans have been connecting up [...]
The Oil price jumps again:
No, it’s not because of the demand, it’s because hedge funds and market speculators who drove it to $4-5 a gallon gas are going back into the market because they think that commodity is going to make money again.
This time, it’s lithum mines:
Sundance: What’s your idea this time? Butch: Bolivia. Sundance: What’s Bolivia? Butch: Bolivia. That’s a country, stupid! In Central or South America, one or the other. Sundance: Why don’t we just go to Mexico instead? Butch: ‘Cause all they got in Mexico is swine flu and there’s too much of that here. Look, if we’d [...]
*whew*
The whole energy-efficient mortgage stuff is done and in the hands of the lenders. I expect to hear from them early next week. Some last minute changes had to be done with the proposal because at the last, certain things didn’t have enough bang-for-the-buck and had to replaced with others. The fallout: storm/screen doors for [...]
Some movement:
After several days of thrashing, I managed to get things moving in a big way on our house refinance; the new contractors got their stuff to the guys at the energy-audit firm, and the energy-audit firm expects to have the final report available to ship to the lenders tomorrow (Friday). *glyph of great relief* This [...]
Modifications and analysis:
Susan went back to the doctor today; she just can’t shake this virus, and while she was feeling better for a few days because she was taking whopping dose of steroids, those are petering off, and she’s really feeling the brunt of the bronchitis and so on. Tired and miserable, and a serious bollix by [...]
I’m really losing my temper on this:
More major delays in the damn Energy-Efficient stuff – just as I thought I had everything lined up and nearly ready to go. The 3rd insulation guy has NOT been responding to my requests to send me a non-messed-up proposal, and even a couple of calls, one to his damn cellphone, isn’t getting anywhere. Lots [...]
Fed up on gas:
The EU is beginning to realize that being so dependant on Russian natural gas is a really bad idea, and are willing to chip in seriously on an alternate NON-Russian pipeline and sourcing from former Soviet states in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Good on them!
Well, someone is thinking:
Abu Dhabi and other Persian Gulf nations stick serious money into post-Oil green energy, because that oil isn’t going to be around forever for all those air conditioners, etc., etc. “The leadership in these breakthrough technologies is a title the U.S. can lose easily,” said Peter Barker-Homek, chief executive of Taqa, Abu Dhabi’s national energy [...]
Surprises-not #3:
With huge numbers of people unemployed, and more rolling into the offices, the states are running out of money to pay benefits. Like 30 out of 50 states. Drill-baby-drill just went *choke*, as oil companies are suddenly unwilling to finance new exploration. Existing wells are being shut down as uneconomical to operate, and forecasts are [...]
So long, Hummers:
Beginning in 1992, a series of tax laws combine to create large tax credits for certain Hummer buyers. By 2002, the New York Times reports that, thanks to changes in the tax code during the Bush administration, an eligible buyer can deduct $34,912 of the $48,800 base price of the Hummer. July 2002: The Hummer [...]
Business as usual:
He also mooted the possibility that the Russian government would buy some of its metal products to shore up falling demand. At under $50 a barrel, the Russian government is taking a beating, because their Big Ticket was oil and gas. The entire economy was not based on industrial production, but in raking in petrodollars. [...]
GM, Redux:
So here’s my ideas, half-baked: Make the deal comprehensive, and mostly a take it or leave it scenario. This sucker has been a political football for decades, and this ends here right now. All three companies essentially go into a central, nationalized receivership corporation. The equity in these businesses is pretty much gone, in any [...]
GM and Automakers Bailout:
I’m actively interested in your poisition on this matter. Feel free to sound off inside *politely*. My own struggles on this: