Old Wizard

PHEVs and EVs: Plugging into a Lump of Coal

John, Another good article that drives the reader to the application of applied analysis as opposed to myth and heresay. A couple of points: the graph you present shows gas from waste[ I presume this is methane] is a carbon dioxide saver, while natural gas is a contributer. This seems contradictory. The global warming hysteria and fanaticism has permeated the administration and combined with the arrogance it has displayed in other areas, appears to reject reasoned analytical arguments and favor exaggerated claims while ignoring obvious counterexamples to their position based on questionable and unverifiable evidence of man-made global warming. Be as it may, the so called energy plan upon which they have embarked has no coherence, no sense of urgency and no evaluation of unintended consequences. The investment in Petobras, the sponsering of the bill in Congress by Reid to fund some natural gas conversions and the claim that clean coal is the ultimate solution, while forcing the electric car solution and ignoring nuclear, shows that at minimum there is no focused plan. Not having goals that reduce the current account appreciably in 5 and 10 years should be considered more dangerous to the health of the American citizenery than any imminent global warming crisis and those interested in a cleaner environment should not buy the palliative of providing 15% of our electrical energy from wind and solar[ which requires a doubling of our existing capacity every three years to get there by 2022] by 2020. Analyasis of a coordinated and comprehenive plan that results in a detailed energy program with measureable 5 and 10 year milesones, measures of performance that include less negative operating cash flow, significantly less importation of oil, significant new jobs for americans and less carbon dioxide emissions is sorely needed. We, collectively, have the ability to produce such a program, and, as I have suggested to Fitz, I believe that a group of Seeking alpha contributers and commenters could do a pretty good job of putting one together that is actionable in less than 6 months.