The Immense Energy Needs of America

Good video.

It reminds me somewhat of what I saw in Windsor,a few years back. I was sitting in a legion on Huron Line Rd. That is the main drag from the Ambassador bridge on the border.The truck traffic was non-stop.One of the regulars said that the average was a transport truck every 5 seconds,24/7. I can't verify that number,but I think it's a little low.

what, no enormous Manhattan traffic jams?

no shootouts-at-the-gas-pump 1970s gas shortage style?

Gas prices in the U.S. are significantly lower than in B.C. On the recent White Rock to San Jose double back and forth trip, prices were as low as $3.519 /gallon and almost always under $4.00 (highest usually being at Shell or Chevron). In Oregon, the price is full service as self-service is not permitted.

Presumably, some of this fuel comes from Canada. Why do we pay more? Of course, I know why!

The first time that I traveled through the Chicago area the first thing that struck me was the endless lines of semi's on the highways. Being from Saskatchewan it was not something that we were accustomed to at that time. Now that has changed in the last couple of decades, as rail lines are closed and we have more grain and livestock haulers on our highways. Now with the new distribution hub being built at Regina this will take another leap forward in the next few years.

The fact is that our economy is completely driven by carbon based energy and will for a long time. Goods and people are moved by gasoline,diesel and jet fuel. Our agricultural industry is dependent on gasoline, diesel, propane and natural gas. Our industries are powered by electricity with the majority coming from coal. Our hospitals are dependent on natural gas for heating and sterilization. Our homes are heated by electricity from coal and natural gas. Our mining, manufacturing and processing sectors are dependent on carbon based energy and in many instances the carbon based product is also a raw material feed stock as well.

It is time that we quit spending money on unworkable or prohibitively expensive green energy scams and devoted more money to making carbon products more environmentally friendly. A lot of work is being done in Saskatchewan and Alberta to this end but we get no end of grief from the greens (watermelons - green on the outside and red on the inside) of the society.

I am glad that the two provinces chose not to sign onto the WCI (Western climate Initiative) and their cap and trade (tax and screw) policy.

I am also glad of the stance the Federal government has taken on resigning the Kyoto Accord.

Now is the time for common sense rather than irrational behavior based on a fudged science.

Everyday stuff, life. Unfortunately, this will be driven to a halt by you know who and sooner than we think possible. It won't be pretty.

I enjoyed the vid, some impressive scenery - and enlighting with the endless coal trains.

Highway 401 going through Toronto also impresses with a max 18 lanes at one point and innumeral trucks. This part of the 401 is probably the busiest in N.A. (Wiki)which is interesting when one considers places like LA or NYC.

I've sometimes shaken my head at just the sheer area of land covered over with asphalt. The quality of the architecture/subdivisions flanking the route also gives pause - i can describe it mostly as banal and some places numbing.

When I see those trucks ... zillions of big honkin' trucks and trains hauling mountains of coal, it reminds me of how dependent we are for our daily breath and butter.

If ANYTHING should halt that movement of goods and energy even just for a few days, many will panic and even die without it.

The food stores run out of food in two days flat, energy for electricity and heat, gas for our own mobility is brought regularly by big trucks ... medicines that literally keep millions alive would stop arriving at the drug stores.

My point: Stock up folks, that day is coming. Either by union action, Muslim attack, general strike, gas shortages ... war, civil war ... whatever ... it can and will happen someday in the not too distant future.

Spend a little time buying extra food and water and meds ... maybe ammo too .... you may never need it, but when you do, you feel like the smartest kid in you town. Your family will thank you.

I've sometimes shaken my head at just the sheer area of land covered over with asphalt."

It's absolutely trivial in the grand scheme of things. Traveling urban corridors and truck routes distorts our perception of space and land use nearly as much as flying does.

http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/archives/002599.html

Many miles of coal trains could be saved through the use of nuclear power - but try telling that to a "green energy" person. They just don't get it.

Scale eh.

You didn't really expect anyone to watch that entire video, did you? Some of you folks on the west coast need to get out more. There's a lot of stuff going on. Those highways your worthy oriental gentleman videographer was travelling are deserted, compared to most east coast highways. He also missed the entire manufacturing belt of the US.

Hey Larson...how goez the Stampedi'n ?

Funny how you don't see envirofreaks chaining themselves top gas pumps.
Why is that?

Obama should release the Strategic Reserve every day, then we could all have lower gas prices....

A train of 110 cars of coal is required every 30 hours to run an electrical generating plant producing 1000 MW/day of electricity. One car's load will keep it running for 20 minutes. BTW Metro San Francisco uses about 1000 MW/day.

Moving all that coal is placing s strain on the entire US rail system. It has already overloaded China's railways; that is why China is building nuclear power plants as fast as they can.

Discovery Channel had an excellent doc on feeding NYC for a day. The number of 18 wheelers, 5 tons and other trucks needed to haul in dairy, flour, produce and meat is astonishing. Moving all that plus the local fish and seafood around the city to the consumer almost doubles the number of vehicles.

Stampedin' is teh awesome synchro - we should meet for a bevvy again!

The US doesn't need energy..not according to the moonbats...guess their computers run on moonbeams.

via: weaselzippers.us

Even Though it Complies With All EPA Regulations, Sierra Club Tries to Shut Down Virginia Power Plant

Washington Examiner — An environmental organization is calling on D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray to file a special petition with the Environmental Protection Agency that would put a power plant in Alexandria, Va., on track to close.

The Sierra Club recently met with residents in southeast Washington to warn them about the dangers of the sulfur dioxide being blown across the river from the Potomac River Generating Station. The Washington Examiner reports that the mayor’s office has no immediate plans to petition the EPA, as officials are determining how much shutting down the plant would hurt the city’s power supply.

GenOn Energy, which owns the plant, says it complies with all state sulfur dioxide regulations. The EPA says sulfur dioxide is linked with a number of adverse effects on the respiratory system.

ah yes. taking the scenic route.

I miss the days of those cheesy huge billboards blighting the land.

One of the most impressives sight is from the Ship Channel bridge in Houston at night. You can look down the channel 20-30 miles and the sky is lit up with the lights of oil refineries, chemical plants, ships and barges.

You can almost feel the power and energy.

Cheap energy is the key to prosperity. Drill here, drill now, build nuclear.

"Those highways your worthy oriental gentleman videographer was travelling..."

Irish is the new Oriental?

The narrator says that in interior BC he doesn't see coal trains. OK, what about the 10 trains daily (100 cars) that leave the Sparwood area near Fernie, BC. Teck is the 2nd argest metallurgical coal in the world. The CP trains are all going to Vancouver to ship the coal to Asia. I see them all day long when I am in BC. Teck Resources owns the mines and the Chicoms own 17% of the comapany.

Please, please come down here to Australia and film our beautiful inexpensive coal! I can offer free accommodation/food!

Eric and Syncro - just keep me in mind come bevvy time. I'm a connoisseur of good drinking company and it doesn't get much better than what you gents provide.

Jerry Brown don't get yer drawers in a knot, Sparwood isn't in the interior of BC and if Fernie were the asshole of the world, then Sparwood would be 5 miles up it.

How are the B.C. Rockies not the "Interior"? Is there an "Exterior" to B.C.? I thought we called that "Alberta".