Category: Energy

US/Venezuela Oil Deal

Donny is all giddy about the new deal that he made with Venezuela… a deal worth millions….and as usual the claim is that this deal will lower gas prices….you know the usual bullshit.

President Trump and Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez have announced that Washington and Caracas have reached a major oil deal, which comes nearly nine months after the US attack on Venezuela to abduct President Nicolas Maduro.

Trump first announced the new oil deal, writing on Truth Social on Friday that the US, through a private business, has “secured majority US control of more than 65 BILLION BARRELS of proven Oil Reserves in Venezuela.”

The president claimed that the deal “greatly increases our Oil Supply, and will substantially lower Gas Prices for all Americans, long into the future,” though any substantial increase in Venezuelan oil production will require billions of dollars in investment and years of work. Trump claimed the project will not come “at no cost to the American Taxpayer,” but it’s unclear where the funds for the necessary investments would come from.

In her announcement, Rodriguez claimed the deal involves “the development of 17 strategic fields, with a proven potential of 65 billion barrels of oil, an investment of more than $100 billion, and more than $209 billion in taxes for the State.”

A US State Department official speaking to TIME Magazine described the “private company” that has been granted access to the oil fields as a “joint project of the US government and an experienced private operator in Venezuela” and said that the company has the rights for 100 years, though in other comments Rodriguez said it was a 25-year deal.

Trump suggested on Sunday that he could fill the US strategic oil reserve with Venezuelan oil under the deal, though Venezuela’s current production levels are nowhere close to the US’s. Venezuela currently produces about 1.25 million barrels per day, and more than half already goes to the US, while the US produces 13.6 million barrels of crude oil per day.

“One of the things I am going to do with the Venezuelan Oil is fill up the Strategic National Reserves, which, because of Sleepy Joe Biden, has been virtually emptied. The ‘topping out’ process will begin very shortly, and is a Gift from Venezuela to the People of the United States,” Trump said.

Since the January 3 attack on Venezuela, the US has tightly controlled Venezuela’s oil trade, holding its revenue and cutting off oil shipments to Cuba, where the ramped-up US oil embargo has caused a devastating humanitarian crisis.

(antiwar.com)

The overall goal for the US, a fact sheet from the White House explained, is to ensure “a stable supply of low-cost oil that can facilitate refilling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve” at “no cost to the American taxpayer.”

I do not buy the con that is will cost the taxpayer nothing.

While refilling the US energy backstop won’t be quite that simple, the Trump administration has expressed confidence in Betancourt’s ability to deliver, calling him “a proven operator” and noting that NABEP already sits as the second-largest private oil producer in the country and aims to surpass Chevron (CVX), the leader.

The deal has also moved ahead rapidly, even as questions have emerged about Betancourt’s past. He rose to prominence in Venezuela as an ally of Hugo Chavez before a falling out with the regime. More recently, he faced criminal investigations around allegations of money laundering in Spain and Switzerland.

Just as figured…..yet another criminal….

Is this deal all it is cracked up to be?

I thinking it is not….how about you?

But that aside it looks like Donny has picked his next war….

Since regaining power last year, Donald Trump has been clear on his intent to establish military dominance in the Western Hemisphere. That has ranged from demanding favorable trade arrangements from regional partners to expressing the desire to either control or annex territories and whole nations. Along the way, he has revealed a steady fixation with combating drug traffickers, and has unleashed the full weight of U.S. military power to pursue those ends. But it’s only in recent days that this has turned into a clear policy framework. These actions in Ecuador are a preview of a wider campaign that looks poised to quickly grow in the coming weeks.

It wasn’t until late August that the full extent of military involvement in the region started coming into view. Juan Jaramillo, the governor of Ecuador’s Esmeraldas province, located near the Colombian border, revealed that Green Berets from the 7th Special Forces Group were conducting joint operations against cartels with Ecuadorian troops. Soon after, two ships—an American destroyer and an amphibious transport dock carrying Marines sent to the region explicitly to fight drug traffickers—arrived in Ecuador’s waters. These maneuvers coincided with fresh sanctions against various individuals alleged to be involved in drug trafficking.

https://newrepublic.com/article/214958/trump-new-war-latin-america

Looks like Donny has found his excuse for more direct US involvement….it is as tired as the Israeli bullshit about nukes in Iran.

Thoughts?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Our Vulnerable Power Grid

For some time we have been told that our power grid is old and in need of an upgrade for in this condition it is vulnerable to attack….so far no one in DC has taken these warnings to heart and our grid is getting older and weaker.

A recent article points out that if just 9 power stations go down it could take the whole grid with it.

The feature in the New York Times Magazine poses a stark question: “What if America went completely dark?” After interviewing more than two dozen experts on the nation’s power grid, Christopher Cox makes the case that the question isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds. The grid itself, for instance, “is perhaps the most complex machine ever built, but it was created without a master plan,” he writes. It’s more accurate to think of three grids—the Western, Eastern, and Texas Interconnections. Cox reports that a federal analysis once found that disabling as few as nine key substations across those three grids could trigger a coast-to-coast outage. A related problem is that the hardware that makes those substations work—huge, custom-built power transformers—is in critically short supply. Meaning, such a blackout could theoretically last years.

“It is difficult to overstate how completely the loss of the grid would disrupt life as we know it,” writes Cox, whose story explores how the bottleneck, combined with rising physical threats, aging equipment, and long repair timelines could combine for a life-altering catastrophe. As for those threats, Cox revisits a still unresolved 2013 attack in California in which assailants severed underground cables at a substation before snipers expertly knocked out 17 transformers in about 20 minutes. It’s unlikely that a domestic terror group could wipe out nine entire substations, notes Cox, but the feat would not be beyond the scope of a “state actor.” Read the full story, which explores what emerging tech like solid-state transformers and grid-scale batteries might do to blunt the risk.

The admin seems more worried about what name is on a building than the possibility of a nationwide loss of power….at what point does someone start thinking about our aged infrastructure?

My guess is they will wait until it happens then blame the Dems.

This is a concern and yet we vote for idiots that say nothing about a growing problem….matters not which party for they both are as useless as tits on a flashlight.

Now I know there is some opinions out there….let them fly.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Joke Of The Week

Our Dear Donny has voiced his disdain over the huge profits the oil companies have been making……are you kidding me?

President Trump is publicly turning on two of his staunchest industry allies. On Monday, he slammed Exxon Mobil and Chevron for “making too much money” as drivers face gasoline prices averaging about $4.10 a gallon, up from under $3 before US and Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year, reports Politico. “They’re going to give some of that back to the public,” he said, per CNBC, “and they better cut the retail price, the consumer price.”

“Based on a shortage, they’re making too much money,” Trump said Monday. “I don’t like it, and I should be the last one to say because I’m a big free enterprise guy—nobody bigger.” Both oil giants just posted massive quarterly results, helped by higher crude prices and fat refining margins. Their CEOs warned that limited refining capacity could keep fuel costs elevated into the fall. Chevron declined to comment, while Exxon didn’t respond to a request for comment. The American Petroleum Institute said prices reflect global supply, demand, and geopolitical tensions, not “any one company.” Trump has already ordered a DOJ probe into why prices aren’t falling faster.

Yes that is a joke.

The dimwit does not realize that his indecision and vocal bullshit is what has lead to these huge profits.

His ill-conceived war with Iran has allowed these mega corporations to do as they please when it comes to the price of gas.

Apparently no one in his cabinet has the balls to tell this mental midget what is causing these huge profits.

A stable genius my old ass!

 

Iran: Minute By Minute Brain Farts

Just about two days ago Donny and Lil Marco turned again and is ending the so-called blockade….

President Trump says that he has paused the US effort to guide stranded vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz to finalize an Iran deal. Trump announced the decision in a Truth Social post on Tuesday evening, saying he was pausing the effort for a short period to give space for US efforts to finalize a settlement with Iran to end the war, the AP reports.

  • “Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed,” Trump wrote.
  • The announcement came after military leaders and Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted on Tuesday that a ceasefire in the Middle East was still holding and that—while the conflict is not resolved—the initial major US military operation against Iran has concluded. Rubio told reporters at the White House that “Operation Epic Fury,” the attack the US and Israel mounted on Iran on Feb. 28, “is concluded” because its objectives were met, the AP reports. Rubio said recent clashes with Iran related to US efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz were “defensive in nature.”

Which is good news but then less than a day later Donny makes this announcement….

President Trump on Wednesday suggested that a deal to end the Iran war is indeed in the works—but he also warned Iran of new strikes should it balk. If Iran “agrees to give what has been agreed to,” the war will wrap up, wrote Trump on Truth Social, without providing specifics. But if they renege, bombing will resume “at a much higher level,” he added. His comments followed reports in Axios and Reuters that a peace deal between US and Iranian negotiators was imminent.

We will close this very soon,” a source in Pakistan tells Reuters. The news sent oil prices down, with Brent crude falling 10% to below $100 a barrel before leveling off after Trump’s warning, per the Wall Street Journal. It was back at $103 more recently. Earlier Wednesday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard suggested it would soon allow commercial traffic to resume in the Strait of Hormuz if the US “threats” were over, notes Reuters. But nothing is certain: The New York Times reports that a spokesman for Iran’s parliamentary national security downplayed the Axios report about a one-page peace memorandum, describing it as “more a list of American wishes than a reality.”

What are these yahoos doing?

TACO will find a way to end this…..it is costing $72 billion in 60 days…..Donny needs top look like he is in charge (a wishful fallacy)….so he will cave and tell us how smart and clever he was to end this stupidity.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

WTF? A UAE Bailout?

This Donny move needs to be spotlighted.

I recently read that Donny is considering a taxpayer bailout of an oil rich country, the UAE….

President Trump said he is considering a financial bailout for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), an autocratic state experiencing an economic downturn due to the war in Iran. If the Trump administration does use public resources to rescue the UAE, it will be assisting a country that has partnered extensively with the Trump Organization and the Trump family.

On Sunday, the Wall Street Journal reported that UAE Central Bank Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama “raised the idea of a currency-swap line” during meetings in Washington, D.C., last week with Treasury Department and Federal Reserve officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Officials from the UAE said that they “had so far avoided the worst economic effects of the conflict but might still need a financial lifeline.” According to the Journal, a formal request has not yet been made.

UAE officials argued that the war between the U.S. and Iran could damage the country’s economy and harm its global financial standing. The war has already damaged the country’s oil and gas infrastructure, and Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has cut off oil shipments that are a key source of dollar revenue.

https://popular.info/p/trump-floats-taxpayer-bailout-for

I say bollocks to that!

Donny will do anything for his oil buddies….including throwing taxpayer money at them to preserve his standing with the wealthy.

Let them learn what it is like.

Then after ranting about this situation I read that the UAE is considering leaving OPEC….

The United Arab Emirates said Tuesday that it will leave the oil cartel OPEC and its wider OPEC+ group effective Friday, a move rumored for some time as the Emirates chafed under production restrictions and increasingly had frostier relations with neighboring Saudi Arabia. The UAE has been a longtime member of OPEC, first through its emirate of Abu Dhabi in 1967 and later when the UAE became its own country in 1971, reports the AP. But the UAE has been increasingly trying to leverage its own foreign policy in the Middle East, which has contradicted some positions of Riyadh over time—particularly as Saudi Arabia began to directly challenge the Emirates in trying to draw foreign investment as the kingdom opened up under assertive Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

“This decision reflects the UAE’s long-term strategic and economic vision and evolving energy profile, including accelerated investment in domestic energy production, and reinforces its commitment to a responsible, reliable, and forward-looking role in global energy markets,” the UAE said via its state-run WAM news agency. “Following its exit, the UAE will continue to act responsibly, bringing additional production to market in a gradual and measured manner, aligned with demand and market conditions.”

Saudi Arabia long has been considered a heavyweight of OPEC, an oil cartel based in Vienna that has seen some of its market power wane as the United States increased its production of crude oil in recent years. Saudi Arabia and the UAE increasingly have competed over economic issues and regional politics, particularly in the Red Sea area. The two countries had joined together in a coalition to fight against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels in 2015. However, that coalition broke down into recriminations in late December, when Saudi Arabia bombed what it described as a weapons shipment bound for Yemeni separatists backed by the UAE. Saudi broadcasters long based in Dubai, the economic hub of the UAE, have pulled back to the kingdom in recent months as tensions rose.

Come Friday the UAE will be an independent oil producer…..what will that mean?

OPEC just lost a cornerstone member at the worst possible time. The United Arab Emirates’ decision to walk away from the producers’ group strips OPEC of about 13% of its capacity and one of its few members able to quickly pump more oil—right as war in Iran has shut the Strait of Hormuz and scrambled Middle East alliances, reports the Wall Street Journal. “It’s the hardest blow ever,” Homayoun Falakshahi, a senior oil analyst at commodities data company Kpler tells the newspaper. “It raises the question about whether OPEC can survive.” The sentiment is widespread:

  • It’s “the beginning of the end” for the alliance, Saul Kavonic of MST Financial tells the BBC. The UAE is OPEC’s fourth-largest producer behind Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Iran, accounting for about 3.6 million barrels a day, or 3% of the global supply, per the New York Times.
  • The effect on prices will be minimal in the short term because of the war, but the longer-term effect is harder to gauge. Greater volatility is one likelihood, per the Times. “But beyond the oil market implications, a deeper fault line is at play,” per Semafor. “The UAE’s move is the latest sign that it is no longer willing to go along with historic alliances it views as unnecessary purely for the sake of harmony.”
  • The nation has been signaling a break with OPEC for a while as its ties with Saudi Arabia in particular have frayed, per Reuters. The UAE no longer wants to be constrained by OPEC quotas, and it “would have both the incentive and the ability to increase production, raising broader questions about the sustainability of Saudi Arabia’s role as the market’s central stabilizer,” analyst Jorge Leon of Rystad tells the outlet.
  • One other common refrain is that the move is seen as a win for President Trump, who has previously complained that OPEC was “ripping off the rest of the world” with inflated prices, per Reuters. The BBC sees the move as opening the door to closer ties between the US and the UAE.
  • The break leaves 11 core members at OPEC, notes the Washington Post: Algeria, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela.

Bet prices go up.

Why is no one talking about a taxpayer bailout for a foreign country?

This is going to bite the US in the ass in several ways.

Need I say more?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

What’s Next?

The proposed ceasefire talks with Iran did not take (few of us thought it would) and now what fresh Hell awaits the region?

After Vice President JD Vance left Pakistan with no nuclear agreement and few clear next steps, politically problematic options remain for the Trump administration. It could reopen extended negotiations over Iran’s nuclear future, the New York Times reports, or resume the attacks that have triggered the largest energy disruption in modern history. President Trump, who announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, has argued that Iran should now simply give in after enduring more than 13,000 strikes. But Tehran says the casualties and damage have only strengthened its resolve. The shaky two-week ceasefire expires April 21.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf suggested the next step is up to the US, per the Washington Post. “America has understood our logic and principles, and now it’s time for it to decide whether it can earn our trust or not,” Ghalibaf posted on X. Any renewed conflict could worsen oil shortages, drive gasoline prices higher, deepen supply problems for products including fertilizers and semiconductors, and push inflation above its current 3.3%. Both governments claim victory from the first round of fighting—the US for its firepower, Iran for withstanding it—and neither side is signaling readiness to compromise.

One expert cautioned about the ceasefire, per Deutsche Welle. “The risk is gradual erosion,” said Fatemeh Aman of the Atlantic Council. “Local incidents, miscalculations, or actions by allied groups could test the limits of restraint. Without a follow-up diplomatic process, the ceasefire remains exposed. It may hold in the short term, but it lacks long-term stability.”

Donny’s newest threat for the conflict….a blockade…..

President Trump’s vow to use the US Navy to shut off Iran’s access to the Strait of Hormuz is pushing the six-week war into a more dangerous phase with major economic stakes, the Wall Street Journal reports. After US-Iran peace talks in Pakistan collapsed over Tehran’s nuclear program, Trump said the Navy will on Monday begin blockading the narrow waterway, inspecting ships that have paid Iran for passage, and clearing sea mines; he warned that any Iranian forces firing on US or commercial vessels would be “BLOWN TO HELL.” US Central Command says the blockade, which will begin at 10am Eastern time Monday, will be “enforced impartially against vessels of all nations,” but that ships will be allowed to transit the strait if they are traveling between non-Iranian ports—a step back from Trump’s initial threat of a full blockade, the AP reports.

The Pentagon says the operation is feasible, but current and former officials who spoke to the Journal caution that keeping control of the strait—bordered by Iran and vital to global oil flows—will be far more complicated than launching the blockade. Iran’s regular navy has taken heavy losses, but the Revolutionary Guard still fields a large fleet of fast boats, drones, and mines that can harass or threaten US ships. Retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery calls the effort “militarily manageable” but said Washington will likely need partners.

The economic fallout is already spreading. With Iran having previously choked traffic through Hormuz, factories in parts of Asia are cutting output, some gas stations there are rationing fuel, and some airports in Europe and Asia are running low on jet fuel. Analysts estimate about 13 million barrels a day of Gulf oil—or roughly 12% of global supply—has been knocked offline; a successful effort to halt Iran’s remaining exports could remove another 2 million barrels daily.

Trump and his advisers argue the blockade is needed to end what they call Iranian “extortion” and to prevent Tehran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon. The White House says “numerous countries” will join the effort, though key European and Gulf governments have signaled their participation may depend on a broader ceasefire and an international mandate. Iran, buoyed by recent oil revenue, still holds leverage: it could target Saudi and UAE pipelines that bypass Hormuz or use allied groups to threaten other chokepoints, such as the Bab al-Mandeb off Yemen—raising the possibility of a drawn-out test of endurance between Tehran and a global economy already under strain. Experts who spoke to Reuters echoed those who spoke to the Journal, noting a blockade of the strait is an act of war that could bring retaliation from Iran, and is unlikely to help with US gas prices.

There you have just what is waiting for us on the horizon…..will Donny jump or will calmer heads prevail?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

The World To Come

I have noticed from power bill to power bill that the amount owed is getting stiffer….even now when the A/C is not running the bill continues to rise.

What is going on?

More people are falling behind on paying their bills to keep on the lights and heat their homes, according to a new analysis of consumer data—a warning sign for the US economy and another political headache for President Trump, the AP reports. Past due balances to utility companies jumped 9.7% annually to $789 between the April-June periods of 2024 and 2025, said The Century Foundation, a liberal think tank, and the advocacy group Protect Borrowers. The increase has overlapped with a 12% jump in monthly energy bills during the same period. Consumers usually prioritize their utility bills along with their mortgages and auto debt, said Julie Margetta Morgan, the foundation’s president. The increase in both energy costs and delinquencies may suggest that consumers are falling behind on other bills, too.

Nearly 6 million households have utility debt “so severe” that it will soon be reported to collection agencies, according to the foundation’s analysis, drawn from the University of California Consumer Credit Panel. Troubles paying electricity and natural gas bills reflect something of an economic quandary for Trump, who is promoting the buildout of the artificial intelligence industry as a key part of an economic boom he has promised for America. But AI data centers are known for their massive use of electricity, and threaten to further increase utility bills for everyday Americans.

These troubles also come as Trump faces political pressure from voters fed up with the high cost of living. The president spoke about the economy and affordability issues Monday at an event hosted by the McDonald’s fast food company. “We have it almost at the sweet spot and prices are coming down on different things,” Trump said at the event, adding that inflation has been “normalized” at a “low level.” Ever since Republicans saw their fortunes sag in off-year elections this month and affordability was identified as the top issue, Trump has been trying to convince the public that prices are falling. Fast-rising electricity bills could be an issue in some congressional battlegrounds in next year’s midterm elections.

I keep hearing from Donny that energy costs are dropping…..I have not seen such…..how about you?

Maybe that elusive check from Donny will help out.

I Read, I Write, You KNow

“lego ergo scribo”

So You Want An EV?

Happy Mother’s Day to all my female readers…..may you have a wonderful and relaxing day.

Just another IST FYI post….I am doing the best I can to keep my reader informed and/or entertained….

These days the big push in automotive ads is toward the electric vehicle(EV)….Polestar, Genesis, Tesla and most major automotive brands are push one model or another…..

I had considered it but after a little research I decided against it…..cost being one, few charging stations, and then the price of the battery replacements…..all together it was not very attractive to me.

Then I read an article on EVs…..

If you are considering buying an EV then maybe you should pay close attention to this article….

It’s hard to ignore the big push for electric vehicles. It’s all around us, the talk of the news, and when the government starts offering tax credits, you know they mean business. Electric cars will be our future, whether we like it or not. 

If you’re considering purchasing an electric vehicle (EV), knowing what you’re getting yourself into is essential. With big promises of greener transportation and lower costs, it’s easy to walk in blind. So here are 12 things EV owners need to talk about that we all should know. 

Your average gas-powered car can drive 300-720 miles on one full gas tank. Your average EV range is significantly lower than this. Combining the low range of an EV with the fact that charging infrastructure is considerably lacking, it’s reasonable to worry. Imagine having half a gas tank, only two gas stations within a several-mile radius, and then crossing your fingers that the gas pumps work. I’d be panicking, too. 

I have two kids, and they panic when I stop to fill up with gas, and that only takes around 8 minutes, max. I can’t imagine having to take 30 minutes to recharge an EV every time I need a charge. Who has 30 minutes to dedicate to that in the middle of their day? Not me, that’s for sure. 

https://wealthofgeeks.com/harsh-truth-ev/

In all fairness there is a charging station going in 3 blocks from my house….but it has yet to be finished after 3 months.

Nowadays cost will be a major selling point….with the way things keep rising people will avoid this cash outlay for as long as they can.

Enjoy your Sunday and once again…..Happy Mother’s Day.

As always…..Be Well and Be Safe….

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Those Damn Gas Prices!

As Summer nears the prices of gas seem to start slowly to climb…..but why is that?

Blame Biden….not accurate….blame the Middle East….some what accurate…..blame the weather….

In other words what does control the price of gas?

Well devotees….I have an answer for you….

Between keyboard warriors and comments sections, you might have noticed conflicting (and sometimes even downright incorrect) information about how, exactly, gas prices work in America today. While some popular opinions involve blaming whatever the current administration is for increases in gas prices, the issue is far more complicated than any singular person or even any singular government. In fact, the Energy Information Administration identifies four major factors that directly correlate to the cost of gas (and none of them are the president). These factors are crude oil prices (which are set by oil-producing countries), refining costs (which are increasingly impacted by natural disasters and climate change), distribution and marketing costs (which depend on the individual retailer you purchase gas from), and taxes (federal, state, and local taxes and fees).

For starters, you’ve probably heard terms like crude oil and petroleum come up in the gas conversation. For anyone who might not know, the gasoline we currently commercially purchase for our cars (or any other vehicle) is essentially a blend of crude oil and other petroleum liquids. Petroleum refineries break down crude oil into various components in order to then reconfigure and blend them into fuel products. This refinery process is extremely important, with this factor comprising 14% of your per-gallon price at the pump. Refinery costs are impacted by demand (with summer usually the highest-demand season) as well as by climate change. Since most United States refineries are located along the Gulf Coast, this generally means hurricanes, a natural disaster that can destabilize the stock market, and by extension, the economy.

Read More: https://www.moneydigest.com/1565960/what-actually-controls-gas-prices-us/

It is probably not Biden’s fault, that is being kind, that prices are rising….so please do not use that lie to determine your vote in the coming election.

You wanted to know….you ask I provide an answer….

Be Smart!

Learn Stuff!

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Running On Empty

I wish I could say that this post was about the song by Jackson Browne….sadly it is not.

America is running on empty with our electrical supply.

The so-called experts are saying that climate change and other factors will cause the demand to rise significantly and there is the transition to electric vehicles that will rise.

It was bound to happen. An aging American infrastructure system, powered to some extent by coal and hydroelectric power, has faced rising needs for electricity for houses, businesses, AI, and Bitcoin. There is no short-term solution, and when one does occur, it is likely to be political.

There are several examples of how climate change has compromised electricity supply. One is how drought has affected one of the largest energy suppliers in the Western US- the Hoover Dam. According to NewsNow, “At full capacity, the turbines at the dam can produce 2,074 megawatts, but as the water level has declined during the drought, power production has been affected and efficiency of the power plant is down 33%.” At peak production, this electricity powers one million homes.

Coal’s use as a source of electricity has environmental problems. The EIA puts the percentage of electricity from coal at 16%. They would need to drop sharply to cut greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation, but what happens to the goal to lower this, at least in the short term?

(climatecrisis247.com)

Could the US return to the days of massive nuke power policies?

Many world powers have sped-up plans to introduce new nuclear power plants in a bid to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and decarbonise. Due to the high energy demand, many countries around the globe view renewable energy as insufficient in the mid-term to provide enough energy to meet the needs of the growing world population. However, nuclear power could provide a low-carbon alternative, offering abundant energy and low emissions. However, experts now worry that the global reliance on Russian uranium to power many of these projects could put many world leaders in a quandary, having already introduced sanctions on Russian energy and attempted to reduce their reliance on Russia.  Earlier this year, the U.S. announced a $6 billion bailout for its existing nuclear plants. The government and the Department of Energy (DoE) partnered on a scheme to help nuclear plants across the country facing severe economic challenges to support the longevity of U.S. nuclear power, as part of the country’s green transition. Despite being controversial, nuclear power is considered carbon neutral, and therefore key to transitioning away from fossil fuels. Since then, the launch of Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has encouraged greater investment in the nuclear energy sector. It offers a variety of subsidies, including a production tax credit to help preserve the existing fleet of nuclear plants and tax incentives for the development of new nuclear reactors.  

(oilprice.com)

Our electrical grid is falling apart it is old and getting tired….and it is getting overtaxed year by year….

What to do?

Let me float this idea….take some of the money we throw at every war in every corner of the world and use that to upgrade the system.

I mean come on….the War Department gets about $900 billion this year alone…..cut that by 20% and get the grid up to snuff….or as close to snuff as possible.

It is only a matter of time people.

Or if that idea is not to your liking….how about another one?

The US added just 251 miles of high-voltage transmission lines last year, another in a series of declines, though the nation greatly needs more power. The process is slowed by as much as a decade by the need for approval from various governments and agencies, as well as to address lawsuits over potential damage to views and ecosystems. Two reports issued Tuesday suggest the US is overlooking a technique used in other countries that could double the electric grid’s capacity in many parts of the country, the New York Times reports.

“Advanced reconductoring” basically refers to replacing old power lines with newer models that have smaller, lighter cores such as carbon fiber and hold more aluminum. These lines can carry twice the current that older lines do. The change is being made in Belgium, the Netherlands, and other nations to provide room for more wind and solar power. “We talked with the transmission system planners over there and they all said this is a no-brainer,” said Emilia Chojkiewicz of the University of California, Berkeley, who cowrote one of the reports. “It’s often difficult to get new rights of way for lines, and reconductoring is much faster.”

The other report, from GridLab and Energy Innovation, a nonprofit, looked at why more US utilities aren’t already doing this. An executive for Southern California Edison, one of the largest utilities in the US, said there are questions about how much of the need this approach will meet but said, “We agree that advanced conductors are going to be very, very useful.” A Berkeley scientist called reconductoring a start, per the Times. “It’s not the only thing we need to do to upgrade the grid, but it can be a major part of the solution,” Amol Phadke said.

The point is we need to do something before it is too late.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”