U.S. Environmental and Energy Policies

[debunkgpolitics.livejournal.com]

Originally posted by debunkgpolitics at U.S. Environmental and Energy Policies

Building oil pipelines will create American jobs and, maybe, energy independence. Environmentalists who argue for “greener” sources of energy must change their tactics to prove that preserving Mother Nature is still important. Thus far, environmentalists have not convinced enough people that environmental stewardship and increasing domestic energy production are not mutually exclusive or a pipedream, no pun intended.
Environmentalists must prove the Keystone pipeline is inefficient in that production costs greatly outweigh any benefit gleaned from Keystone. Environmentalists can also appeal to the religious sympathies of President Trump, which helped him get elected, especially, with the Catholic Church being more vocal about protecting our environment. If enough supporters express their concern about avoiding environmental disasters, then he may change his policies. Though disasters from oil exploration have been relatively few, one spill can hurt the economy. Fishermen may lose income from an oil spill in the ocean. If oil reaches the costs, tourism-dependent business can also lose income.
Another concern is exploration on tribal land. Native Americans could be “forgotten,” if President Trump initiates oil drilling on tribal land against their wishes. Someone in this community provided a story about the Native Americans in South Dakota who won their case. Time will tell whether how long their victory lasts.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/01/24/presidential-memorandum-regarding-construction-keystone-xl-pipeline
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/01/24/trump-gives-green-light-to-dakota-access-keystone-xl-oil-pipelines/?utm_term=.80218423873f

Comments

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

- environmental stewardship and increasing domestic energy production are not mutually exclusive

That's proving a negative. Let me use the same rhetorical tactic:

- prove that preserving Mother Nature is still important

Prove that it isn't.

See?

[airiefairie.livejournal.com]

Maybe news like this (http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38686626) and this (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jan/25/europe-faces-droughts-floods-storms-climate-change-accelerates) should be laid upon his bed every morning as he wakes up every day. Not that there's a high likelihood that he'd pay attention, but still.

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

What makes you think he gives a damn about other continents? Certianly not about Europe. Unless that ice shelf somehow lands at the doorsteps of Trump Tower, I'm not seeing him moving a finger about it.

[mikeyxw.livejournal.com]

"Environmentalists must prove the Keystone pipeline is inefficient in that production costs greatly outweigh any benefit gleaned from Keystone."

No, not really and this is setting them up for failure. The pipeline will replace trains for shipping oil and pipelines are more efficient and safer than trains. Sure, there is occasionally a spill using pipelines, but there is occasionally a derailment followed by a big explosion when using trains, sometimes in the middle of a city. What environmentalists need to do is to convince people that the long term costs of continuing to use oil is higher than switching to something cleaner.

[garote]

Rebuilding our infrastructure to be more efficient - bike-friendly, for example, or with more ride-sharing or mass transit, or with better urban planning - will create American jobs, and, maybe, energy independence. Environmentalists who argue for "greener" sources of energy will endorse this plan in a heartbeat, because it's obvious - and requires no proof - that preserving Mother Nature is important. Thus far, the oil and gas industry has enjoyed enormous subsidies and tax breaks, because they have convinced enough people that environmental stewardship and increasing domestic energy production are somehow mutually exclusive. But - we don't actually need to increase domestic energy production. We need to decrease domestic energy consumption. Numerous disasters have occurred in the course of oil exploration -- and there is no "relatively few" when we talk about disasters, since even one spill can cause massive long-term effects on health and local economies -- so it makes perfect sense to explore means to make our infrastructure more efficient.

Another concern is exploration on tribal land. Cancelling the tax subsidies for oil, and investing that in energy efficiency, is a move that would not threaten any tribal land anywhere.

[debunkgpolitics.livejournal.com]

I think Pres. Trump would care, if he wants to get reelected