Author: GTD Group (Page 15 of 23)

At the International Energy Policy Conference during the awards dinner held at the University of Oklahoma, Dr. Woodrow Clark, one of the co-recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize, presented his views about the future hydrogen economy.

Is there a future hydrogen economy?

Hydrogen can be extracted from the ocean by running an electric current through the water, but this process –known as electrolysis—requires enormous quantities of electricity. More importantly hydrogen can be produced from natural gas (CH4). According to the Hydrogen Energy Center, four realities suggest that the current energy economy is not sustainable:

1. The demand for energy is growing and the raw materials for the fossil fuel economy are diminishing. Oil, coal and natural gas supplies are not replenished as they are consumed so an alternative must be found. 2. Most of the people who consume fossil fuels don’t live where fuels are extracted. 3. Emissions from fossil fuel usage significantly degrade air quality all over the world. 4. Third world economics are especially susceptible when developing energy systems needed to improve their economies.

Hydrogen has three basic benefits that address these concerns:

1. The use of hydrogen greatly reduces pollution. When hydrogen is combined with oxygen in a fuel cell, energy in the form of electricity is produced. This electricity can be used to power vehicles, or as a heat source, or applied to other uses. 2. Hydrogen can be produced locally from numerous sources. Hydrogen can be produced either centrally and then distributed or onsite where it will be used. Hydrogen gas can be produced from methane (natural gas), gasoline, biomass, coal or water.
3. If hydrogen is produced from water, we have a sustainable production system. Electrolysis is the method of separating water into hydrogen and oxygen. Renewable energy can be used to power electrolysis to produce the hydrogen from water. Some of the renewable sources used to power electrolysis are wind, hydro, solar, and tidal energy.

It is also critical to realize that natural gas equals CH4 (methane), which means natural gas will be an important factor when we enter the hydrogen economy.

In my next column, I will address further information about the future hydrogen economy.

America Needs America’s Energy! Go to www.peopleseenergyplan.com

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At this year’s Oklahoma Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Renaissance Hotel in Tulsa, Nancy and I had the opportunity to be at a table with Oklahoma Hall of Fame 1999 inductee and famed sculptor Jay O’Meilia.

I shared with Jay that I had referenced one of his works in my remarks at the John Massey Annual Lectureship in 2009, Southeastern Oklahoma State University. At the lectureship, I talked about Jay’s famed sculpture, the “Oil Patch Warrior” which stands in honor and in remembrance to the many from the “oil patch” who have made great sacrifices throughout the history of the American oil and gas industry.

As mentioned in my book pages 86-87, during World War II the British government, our ally, needed more oil to defeat the Germans. However, most of the oil they used was imported. Then oil was discovered in England’s Sherwood Forest, but the British needed America’s help because they did not have the technological know-how to drill and produce it. Under secret arrangements made in February 1943, the American government sent forty-four oil field workers from Oklahoma to assist. These employees from Oklahoma were known as the “Oil Patch Warriors”.

The drilling team and four rigs imported from the US contributed significantly to the British war effort by boosting production at the field near Duke’s Wood from 300 barrels per day to 3,000 barrels per day in double quick time. By the time the drilling team from two Oklahoma companies sailed home in the spring of 1944, they had drilled 106 wells. In honor of their sacrifice, a monument by sculptor Jay O’Meilia was erected in the Sherwood Forest by The Energy Advocates, a nonprofit organization that raised the money for the seven-foot-high statute of a driller, the “Oil Patch Warrior”.

The British experience during World War II is a lesson in the necessity of energy security. It is my opinion that we can meet the challenge of achieving our energy security needs. America Needs America’s Energy and we should always remember all those from the “oil patch” who have made great sacrifices under extreme challenging conditions.

America Needs America’s Energy! Go to www.peopleseenergyplan.com

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The Obama Administration finalized this year the fuel efficiency standards mandating that all cars and light-duty trucks average 54.5 miles per gallon (mpg) by 2025 per model.

The federal government reports that its standards will improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Obama Administration, consumers will save more than $1.7 trillion at the gasoline pump and reduce oil consumption by 12 billion barrels.

The current existing standards for cars and light trucks are for them to average 35.5 mpg by 2016.

There is the argument that suggests the standards will hurt domestic automakers. Auto dealers have expressed concerns that the standards would raise car prices and consumers would probably hold onto their old cars rather than buy new ones.

Another alternative and opportunity is advocating the use of compressed natural gas in regard to natural gas vehicles. Certainly our dependence on foreign oil would greatly diminish.

We would be more dependent on natural gas and the abundant supply of natural gas in our country!
We would be using a cleaner fuel, so in every way, we would be far ahead of where we are today from an energy standpoint, and closer to energy independence.

Please tell me what you think. Go to www.peopleseenergyplan.com

America Needs America’s Energy and Together, We, the People, can Create the People’s Energy Plan!

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Recently, Marianne Horinko, former Acting Administrator of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, now CEO of The Horinko Group, Washington, D.C. and I made presentations on the subject of “Energy, Environment and Politics”. The presentations were the kick-off of the Mentoring Environment and Energy Together (MEET) Mentor-Protégé Program held at Devon Energy’s headquarters in Oklahoma City. Participants also visited a Devon Energy drilling and hydraulic fracturing well site.

This effort builds on The Horinko Group’s release of its comprehensive white paper on the current and future environmental, regulatory, and legal issues tied to horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing and upon my book, “America Needs America’s Energy: Creating Together the People’s Energy Plan”.

“Over the past decade, natural gas has emerged as a key component of the United States’ energy supply. The availability and increase in supply has been attributed to non-traditional reserves unlocked by the technologies of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling.”

Hydraulic fracturing was first in commercial use since the 1940’s. It was used up until the late 1990’s primarily for drilling conventional oil and gas wells. Since that time, hydraulic fracturing together with horizontal drilling has come to the forefront.

According to industry estimates, hydraulic fracturing has been applied to more than one million well nationally since the 40’s. Though overall a safe track record regarding the use of hydraulic fracturing, there are environmental concerns which the industry faces and must continue to address.

Four key components and examples coming from The Horinko Group’s white paper regarding the proper use of hydraulic fracturing are adaptability and flexibility- regulation tailored to diversity across the country, transparency and reliance on sound science- research and regulation based on unbiased and sound science, innovative research- continued pursuit of creative solutions to environmental issues, especially as related to mitigating the burden on water resources and managing wastewater, and collaboration- sharing of scientific, technical, economic, legal, and long-term planning information.

Strong economic opportunities are on the horizon because of the vast unconventional gas reserves. With that said, environmental concerns are and should continue to be addressed when it comes to air quality and atmospheric impacts, greenhouse gas emissions, water impacts such as water withdrawals and wastewater management, water recycling, and groundwater protection.

America Needs America’s Energy and Together, We, the People, can Create the People’s Energy Plan, www.peoplesenergyplan.com

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A few weeks ago, October 25-27, the 20th Annual International Energy Policy Conference (IEPC) was held at the Waterford Marriott Hotel and the Petroleum Club, Oklahoma City and one day held on the campus of the University of Oklahoma, Norman.

There were over 270 registered delegates from across the United States and globally attending the three day conference including several from Elk City and western Oklahoma: Mary Fern Carpenter, Andrew Carpenter, Peggy Hayhurst, Bill and Lois Hubbard, June Conrad, June Loveless, Purcy Walker and Tony Mikles. Purcy and Mary Fern served on the IEPC Conference Host Committee. My Dad, George Stansberry, served on the Founding Committee, (1992-93).

There were 26 speakers/panelists making presentations including Dr. Woodrow Clark, co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, The Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby, U. S. Congressman James Lankford, Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Chair Patrice Douglas, and Ambassador Boulal of the Kingdom of Morocco.

The IEPC awards reception and dinner were held at the Sam Noble Museum, University of Oklahoma.

What was accomplished at this year’s conference?

The conference brought stakeholders together from not only the energy sector, i.e. oil, natural gas, coal, wind, nuclear, solar, biomass, but also, concerned citizens, representatives from government, agriculture, higher education, business, students and others.

One of the conclusions was that America Needs America’s Energy developed with the ultimate goal of gaining independence and that America should be the global leader when it comes to research and development along with technological advancement.

Everyone is a stakeholder in the national and global energy outlook. It is important that we continue to address key energy issues before us.

I would like to hear from you. Your input and actions should lead us to a bright energy future. Together, we can meet the challenges ahead.

“Future generations are depending on us to keep the American dream alive.”

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