Lucas Ross
Comedian, Emmy Award Winning Actor
Born to beekeepers. Plays the accordion and the banjo, which means he’s musically dangerous. Ross is from Minco, Oklahoma
Author: GTD Group (Page 9 of 23)
The 2008 economic stimulus package passed by the US Congress set aside $21.5 billion for scientific research, as well as $5 billion for weatherization of houses, $11 billion for updating the electric grid, and $2 billion for advanced automobile battery technology. Additional grants and funds were also made available for other energy projects.
Instead of launching us further into energy independence government involvement seems to push us back economically, as well as directing us even more dependent on foreign energy sources. It’s one thing for the government to experiment and fail. But when a company like Solyndra is up and running for just a year or two, spends over $500 million, and then goes bankrupt, is that proper use of our funds when we are in an economic downturn? As the Wall Street Journal noted in September 2011, the $535 million Solyndra project is just one in a string of failures, with the Department of Energy shoveling over $1 billion in new loan guarantees to solar projects in Nevada and Arizona, and more deals pending.
Shouldn’t the US government focus on areas like better technology for natural gas? For example, Schlumberger is a service company involved in putting proper water treatment in place in areas undergoing hydraulic fracturing. So we are starting to see technology that complements what we are already doing, instead of just handing out over $500 million as was done with Solyndra and seeing if some new product pans out.
Government assistance and money could also have been used more beneficially in rebuilding energy infrastructure. In this case, public-private partnerships are necessary. For example, if we would have put that $500 million into building Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueling stations, it would have been a great shot in the arm for the natural gas sector and the energy business overall. We could have started with government fleets nationwide, but it would also have extended into the public arena. Today, many UPS trucks, as well as public buses in Los Angeles for example are CNG-fueled. The benefits are enormous: The cost of CNG fuel is roughly 50 percent less than the $3.50 to $4.00 per gallon for normal gasoline, and in some areas of the country, even lower than that. CNG is also an environmental plus, as it burns much cleaner and is better for the engine as well.
The TransCanada Corp’s Keystone XL Pipeline is a perfect example of government policy working against our energy independence. On the one hand, our government said yes to Solyndra, but no to permitting the Keystone pipeline, which is a privately funded project. Keystone could not only have provided twenty thousand jobs in a down economy, saving taxpayer dollars on unemployment, but more importantly, it could have helped make us less dependent on our enemies for oil.
What do you think? Does America Need America’s Energy? If so, how should we go about it?: America Needs America’s Energy: Together We Can Create America’s Energy Plan!
Note the 2013 International Energy Policy Conference Summit will be held in Tulsa, Ok., October 17th, go to www.energypolicyconference.com to learn more.
Go to www.peoplesenergyplan.com to join the effort of striving toward “creating together the people’s energy plan”.
Facebook: America Needs America’s Energy with 5800 supporters plus and growing. — America Needs America’s Energy: Creating Together the People’s Energy Plan!
In 2008, I mentioned in my book “The Braking Point” that the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) outlined the strategic importance and associated threats facing each oil-exporting country, some of which provide us with petroleum:
Algeria: Armed militants have confronted government forces
Bolivia: Large reserves of natural gas; exports may be delayed due to new laws unfriendly to foreigners
Caspian Sea: BTC pipeline now open; many ethnic conflicts; high expectation of future oil production in the region; no maritime border agent
Caucasus Region 2: Strategic transit area for natural gas and oil pipelines
Columbia: Destabilizing force in South America; oil exports subject to attack by protesters; armed militants
Ecuador: Unstable politically; protests threaten oil exports
Indonesia: No longer a net exporter; separatist movements; peacekeeping force in place; violence threat to Strait of Malacca
Iran: No direct exports to US but exports 2.5 million barrels daily to other world markets
Iraq: From 2003 to 2005 there were 236 attacks on the oil infrastructure
Libya: Newly restored diplomatic relations; Western IOCs not awarded contracts in send EPSA round
Nigeria: High rate of violence and crime; large income disparity; tribal and ethnic conflict and protests have repeatedly suspended oil shipments
Russia: Yukos Oil Affair has bred uncertain investment climate
Saudi Arabia: Long-term stability of al-Saud family; Western oil workers subject to attacks
Sudan: Darfur Crisis and North-South internal conflict threatens government stability; security of oil transport at risk
Venezuela: Large exporter to the US; President Chavez frequently threatens to divert those exports and nationalize the source base.
Now: Most of the potential security threats in these countries remain and in some cases have heightened. More threats in other areas of the world have also surfaced. For instance, if Iran attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz, our energy security is in jeopardy from the standpoint of price and supply. In addition to the threats already mentioned, America faces potential internal terrorist attacks and cyber-security threats on our energy infrastructure that could wreak havoc on the citizenry and imperil national security.
These threats to our energy security, both external and internal, make it even more clear that America Needs America’s Energy and energy independence; by that we mean total freedom from the reliance on energy sources questionable to our national interests. The goal is to replace all foreign oil from countries with even a question of being hostile to us or of being in an alliance with us.
America Needs America’s Energy! Together we can create America’s Energy Plan!
Note the 2013 International Energy Policy Conference will be held in Tulsa, Ok., October 17th, go to www.energypolicyconference.com to learn more.
Go to www.peoplesenergyplan.com to join the effort of striving toward “creating together the people’s energy plan”.
Facebook: America Needs America’s Energy with 5800 supporters plus and growing. — America Needs America’s Energy: Creating Together the People’s Energy Plan!
Kurt Abraham
Executive Editor, World Oil Magazine
Air Date, September 22, 2013
Abraham is the Executive Editor of World Oil magazine at Gulf Publishing Company (Houston) since late 2011, is responsible for staff supervision, editorial content, and statistical and forecasting efforts, and contributes to conference and data product development. He returned to that publication after serving as Vice President at the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers (TAEP), the largest statewide association of oil and gas producers in the U.S. Earlier, he served 22 years at World Oil in positions of growing responsibility, culminating in the position of Managing/International Editor. Mr. Abraham serves as an expert commentator on E&P geopolitics to several U.S. and Canadian television and radio stations. The speaker, who earned a B.A. in journalism and business administration from Texas A&M University, is a Past President of the National Oil Equipment Manufacturers and Delegates Society and a member of the Supply & Demand Committee of the Independent Petroleum Association of America.
He is also a member of the Offshore Energy Center’s Hall of Fame Committee.
About twenty years ago, I had the opportunity of meeting George Mitchell in Houston, Texas. George Mitchell who recently died at age 94 was an engineer who has dramatically impacted the oil and natural gas industry. George Mitchell was known as the father of hydraulic fracturing.
George was highly respected in the oil and gas industry. In fact, in the 30 plus years that I have been traveling to Houston on energy business, whenever George Mitchell’s name was mentioned I only heard positive remarks. He was truly a gentleman.
I share with you some of the remarks taken from his obituary, about his life:
“He was one of the elite corps of engineers whose ideas, ingenuity and persistence changed the world. He was the father of “fracking”, hydraulic fracturing, the process by which dense shale rocks deep underground are blasted apart to release the gas and oil trapped within.
His innovations, developed over several decades, started an engineering revolution that is transforming the US from a guzzler of imported fuel to an energy-independent nation. His influence along with his innovations in getting hard-to-reach fossil fuels out of the ground, have arguably had more effect on US foreign policy than any statesmen since the start of the cold war.”
He was born in Galveston, Tx., and was the son of poor Greek immigrants.
He gave back through his charitable foundation giving over $400 million to many causes.
“In the late 1990s, after nearly two decades of painstaking experimentation, Mitchell’s pioneering techniques began to bear fruit. He expanded his fracking operations rapidly and soon attracted the attention of the oil and gas majors. In 2002, he sold his company to Devon Energy Corporation for $3.5 billion dollars.”
He had drilled over 10,000 wells before selling his company to Devon.
Many know of George Mitchell because of his establishment of the Woodlands in north Houston, Tx.
“Mitchell’s genius was to bring to bear advances in technology that allowed the massive drilling equipment used to carve out vertical wells to be turned around, underground, to drill horizontal tunnels. The result was revolutionary. Whereas vertical wells were necessarily limited in the amount of gas they could bring to the surface, once it was possible to have horizontal wells branching in all directions—imagine a Christmas tree—the yields increase exponentially. Rock formations could be fracked and fracked again over huge areas underground, with only a small footprint revealing its presence at the surface.”
Many thanks to George Mitchell for his leadership, his vision and his care for others…he has left truly a great legacy!
America Needs America’s Energy! Together we can create America’s Energy Plan!
Note the 2013 International Energy Policy Conference will be held in Tulsa, Ok., October 17th, go to www.energypolicyconference.com to learn more.
Go to www.peoplesenergyplan.com to join the effort of striving toward “creating together the people’s energy plan”.
Facebook: America Needs America’s Energy with 5700 supporters plus and growing. — America Needs America’s Energy: Creating Together the People’s Energy Plan!
Mark A. Stansberry was recognized by World Oil online for receiving awards for his most recent book. The article appeared on September 19th, 2013.
Seneca Scott, Oklahoma House of Representatives
Air Date, September 15, 2013
Representative Scott, Seneca
District 72 – Democrat
COMMITTEES
A&B Transportation
Conference Committee on Energy and Aerospace
Conference Committee on Government Modernization
Conference Committee on Utility and Environmental Regulation
Energy and Aerospace
Government Modernization
Utility and Environmental Regulation
DISTRICT INFORMATION
Click here to view the member’s full district 72 map.
COUNTY(S) REPRESENTED IN DISTRICT
Tulsa
MUNICIPALITY(S) REPRESENTED IN DISTRICT
Owasso city, Sperry town, Tulsa city, Turley CDP
ZIPCODE(S) REPRESENTED IN DISTRICT
74055, 74073, 74110, 74115, 74117, 74126, 74130
Larger water features may be labeled with a 3-digit ZIP Code + “HH”
Large undeveloped areas are assigned the 3-digit ZIP Code + “XX”
YEAR ELECTED
Year: 2009
TERM LIMITED
Year: 2020
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
PERSONAL:
A fifth generation Oklahoman, Seneca resides in North Tulsa. He has two children, Clay and Harper.
EDUCATION:
B.A. in History/Native American Studies, University of Oklahoma
PROFESSION:
Service Clearing Co. – Energy Management
POSITIONS:
Human Services Committee, House Democratic Advisor
Health Care Workforce Resources Board, Board Member
Oklahoma Catastrophic Health Emergency Planning Task Force
Joint Special Committee on International Development
Joint Legislative Task Force on the Grand River Dam Authority
ORGANIZATIONS:
Oklahoma Sustainability Network – Board of Directors
Springdale Economic Development Council – Board of Directors
Kendall-Whittier Task Force – Board of Directors
Turley Community Association – Board of Directors
OU Specialty Clinic – Advisory Board
Kendall-Whittier Beautification Committee – Member
Kendall-Whittier Neighborhood Association – Member
North Tulsa Rotary Club – Member
Oklahoma Academy for State Goals – Member
Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry’s Committee against Racism – Member
Young Professionals of the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce – Member
Choctaw Nation – Member
House Native American Caucus
LEGISLATIVE SERVICE:
House of Representatives, 52nd Legislature to present
Coal probably does not come to mind to most people when talking about the energy industry in Oklahoma. The oil and natural gas sector seems to be always referenced when thinking about Oklahoma’s energy industry.
Oklahoma’s coal is definitely not a major component in the US coal market. However, the Oklahoma coal industry has an impact of $60 million per year in the eastern part of the state.
Some facts about the Oklahoma Coal Industry:
1) The coal industry was founded near McAlester, Ok. in the 1880s.
2) In 2010, over 1.1M tons were produced.
3) There are 4 operating coal producers in the State with 3 new groups opening mines in 2013 and 2014.
4) Oro Mining of Australia has permitted for a mine near Heavener, Ok. The mine expected to generate 200 mining jobs and 200 indirect jobs.
5) Spiro Mining Company has opened a mine near Spiro, Ok.
6) Farrell Cooper Mining has received a federal permit to develop a large underground mine near McCurtain, Ok.
Since a quarter of the world’s coal reserves are located in the US, it has long been considered a major natural resource for America’s energy future. Coal is currently mined in twenty-six states with Wyoming, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Montana leading in coal production. Most of the coal in the US is mined for the use of generating electricity, and it provides over half of this country’s electricity generation power. In 2007 coal accounted for 27 percent of world energy consumption. We have enough coal in the US to last close to 250 years.
Canada is the largest importer of US coal. Outside of this country, the two top deposits of coal are located in Russia and China. It is currently projected that world coal consumption will increase by 56 percent from 2007 to 2034, with US coal consumption during that same time frame expected to increase by a little over 1 percent.
The opposition to coal, however, is that it is not a viable option because of the environmental pollution it produces. Due to the enormous pressure to clean up this pollution, the US government has stepped in to develop technologies for emission-free coal plants that will capture CO2 so that is does not enter the atmosphere.
Please let us know what you think about the future of coal, www.peoplesenergyplan.com
America Needs America’s Energy! Together we can create America’s Energy Plan!
Go to www.peoplesenergyplan.com to learn more, and to join the effort of striving toward “creating together the people’s energy plan”.
Facebook: America Needs America’s Energy with 5700 supporters plus and growing. — America Needs America’s Energy: Creating Together the People’s Energy Plan!
Recently, I was a guest lecturer at an Energy Management Graduate Program class, University of Tulsa. My assigned subject was “International Energy Policy”.
The class was comprised of students not only from Oklahoma and our region but from several other States, Canada and the Middle East.
I made my prepared remarks during the first twenty minutes. My remarks were followed by questions asked by the students during a period of one and one-half hours.
Some of the questions and my answers I share with you:
What does the future of energy look like globally?
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that the world energy consumption will grow by 56% between 2010 and 2040. Though renewable energy and nuclear power are the world’s fastest-growing energy sources, each increasing 2.5% per year, fossils fuels are forecast to continue to supply nearly 80% of world energy use through 2040. Natural gas is the fastest-growing fossil fuel.
What is the main “push point” or “hot button” on the energy policy front now? Is it demand from China and India? Is it climate? It is supply at home? Is it markets?
The EIA states that “the industrial sector continues to account for the largest share of delivered energy consumption and is projected to consume more than half of global delivered energy in 2040.”
There is no question that when economic conditions/markets improve globally, China and India will be at the forefront of energy demand.
“Based on current policies and regulations governing fossil fuel use, global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions are projected to rise to 45 billion metric tons in 2040, a 46% increase from 2010. Economic growth in developing nations fueled by a continued reliance on fossil fuels accounts for most of the emission increases.”
The shale policy that has dramatically increased US supplies also has great promise globally. Technological advancements have been and will be critical in the years ahead.
What advice would you give current industry leaders about how to shape energy policy discussions; is it possible for the US to get out of “conflict mode”?
As the subtitle of my book, America Needs America’s Energy, states, “creating together the People’s Energy Plan” is essential for best results.
We need energy education, and we need to evaluate our individual and corporate energy usage along with the environmental impact. The evaluation will assist in preparing a much needed energy plan.
As you proceed with creating your Personal Energy Journal, you will find a lot of helpful background information in the first two parts of the book, including the pros and cons of the various energy alternatives currently available. In addition, in the back of the book you will find a glossary of energy terms, suggested reading, and web links that offer further assistance.
America Needs America’s Energy! Together we can create America’s Energy Plan!
Go to www.peoplesenergyplan.com to learn more, and to join the effort of striving toward “creating together the people’s energy plan”.
Please let me know what you think, go to www.peoplesenergyplan.com
Facebook: America Needs America’s Energy with 5700 supporters plus and growing. — America Needs America’s Energy: Creating Together the People’s Energy Plan!
In the last chapter of my book, America Needs America’s Energy, I recommend that each reader keep a Personal Energy Journal.
America’s energy future is in our hands. We can no longer wait for government to rally us. History has shown this will not happen. The time has come for all of us, the people, to take control of our energy future here in America. That starts with us keeping a Personal Energy Journal, which will assist us in planning and executing our personal energy plans.
To give you an idea of what some cities are already doing to assist citizens in this process, at the end of chapter 10 I have included a sample copy of a standard report that homeowners in metropolitan Nashville receive following a voluntary in-home energy evaluation (audit). This Energy Action Plan shows participants the projected energy savings associated with each recommended measure.
Following that, you will find your Personal Energy Journal forms for several years ahead. These forms are a compilation of questions I have gathered from various sources I have encountered while speaking to groups and educating the public on energy policy.
Please join me in developing your own personal path to an energy strategy by completing the forms, which will guide you in assessing how you are personally using energy and understanding how the way you use energy as a consumer impacts energy issues and development.
The idea is to create your own personal energy plan for over a period of five years. For instance, your goal for 2013 may be to convert your car to CNG or add solar panels to your home, or investigate other energy sources in your area. At the end of each year, you can then check to see if you have met your goals. If not, you can either adjust your goals for the next few years or list the steps needed to achieve your personal energy goals in the near future. You may want to include others in this initial planning stage, such as your family, your company, or your organization.
As you proceed with creating your Personal Energy Journal you will find a lot of helpful background information in the first two parts of the book, including the pros and cons of the various energy alternatives currently available. In addition, in the back of the book you find a glossary of energy terms, suggested reading, and web links that offer further assistance. But don’t count on what you read in the book alone. Do your homework. The energy industry is moving forward in innovation and technology advancement, so try to stay current with the latest information available.
You will find that your Personal Energy Journal will become a part of your journey into understanding the need for the People’s Energy Plan, as well as a statement of your personal policy of striving for energy efficiency and environmental preservation.
America Needs America’s Energy! Together we can create America’s Energy Plan!
Go to www.peoplesenergyplan.com to learn more, and to join the effort of striving toward “creating together the people’s energy plan”.
Please let me know what you think, go to www.peoplesenergyplan.com
Facebook: America Needs America’s Energy with 5000 supporters plus and growing. — America Needs America’s Energy: Creating Together the People’s Energy Plan!
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