06 January 2009, 11:11 am
By James Sebastien
"There's a whole ocean of oil under our feet! No one can get at it except me!" This is a quote from Daniel Day-Lewis' character in There Will Be Blood. So many in this world have dug for oil even predating A.D. But, it wasn't until 1859 that Colonel Edwin Drake drilled 69 feet deep in Titusville, Pennsylvania for the first oil well in the United States. By 1891 oil production peaked in Pennsylvania. In just 32 years Pennsylvania was pumped nearly dry, and so the search was on to other states.
In 1901 the first oil well in Louisiana was drilled. Since the 1940s the oil industry has been Louisiana's main source in the economy. As goes the oil and gas industry, so goes Louisiana's economy, from booming success in the 1970s to the crash in the 1980s.
In September 2007 out of all the states, Louisiana averages the most barrels a day at 1417 just a head of Texas at 1251. Oil production has slowed down in the U.S. to the equivalent of where we were at in the 1950's, and continues to drop at a rapid pace.
The United States has an estimated 12 years of oil reserve life left. In contrast, Iraq has about 143 years. Canada is at the top of the list with 182 years left. Wait a minute, 182 years left, boy am I glad that my Acadian-French ancestors were exiled. In total the Middle East has an estimated 540 years left between the areas of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and United Arab Emirates. One can debate the real reason for the several different Operation Freedoms going on for the rest of their lives.
Because, of the current state of war, and the ever pending threat of other wars over oil many simply believe we need to wean ourselves off of oil use. Maybe there should even be a timetable for withdrawal of oil such as Sweden's oil phase-out plan. In 2005 they were the first country to adopt such a plan hoping to become independent of oil in 2020. Their four main reasons being, oil prices impact on the economy, peace and security, the ability to use renewable energies, and the climate change.
If a possible nuclear holocaust of world destruction at human hands over one thing such as oil is not quite enough of a reason for one to step back and think over other possible fuel sources, then maybe the added effect it has on the environment will be.
Oil is the root of most environmental problems from motor vehicle emissions, oil refineries, to oil tankers. It's much like how smoking cigarettes is by far the main contributor to lung cancer. While the cigarette companies are the ones who pump out the cigarettes, we are the ones who smoke them. This is not only harmful to ourselves, but also to others in what is known as second hand smoke. People have to realize that much like lung cancer, global warming is real. Climate change is happening.
It's easy to say we need to stop our massive oil consumption, but when you realize what all we use oil for the painting becomes a more complicated picture. We have let what was once thought to be an abundant supply cripple us. We have for so long as a majority put all our eggs into one basket. If all the oil suddenly disappeared the world would be at a virtual stand still. There would be none for airplanes, automobiles, ships, heating, air conditioning, lighting, and even appliances.
It almost makes one laugh when you realize what kind of hold oil has on our everyday lives. The monopoly of it all is boarder line illegal. If you ever wonder why your bills are so high, it's more than just the fact our oil supply is predominantly imported. It's that there are not yet enough companies out there putting money into violable renewable energy sources.
Renewable energy technology is out there. Wind power generators or wind turbines are the source of 19 percent of Denmark's electricity production, although it has been criticized mainly for its effects on migrating endangered bird species and other wildlife.
In Dec. 18, 2007, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company in Northern California announced plans to build America's first commercial wave power plant. Despite plans all around the world, currently there is no commercial wave farm in existence. Tidal power is the only source to be powered by the moon rather than the Earth and Sun. Tidal power works much in the same way as wind turbines, but without as many wildlife concerns.
Modern solar energy technology started after the crisis when the oil business crashed in the 1970's. Since leveling off in the 1990's, solar energy is slowly becoming a true candidate to replace oil for certain needs as in vehicles and heating. In Israel, 90 percent of the homes use solar hot water technology. Solar thermal energy even has the ability store heat to produce energy at night and on overcast days.
Hydroelectricity, which is produced by hydropower, has the major advantage in that it eliminates the cost of fuel. China is leading the way in this technology with 12 hydroelectric dams soon to be completed. Over all, hydroelectricity supplies 19 percent of the world's energy. It also holds the majority of electricity from renewable sources, at around 63 percent in 2005.
Geothermal power is energy generated by heat stored below the earth's surface and absorbed from the atmosphere and oceans. In 2007 geothermal power supplied less than 1 percent of the world's energy.
Biomass is a reference to things living and recently dead biological materials. It is also grown form several plants including corn, willows, and sugarcane. Biomass is a fast growing industry all over the world. Biofuel is derived from biomass, and could in the next 10-15 years or so replace most of the imported oil.
In fact, ethanol, which is made from drinking alcohol, was the first fuel Henry Ford used to run his Model T. Due to prohibition oil was a more legal and easier choice. So essentially, one could say that prohibition helped cause global warming. But, ethanol can also be made from sugarcane, corn, wheat, and soybean. The Energy Policy Act of 2005, calls for an increase use of biofuels, mainly ethanol mixed with gasoline to triple to 7.5 billion gallons by 2012.
There are a few renewable energy businesses around Louisiana dealing with biomass, several different types of solar energy uses, geothermal energy, and even wind energy towers. From 1984 through 1990 ethanol was produced in Louisiana, and was the alternative fuel choice. There is already a functioning biodesiel plant in Belle Chasse Louisiana, called Southcoast Biodiesel, which supplies a much-needed alterative motor vehicle fuel.
In Jennings Louisiana, around the same site as the first oil well in the state, there are plans to build one of only three cellulosic ethanol plants in the world. Verenium Jennings Facility will be the way of the future in this state of Louisiana. Imagine that. But also try to imagine what could be done if we the opposable thumbs of this planet all actually tried. We too, could one day actually be independent of oil. Their website is www.verenium.com <http://www.verenium.com/> .
Agrilectric is a company out of Lake Charles Louisiana. They use rice hulls as biomass to convert into power, and are devoted to "cost effective, efficient and renewable fueled power generation." For more information their website is www.agrilectric.com <http://www.agrilectric.com/> .
Locally, in New Orleans, the Alliance for affordable Energy is a non-profit organization, which is fighting for energy efficiency, global warming awareness, and renewable energy. For more tips on how you can become more energy efficient or to help out, you can visit their site at www.all4energy.org <http://www.all4energy.org/> .
I contacted the Lt. Governor's office about what his stance is on renewable energy and was given a statement by Mitch Landrieu. "As a leading provider of America's energy, Louisiana is very aware of ever-increasing demand, and of the importance of diversifying our energy sources. Our state is blessed with the resources to support a variety of renewable energy technologies, from wind power to biomass ethanol. Louisiana should continue to explore and develop environmentally responsible and economically positive models for increasing our production and consumption of renewable energy."
On the New Orleans political front, Councilmember Shelley Midura is leading the charge in New Orleans' efforts to go green. She is currently working on several plans to help all New Orleanians live a more efficient, and economically sound way of life. So, please stay tuned for other advances in a newer New Orleans.
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