| My Company routinely reviews more than 600 new | | | | We need, and we have, vast stores of fossil fuels. |
| product ideas, concepts, prototypes and models | | | | Oil, coal, nuclear, tar shale and natural gas are known |
| during most years. During a soft economy, such as | | | | to exist in huge quantities in our offshore waters and |
| today's, we see even more as people become more | | | | inside our borders. Hopefully the entrepreneurial class |
| desperate to chase a dream. Pursuit of the | | | | that we work with will produce a 21st Century |
| "American Dream" almost always involves | | | | Thomas Edison and an alternative, clean, cheap, |
| entrepreneurial activity. | | | | unlimited energy source will be discovered and |
| During this business cycle we have been inundated | | | | exploited for the benefit of all. Until that occurs, we |
| with a slew of energy related offerings. Fuel | | | | need to use every resource we have and be open |
| enhancement products, internal combustion engine | | | | to current geo-political realities that make energy |
| accessories, a replacement for the catalytic | | | | independence so important. |
| converter, a device that guarantees 50 miles per | | | | We absolutely need to become more fuel-efficient. |
| gallon fuel efficiency for any size car, and many more | | | | And yet, even if all cars got 60 miles per gallon of |
| equally sure to succeed products are being shopped. | | | | fuel, we would still need access to sources of fossil |
| Of course, these types of technology enhancements | | | | fuel. Batteries might, and almost surely will become |
| are rarely successful. They are usually only reality in | | | | perfected that provide the mobility, endurance and |
| the mind of the beholder. The required demonstration | | | | cost effectiveness that is required for modern |
| of product performance is always near perfection, | | | | transport. But they are not yet available! These |
| just a bit more time, money or research is required | | | | batteries, when market ready, will require huge |
| to make the contraption commercially viable. | | | | amounts of added supplies of electricity. This will |
| While most of these "inventions" are of the goofy | | | | entail more power plants. These plants run on coal-or |
| sort, we do take a good bit of satisfaction that so | | | | nuclear power. They will need to be built and fueled |
| much creativity and effort are being thrown at what | | | | by these sources of energy. |
| is obviously one of the world's key issues: the future | | | | I live in an area of the country where wind is highly |
| availability of energy. Despite a raft of political types | | | | irregular and sun even more so. Wind and sun are |
| whining that we can never be energy independent, | | | | free, but if not available on a regular basis they are |
| the amount of industry being deployed by the | | | | not to be counted on for more that a fraction of our |
| average American inventor to address the problem is | | | | energy needs. In areas of the country where wind |
| quite encouraging. The native optimism of Americans | | | | and solar are more viable they are NIMBY'ed (Not in |
| that any problem can be solved puts a lie to the | | | | My Back Yard), often by the same people so vocal |
| negativity being sold by a wide swath of the political | | | | about "living green". |
| left, the environmental activists and the always | | | | Major energy producing companies are spending |
| present "Luddites" seeking to return us to hunter | | | | billions of dollars seeking answers, alternative and |
| gatherer ways. | | | | enhanced reclamation techniques, to access more |
| One of our presidential aspirants loves to chant the | | | | sources of energy. They have a vested interest to |
| mantra "Yes We Can!" | | | | do so. That is great news. Their profit motive insures |
| I agree, "Yes We Can!" We can be energy | | | | that the every stone will be overturned as they seek |
| independent if the sorghum sipping, brie munching, | | | | to solve this crucial dilemma that faces all of us. |
| sandal wearing, tree house living dreamers and | | | | They believe they can, that is why they put their |
| schemers for a world without industry get out of the | | | | capital and corporate resources at risk. Inventors and |
| way. That a vocal minority of zealots, with fanatical | | | | entrepreneurs of all stripes believe they can solve the |
| religious zeal have bottled up the pursuit of American | | | | problem as well. Many members of the public, based |
| energy independence is amazing. Why have we | | | | on readily available data, believe that we can be |
| allowed this to happen? | | | | energy independent. They want us to pursue every |
| The world is full of tens of millions of cars, trucks, | | | | avenue available to insure future generations enjoy |
| locomotives, boats and airplanes that ALL operate on | | | | prosperity, freedom and mobility as we have. |
| fossil fuels. That we will simply toss all of these | | | | It is only the glass half-empty crowd, bureaucrats |
| assets overnight and replace them with twig sipping | | | | and politicians that never solve problems, that say |
| jungle juice green machinery is ridiculous. We need all | | | | we can't become free of imported energy. It will |
| forms of energy to be developed and commercially | | | | take a coming together, a new Manhattan Project, |
| made viable. Solar, wind, flora and fauna of all types | | | | with all sides freshly open to all sources of supply and |
| offer great potential. However, despite years of | | | | sources that might be deemed less preferable than a |
| research and subsidies they are not currently feasible | | | | utopian "Nirvana-esque" solution. Green is good. Fossil |
| for more than a tiny fraction of our energy | | | | fuels are essential. New technologies are desirable and |
| requirements. Even then, there are unwanted | | | | being researched. We must aggressively seek |
| by-products to their implementation (Ethanol is exhibit | | | | answers from all of these options, even the ones |
| 1). | | | | that some might deem less than desirable. |