Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2109336)

I guess you don't remember back in the days of diesel fuel, when we learned that corn oil and other vegetable oil could be used in diesel engines. The technology wasn't good enough for a full replacement, but that's how the idea of adding ethanol to our gas started. And now, most gasoline is cut with ethanol. That can be improved.

Meanwhile - everyone who says this is a petroleum-based economy and country is right. It is. There's no way we're going to give up on plastics, it just isn't going to happen. But there are ways to REDUCE petroleum consumption.

Also, I don't know where you got your chart, but it's incorrect. Probably outdated.

Natural gas is the #1 source for electricity in the USA, at 38%. Coal is second at 22%. Nuclear is at 19% and all the renewable energies, combined, fill out the remaining 21%. Petroleum makes up .5% (half a percent) of electricity sources.

There's no reason why we can't reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, and increase our production of renewables and "alternative" sources. Even our garbage man is already doing that, by converting trash to energy (Waste Management). Heck even GOLF is pro-active in this; the Phoenix Open, sponsored by Waste Management, runs a zero-waste tournament where ALL trash is converted to energy.

It might have started out as a gimmick - a good public relations scheme. But it's an idea with merit.

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2109316)

You could just go ahead and check the actual oil company reports and press releases. They're not run by the news. They just give the information TO the press, who reports what they're told.

If you did that, you'd see that -
(drumroll)
the news reported correctly. Oil companies HAVE reported their biggest profits ever. And oil companies ARE responsible for the increase in price. And oil companies DO have control over how much/little they charge for the oil. And there are no oil shortages, and oil is being distributed just fine throughout our country.

Originally Posted by dewilson58 (Post 2108864)

Stupid idea.

Band Aid with dirt on the pad.

Originally Posted by golfing eagles (Post 2109227)

Let's examine those concepts a bit further:

First of all, does anyone think it is likely that big oil would sacrifice profits today for fear of declining profit in the distant future????? I doubt it.

Second---EVs. Where do people think the electricity comes from???? Latest data for our sources of electricity:

Coal---------------33.2%
Natural gas----32.7%
Nuclear----------19.5%
Hydro---------------6.1%
Wind----------------4.7%
Solar----------------0.6%

This does not include heating and cooling homes from fossil fuels and industrial applications, so you could replace every internal combustion engine with EV and not make a dent in the carbon footprint, not that it matters since global warming is a myth anyway.

Third------"alternative fuel vehicle"---which, besides EV which is powered as listed above, is just what??? I haven't seen a nuclear reactor on a car since the Delorean in "back to the future". 40,000 pound windmill on top of a 3,000 pound car? Mobile waterfall????? 500 sq. ft. of solar panels on a mini cooper???

Fourth, to respond to some other posts, my understanding is that there are 2 parts to drilling on federal land---first, permission to lease the land and second a permit to actually drill on it. The government is more than happy to collect the rent for leasing the land, but this administration has issue exactly ZERO permits to actually drill on it. Must be Putin's fault. Also, there has not been a new refinery built in the US since 1974. Who thinks that is due to "greedy oil companies" and who thinks that is due to ridiculously overburdening environmental regulations? Hint: oil companies sell refined products.

Originally Posted by JMintzer (Post 2109365)

Oil companies are making the same profit per gallon as they always haver.

When you compare 2021, when they were LOSING money to today, when the economy has reopened, of course there will be a large surge in profits...

Originally Posted by Blackbird45 (Post 2109370)

You do know they're working on hydrogen cars.
EVs will take over but not because the global warming, but because it eventually will be more convenient and most likely less expensive.
The oil companies can see the handwriting on the wall.
There will still be a market for their product, but they are going to take a hit.

Originally Posted by golfing eagles (Post 2109377)

No argument---it is self evident. Once cars are all EV or hydrogen, gasoline will be virtually non-existent. But when will that be? American business is notoriously short-sighted, looking 2-3 years ahead while competitors like China and Japan look 20 years ahead. For that reason I just don't believe that oil companies are reducing production and foregoing profits NOW in anticipation of an uncertain future in which their product MIGHT be vastly reduced. Of course, this is highly speculative. Right now, despite the rise in price, fossil fuels are still the cheapest form of energy. EV's of any quality tend to be quite expensive, and hydrogen is a great idea that is many years away if ever. Personally, I'd be a bit leery of parking the Hindenburg in my garage.

Originally Posted by golfing eagles (Post 2109377)

No argument---it is self evident. Once cars are all EV or hydrogen, gasoline will be virtually non-existent. But when will that be? American business is notoriously short-sighted, looking 2-3 years ahead while competitors like China and Japan look 20 years ahead. For that reason I just don't believe that oil companies are reducing production and foregoing profits NOW in anticipation of an uncertain future in which their product MIGHT be vastly reduced. Of course, this is highly speculative. Right now, despite the rise in price, fossil fuels are still the cheapest form of energy. EV's of any quality tend to be quite expensive, and hydrogen is a great idea that is many years away if ever. Personally, I'd be a bit leery of parking the Hindenburg in my garage.

Originally Posted by Blackbird45 (Post 2109428)

What will dictate the speed of EVs taken over is the demand. Right now you have people paying a high price for an EV and are willing to wait months for delivery.
Even though there are still issues with distance and charging times.
Car companies and battery manufactures see this and will do whatever they can to solves these problems as quickly as they can. You also have the states investing in charging stations and people realizing they may never have to visit another gas station. This is eventually going to affect the oil companies bottom line. I don't think the oil companies are evil, they're doing what is in the best financial interest of their company and their stockholders.

Originally Posted by Blackbird45 (Post 2109428)

What will dictate the speed of EVs taken over is the demand. Right now you have people paying a high price for an EV and are willing to wait months for delivery.
Even though there are still issues with distance and charging times.
Car companies and battery manufactures see this and will do whatever they can to solves these problems as quickly as they can. You also have the states investing in charging stations and people realizing they may never have to visit another gas station. This is eventually going to affect the oil companies bottom line. I don't think the oil companies are evil, they're doing what is in the best financial interest of their company and their stockholders.

Originally Posted by Blackbird45 (Post 2109428)

What will dictate the speed of EVs taken over is the demand. Right now you have people paying a high price for an EV and are willing to wait months for delivery.
Even though there are still issues with distance and charging times.
Car companies and battery manufactures see this and will do whatever they can to solves these problems as quickly as they can. You also have the states investing in charging stations and people realizing they may never have to visit another gas station. This is eventually going to affect the oil companies bottom line. I don't think the oil companies are evil, they're doing what is in the best financial interest of their company and their stockholders.