President Obama is missing the hybrid revolution
The hybrid revolution and unprecedented greatness
Time for the President to listen to his Job’s Council
One can only laugh, or perhaps cry, at the irony of today’s political world. This morning I learned that the President was rejecting the Keystone Pipeline, an outcome most closely following this story expected because of the political prowess of those against the pipeline and their importance to the 2012 election. Then oddly enough, came the release of the President’s Job’s Council’s Road Map to Renewal that strongly suggests that pipelines like Keystone, and the jobs such natural resource orientated endeavors will bring, are essential to American economic viability.
Just like cars, the hybrid approach to US energy policy” just can’t get no respect”.
What I’ve loved about hybrid cars through the years is the multi-fueled approach, the combination of electricity and conventional fossil fuels. Any way you slice and dice it, America’s fossil fuel dependence will take decades to overcome. Thus, a visionary, but practical approach is required, such as the kaizen that resulted in Toyota’s hybrid cars. Ultimately, that means an intelligent utilization — a compromise if you will — of multiple energy sources is the wisest path forward, and the President’s Job’s Council clearly agrees.
Consequently, again, as the Job’s Council clearly indicates, new drilling and new pipelines are inevitable to restoring America’s economic strength. While the President can claim Republicans forced his hand on Keystone by not allowing enough time for an alternative pathway to be developed, those in opposition don’t want ANY pipeline, and most don’t want ANY new drilling.
Unfortunately, it’s clear to those that remain objective that we have no choice but to accept new drilling and new pipelines.
However, new drilling and pipelines won’t be enough. Efficiency, alternative fuels and electrification must be part of the mix, especially over time. That’s as paramount as is the need for new drilling.
Thus, as I’ve argued in the past, the Keystone pipeline affords the President immense power to compromise, to negotiate the most important US energy policy ever. Give Republicans the pipeline, but force Republicans to support a road to much better efficiencies, and not just fossil fuel infrastructure, but smart grid infrastructure as well. Similarly, set up a plan to increase R&D revenues for renewables via the job creation created by pipelines like Keystone.
And that might be just scratching the surface. For instance, instead of taxing oil companies when drilling on government land, incentivize them to concurrently build solar and wind farms. And when they build a new oil or natural gas pipeline, have them add some new grid to transport electricity from those solar and wind farms as well.
Take the hybrid approach.
Sure, approving Keystone would mean the loss of important Obama supporters, but I’d bet it would renew faith in the much larger population of independents that made Obama’s election possible.
And, let’s be honest. America is a divided country. Neither party is going to gain full control of the government in a way that a grand energy policy won’t require political compromise. It’s inevitable and denial of that fact is simply counterproductive to the welfare of the Nation. Therefore, the real missing ingredient is unprecedented leadership.
Sure, that’s a lot to ask of any President, especially one residing in such difficult and polarizing times, but the immense opportunity facing the President is his to seize. We don’t need a Democrat or Republican solution because we’ll need both Republican and Democrat ideas and votes. We need a hybrid solution. America needs the hybrid revolution.
Part of the reason given was that Nebraska and the Canadians had yet to agree on a route.
The Gov of Nebraska was OPPOSED to the project until just recently when he said he was in favor of it being “conditionally approved” even though no progress had been made on an alternate route.
Remember – at some point, we’re talking about Nebraska condemning land belonging to Americans for a foreign for-profit investor group.
But still what really galls me is depicting this as source of energy for the US to reduce our dependence on foreign oil – which it clearly is not. They want to export the oil to the highest bidder.
Has absolutely nothing to do with helping the US and everything to do with foreign investors seeking a profit and doing it in a politically divisive way with the cynical involvement of the US GOP.
If we allow ourselves as citizens and voters to become part of this kind of politics …then we’re going to get what we deserve which is really bad government…worse than now.
And yes.. forget the GOP smiling on hybrids, EVs, or tax credits. Virtually all of them SNEER at the very idea and virtually every day make a point of saying what a dumb idea they are and that only a “socialist” President would support them.
time to grow up and smell the coffee on the GOP folks.
The Republicans in Congress really blew it on the pipeline when they passed a law requiring Obama to make a decision within 60 days as part of the payroll tax extension. Obama made the only decision he could make with only 60 days. Heck, the route for this pipeline hasn’t even been finalized yet. How could he provide approval when all the research is not done? Boehner thought he had backed Obama into a corner and he was wrong. Boehner now has to live with the fact that his actions directly caused the cancellation of the pipeline.
Republicans can spin Obama’s decision, and use it to score political points during the election, but Obama made the right decision given the circumstances. It was a tough decision no doubt, but it is one of many tough decisions that Obama made, like the GM bailout, where Obama was willing to take the political fallout to make the right choice.
As far as using the pipeline as a bargaining chip for hybrids…..
I agree with Larry. They is no way Republicans would have accepted hybrid subsidies as a bargaining chip for the pipeline. This is not how business is done in today’s toxic political environment.
We need to get all these Congressmen out of office, and replace them with folks who WILL compromise, and in the process, get the government functioning again….
well, a private investor from a foreign country wants the US to condemn private property so they can move oil across the US to be exported to the highest bidder,
Other than a few temporary construction jobs, how is that a strategic imperative for the country?
If you think they can “trade” the pipeline for hybrid car credits or similar I think you don’t understand the GOP these days.
Also keep in mind that there is a tremendous oil boom in North Dakota that is going forward and well as nat gas fracking so it’s not like Obama is opposed to any/all…
From a pure political point of view – the folks who oppose Obama on the Keystone would not vote for him anyhow..no matter … but the folks on the left may not although I have no “truck” with the green weenies at all on this.
I’m frustrated with all sides. If the Canadians said they would sell the oil only in this country – it would be a no-brainer. Where is the compromise?
Are there no counter-offers?
a counter-off could put Obama in a box.. but the environment is so toxic right now that every action is a throw down the gauntlet action.