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1. 

   sindark Posted 3:38 am
   18 Nov 2008

   Accessible but dirty energy

   The situation is a complicated one, particularly given tensions between climate change mitigation objectives and aspirations for energy security. A further complication arises because of overlapping jurisdictions. US states, Canadian provinces, and regional initiatives are all working on climate change mitigation. To some extent, this federal government-to-government bid seems designed to supplant that. Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon has expressed the hope that a Canada-US deal could "provide uniformity and supplant the patchwork of plans that are being implemented in various states and provinces." While uniformly good policies would certainly be a step forward, there is the distinct danger that more innovative and committed jurisdictions will be forced down towards mediocrity, and that time will be wasted as reorganization occurs.

   In the end, the oil sands are both a huge financial temptation and a hugely sensitive regional issue. How they end up being treated will have a lot to do with the extent to which national governments are willing to consider overall societal welfare, as opposed to the more volatile interests of specific groups, as well as the degree to which either government is willing to bear political risks in order to achieve their existing mitigation targets. I don't think it can be realistically argued that current oil sands policy is anything other than selfish and reckless. That is on account of both the near-term ecological damage arising from oil sands extraction and refining, as well as the long-term climatic threats associated with using such dirty fuels.

   a sibilant intake of breath

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2. 

   amazingdrx Posted 3:57 am
   18 Nov 2008

   Once again, offer compromise

   Tar sand development powered by large nothern plains wind farms would be an imperfect, but possible compromise.  The water and tailings issues would remain problematic.

   The better compromise would be in the "more research" vein.  Something in the realm of a waterless solution, that would run on renewable electricity, like microwave plasma vaporization of the oil to separate it from the sand in place.  No mining.

   Crack the oil as a vapor and refine it on the spot.  That's worth some research.

   North american oil independence through tar sand mining and gas guzzling is not a good plan.  Obama ought to ask the canadian prime minister where the chinese state oil company's tar sands investment fits in this plan.

   http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

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