Weaning off fossil fuels
Wild Willpower PAC‘s four-part plan to wean our nation off fossil fuel dependence:
Identifying the Problem:
The following four PDFs contain a compilation gas and oil pipeline explosions that occurred throughout the U.S., as recorded by the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration:
- #1: 2009-2010: Pipeline explosions
- #2: 2011-2012: Pipeline explosions
- #3: 2013-2014: Pipeline explosions
- #4: 2015-2016: Pipeline explosions
The Economy and Human Rights depend on a Strategic Approach:
This urgent yet complex issue must be approached thoughtfully because if U.S. oil production were to cease tomorrow we would likely suffer an economic collapse similar to that of Venezuela’s. [1] Because many families (and tribes) have their safety being propped up by oil profits, a strategic plan to get from “here” to “there” is vital. Human rights also tie into this issue: if the U.S. does not produce domestically yet we continue to consume petroleum products our current rate, we’ll continue funding Islamic states via purchasing every gallon of oil from OPEC. [2]
The Four-Part Plan
Wild Willpower PAC is petitioning to implement the following four-part plan as part of our national plan:
#1.) “On-Site Portable Oil Refineries” will make pipelines obsolete – Implement anIncentive Programforoil refinery companies to develop “On-Site, Portable Refineries” to make transporting crude oil across waterways obsolete. Hurricane Harvey knocked out almost one-quarter of U.S. refining capacity,[3] “portable refineries” are an ideal solution while we transition our economy as follows:
#2.) Transform Gas-Powered Vehicles into Electric Vehicles – Create an Incentive Program and Federal Grants to support scientific study so that inventors have access to the resources & support they need to create economically-viable “replacement engines” capable of converting 20th century vehicles into 21st century technology. As technological advance allows, we propose subsidizing public access to aid Citizens in converting their vehicles.
#3.) Switch Subsidies away from Fossil Fuel Industries toward Ecologically-Wise Energy Solutions – In 2013, the Congressional Budget Office‘s official report claimed that federal energy tax subsidies, & additional financial support from the U.S. Department of Energy, were allocated as follows:
- Energy efficiency and renewable energy: 13.8 billion.
- Nuclear energy: 1.8 billion.
- Fossil Fuels (including research & development): 3.7 billion. [4]
In 2014, however, Oil Change International estimated U.S. fossil fuel subsidies at $37.5 billion annually. Other credible estimates range from $10 to $52 billion – however none include costs borne by taxpayers related to the climate, local environmental, or health impacts of the fossil fuel industry. Fossil fuel subsidies in the U.S. also include massive military expenditures to acquire and defend fossil fuel interests around the globe, and infrastructure spending and related maintenance. [5]
According to a Stanford University study, switching to renewables would save 7 million lives per year, and create 24 million jobs. [6]
We propose annually transferring increased subsidies from nuclear and fossil fuel industries to “single-extraction energy generator” industries, such as:
- bladeless wind turbines
- solar panels including pokeweed berry solar panels
- tidal stream generators
- solar power towers
- cool streets
- & other clean “single-extraction” energy alternatives.
Annual transferring of subsidies should continue until the U.S. achieves zero-cost-to-Citizens energy independence in an ecologically-wise way from coast-to-coast, at which time subsidies should be drastically reduced to cover maintenance costs, while automating such maintenance wherever possible in order to continue to reduce spending. Job creation in this manner should be made available through Civilian Restoration Corps.
#4.) Ratify a Constitutional Amendment to Make Placing Pipelines Across Waterways Illegal – Civil Actions to remove pipelines from endangering waterways are responsive actions rather than preventative, & unfortunately, despite their dangers, simply “removing them” can be economically devastating due to current dependence. However, with both seismic activity and the multitude of causes for pipeline bursts considered, it is reasonable to state that all pipelines impose an imminent threat to discharge oil (natural gas, & other hazardous materials) in devastating manners. With the above three parts of this plan in place, implementing a Constitutional Amendment to make “transporting oil or other hazardous materials across, under, or over waterways by way of pipelines illegal” can be successfully accomplished. See how Constitutional Amendments are implemented to learn more.
To learn more please read
Our National Plan.
Also please donate to support our campaign.
Thank you to Saboteur365 for this great commemorative graphic we’re using in accordance with Fair Use.
References:
[1]: OilPrice: “Cuba Scrambles As Venezuela’s Oil Industry Collapses” b
[2] Energy Independence, “Islam and Oil”: www.americanenergyindependence.com/islam.aspx
[3]: “Hurricane Harvey knocked out almost one-quarter of U.S. refining capacity in late August” from Bloomberg Markets, “Far From the Texas Coast, Hurricane Harvey Hits Oil Refiners” by Jessica Summers and Barbara J Powell (9-18-2017): www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-18/far-from-the-texas-coast-hurricane-harvey-hits-oil-refiners-j7qrx1p8
[4]: Congressional Budget Office. Testimony Federal Financial Support for Fuels and Energy Technologies.On March 13, 2013, Terry M. Dinan, senior advisor at the Congressional Budget Office, testified before the Subcommittee on Energy of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology in the U.S. House of Representatives that. http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/03-12-EnergyTechnologies.pdf. Accessed 4 January 2015.
[5]: Oil Change International: “Fossil Fuel Subsidies: Overview>How much money does the United States government provide to support the oil, gas, and coal industries?”: http://priceofoil.org/fossil-fuel-subsidies/
[6]: Eco-Watch: Stanford University study, Switch to Renewables Would Save 7 Million Lives Per Year, Create 24 Million Jobs by By Tim Radford: www.ecowatch.com/jacobson-stanford-solar-wind-2476930081.html
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