Release Oil from Strategic Petroleum Reserve For Lower Prices

They will wait until closer to November. Would anyone like to SPECULATE as to why?

Using our already built and licensed oil rigs (currently not in use for some reason) is a much smarter and fiscally responsible approach. Instead of spending an insane amount of tax payers money on exploring new oil reserves, we should invest this money into r&d for renewable and alternative energy.

Not only would this greatly decrease human impact on our planet, it would generate jobs in a time of recession. This technology would also be a great commodity to export.

We need to cut our addiction and dependency on not only oil in the middle east but altogether.

The technology is there, it just needs to be made a priority.

Mr. Cheney, Mr. Bush, and their cohorts are all men to hold in high disgust. I believe the first two need to be impeached, tried for robbery and for what they have done in the murder of so many women and men in Iraq.

The oil assault is just the latest in a long line of ugliness from these folks.

I think it's good to relieve some of the problems that middle class is having with paying for gas.

Doesn't ANYBODY see the basic fallacy of the logic of selling off reserves to lower market price temporarily, and then having to replace the reserves after they run out and the market price goes back up again even higher? Not to mention the fact that reserves are for emergency use. What happens if you sell off reserves and THEN you have the emergency? Given the way the world works as expressed by Murphy's Law(Whatever CAN go wrong WILL, and at the worst possible time.)----it is almost guarranteed that if you sell off reserves, you'll be sorry you did, VERY sorry.

----------"We need to cut our addiction and dependency on not only oil in the middle east but altogether.

The technology is there, it just needs to be made a priority. "------------------------

Oil is running out and will only get more expensive in the long run.

Replacing oil is the ONLY strategy that will work.

Biofuels do everything that oil does, and they do it better. Biofuels are cheaper, require no changes to the current infrastructure, do not produce greenhouse gas, are environmentally friendly, are effective, can do anything we want or need done, are non-monopolistic, have been around and in use for over 100 years and in some cases longer, tried, tested and proven. And they are completely sustainable and renewable, we can use them forever.

We need to not only make biofuels a priority---it is stupid NOT to!

We are importing almost 70% of our oil now---and spending $1 Trillion a year to pay for it. Even a fraction of that devoted to producing biofuels would end the problems.

I think we need to do several things simultaneously.

1. using some of the oil reserves may help in the short run in terms of consumer confidence that Congress and President (not shrub of course) will take action.

2. Mass education of the masses that oil is finite and now is the time to explore all other options. Period. Keep up the news coverage and the fact that offshore drilling is ludicrous, harmful, and that it will take a minimum of 10 years and fill the coffers of the Shrub/cheney regime....and their cohorts.

3. Follow Gore's challenge on a personal, city, state, country, and then global level.

4. Each of us needs to continue to support and speak out against all misleading information regarding the myth that "there isn't an oil crisis and global warming is just a myth."

5. At home we are cutting our energy use, recycling everything we can, composting, taking walks in the neighborhood and picking up trash, staying closer to home, purchasing a hybrid, energy star appliances, etc. Is it enough? Hell no.

6. I write Congress, Obama, and who ever else I can think of daily.

7. I have joined NRDC, WE can solve it, Care2, World Wildlife Fund, to name a few. Is that enough? Hell no.

8. I write relatives, friends, strangers and attempt to present a cogent and respectful argument for cutting use of energy.

9. I sent my son, who is a contractor and is building his new home, hundreds of websites on solar, and other energy efficient ways to build and be off the grid.

10. I think the more of us who can figure out ways to be off the grid, environmentally active, politically active, and especially consumer active will make a difference.

The biggest issue I have is how I am still trying to find my way through the maze in terms of what seems to be the least environmentally harmful way to live, buy, travel, etc. It changes as fast as this news.......

Oil prices are currently at high as they are due to the long term supply/demand issues. Releasing oil from the strategic reserves does nothing to change the fundamental equation, and therefore will not have any significant long term effect on the price of oil.

In addition, a short term price reduction in the price per barrel of oil does absolutely nothing for the average consumer. When was the last time you bought a barrel of oil at market price? I know I never have. I also know that when the price of oil incurred a "record" drop last week, neither the price of gas at my local station, nor the price of petroleum based products (such as plastics) dropped along with it.

The purpose of the strategic reserve is to make sure that we have some oil available to keep our country moving should our supplies ever be suddenly cut off in the event of, say, a war with Iran. To deplete the strategic reserve in order to simply manipulate the market price of oil is irresponsible and short-sighted. Once we reach a point where our Nation can continue to function without oil, we can start talking about releasing the reserve.

I don't disagree with what you wrote. I do agree with what I wrote. Our oil reserves are some of the highest they have ever been. It would not endanger our country to release some. I agree it is not an energy policy only a tiny short term boost that might help. It is certainly better than Congress going along with Shrub Jr. to open up drilling on the coasts.

It is going to take a few years to get folks on board that carbon based fuel is going to be sky high and that we need to look to alternative fuels.

If renewables is the direction the world is going, shouldn't America Act on this trend and demonstrate our innovation and leadership as the leading power.

Investing in alternative energy is the solution to reducing our dependency on oil, creating jobs, and boosting our economy.

This is why you see the major energy companies investing buku bucks on r&d. They know it's coming, but it's up to the people to push this initiative by stressing its importance to elected officials.

I agree and well said.

what if they just told the oil companies to stop gouging prices?
why cant we pass on the financial hardship to the suppliers of oil that get it for a maximum of $20 a barrel from the source?

I don't want a fucking band aid I want a fucking fix.

Get over oil.

Why open up the strategic reserves? We have the richest oil well in the history of the world! In the north slope of Alaska! It is probably larger the the inflated oil reserves in Saudi Arabia, but ARCO wouldn't allow it to be used because it would flood the market and lower the price of oil!

When Kissinger was Secretary of State, he made deals to the Arabs to pay the national debt of US and take US dollars and they have held to that pact. So this oil crisis thing is about Iraq and Iran who didn't agree to the terms of Kissinger and this is their fate. There is bitter war and turmoil between these countries. The US told Iraq we wouldn't attack them if they attacked Kuwait. Of course, you know the history we double-crossed Iraq and attacked them and the rest is history.

Now we know that Iran wants to sell it's oil for Euros and wouldn't mind flooding the market with their oil. This would devastate the US and why we are on the brink of war with Iran. So, either way, Americans are paying for it through the teeth and they aren't for sure aren't going to allow anything to change for us!

Everyone is right! We need to agressively, go to solar energy and green energy and leave oil to wither. So this is an opportune time to push for green alternatives. This is the type of dirty politics that might save us all from the clutches of oil enslavement!

Look at the chart above. The real information is in the numbers on the left hand side. $30, $60, $150, the use of the SOR did nothing but make tiny dips in the overall price. And the price has continued to climb for the last 20 years.

------"If renewables is the direction the world is going, shouldn't America Act on this trend and demonstrate our innovation and leadership as the leading power. "-------

America is not the leading power in the world in biofuels. Brazil, Spain and China are.
Brazil has already switched its economy to the use of ethanol grown on just 2% of available cropland. The Brazilian economy is booming, it is one of the fastest growing in the world and is either 8th or 10th largest in the world now depending on which list you look at.
Spain produces 750 liters per year of ethanol from wood waste right now. Spain is enjoying a boom economy too, and is Europe's leading exporter of ethanol, and ethanol production systems.
Abengoa, the Spanish National Energy company is building 6 of the largest cellulosic ethanol plants in the world in China right now. The Chinesse have 1.5 million vehicles rolling off the assembly lines this year that run on 100% hydrous ethanol, straight from the still, no petroleum needed. Production is scheduled to increase to 2.8 million vehicles next year.

-----"Investing in alternative energy is the solution to reducing our dependency on oil, creating jobs, and boosting our economy. "--------

Yes.

------"This is why you see the major energy companies investing buku bucks on r&d. They know it's coming, but it's up to the people to push this initiative by stressing its importance to elected officials. "---------------

There is no need to wait for any R&D or pie in the sky promises. Biofuels have been around over and in use over 100 years. Biofuels can be used in any diesel engine with no modification. Ethanol can be used blended up to 30% in any engine, and up to 85% in Flex Fuel engines. Flex Fuel vehicles are being produced now, and have been for about 20 years. There is nothing new or experimental about biofuels. Ethanol was being produced from wood logging waste in both the US and Germany as far back as the 1890's. Germany ran its entire economy and war machine off of alcohol fuels after the loss of North Africa in WW2.

PetroSun is producing biodiesel from saltwater algae in Rio Hondo TX, right now. They produce 4.4 million gallons of oil per year from 1180 acres of saltwater ponds.
Rangeline Fuels is constructing a plant to produce 100 million gallons per year of ethanol from logging and millwork waste wood. Current commodity price of ethanol is about $2.60/gallon for ethanol.
You do not have to be rich to invest. Get whatever $$$ you can together, do your research carefully and see a broker----then invest your money in companies that are or will be producing biofuels.
When you do that, you'll be helping America, and helping yourself. You will be getting in on the ground floor of a business that will be replacing a commodity that is doing great damage and is something that everyone needs. Even people who don't drive depend on transportation in one form or another. Small amounts invested by early investors will produce huge results later. Look around, we have to do something. Biofuels are the only answer that answer every need and fit completely within the current infrastructure.

From kcfoxie---

-----"...if biofuels are so cheap, why is my local cooperative selling Biodiesel (100%, no petroleum) for $5.25 and barely making a profit?"---------

In a few words, because theyy can. Any business is in the game to make a profit. If they can sell biodiesel for $5.25/gallon they will.

Get more companies producing the saltwater algae oil that it is manufactured from and you will have more competition to sell. Ultimately this will result in lower prices. This is how a free market has always worked. This is how a free market will work with biofuels.

This is not how the market is working with oil becuase oil is by geography and technology a monopoly. The BIg Oil companies are acting in unison as a Cartel(argueably either out of individual self interest, or agreed to manipulation)---however, the result is the same either way---a monopoly that locks out competition and controls the market and price.

Biofuels will be nonmonopolistic because of the widely available and flexible raw material inputs, and the low level of technology required to produce them work against creating a market monopoly condition. They are simply to easy to make from a wide range of raw materials to be able to corner and control a market with them.

Unfortunately, most of the responses I read to such an article is disturbing. What's more disturbing to me than the next series of brainwashing brought upon this generations 'problem' of energy.

Just think of some quick facts:
- Saudi Arabia's largest oil field just reached its downward slope of what will be the last of its oil. That field started to be drilled in the 1950's. The United States has an oil field right here on our land that is 2-3times LARGER than Saudi Arabia's oil field. Why are we drilling here, now. We can sustain ourselves.

More information? Visit: www.AmericanSolutions.com
Read, agree? Sign the petition. More than 1.3Million people already have. BIPARTISAN!!

-Al Gore is banking on the ideas he is breeding. You're making him rich and his buddies rich by buying into ideas that have not yet been researched enough to tell us today what the implications will be 10 or 20years from now. What am I talking about?
Ethanol 85, costing bushels and bushels of wheat. When the larger part of a population around the world pays 60-80% of the income on food alone, to divert food into an energy, thereby removing it from the possible global market and therefore raising prises to those who already pay extravegant fees just to eat in the first place.
The new Light bulbs. They save us what, 60some odd percent on electricity. Where are they produced, China. We are paying for savings and those profits are given to another country...AGAIN! Oil to the Mid East. Energy saving products to the far East. Whats next?

To many think that the solution is to turn away from big oil and give to it to someone or something else. Wrong.

It is a variety of things. Improving current technologies in petroleum, more refineries, Flex fuel cars, and drilling in the U.S. are just a few things we can do now. In the years to come reducing our dependence on foreign oil and using our own here while shifting to a renewable resource that leaves less of an impact on the earth.

Ugh, i have to many talking points. Forgive me.

Vote McCain. Because he has the know how to finish in Iraq the proper way after the sacrafice. Finish in Afghanistan properly, and around the world. While making smart decisions domestically and reaching across the isle to work with Democrats.

Anyone else remember in the early 20th century a Maverick who cleaned things up and got America on the right path just like this Maverick will in the beginning of the 21st century.

You morons; releasing the reserve will have nil effect on oil price.

Lets start drilling in the continent shelf EVERYWHERE around this great country.

The Democraps have held us in slavery to the mid- east oil for TOO LONG. Tell the dems to go to hell and START DRILLING NOW!

Get out of the way Ms. Moron Pelosi....we WILL DRILL and deliver ourselves from mid east Oil slavery whether YOU like it or not.

The point I'm trying to make is it's of the political nature that has put us in the boondogle! That is why with all that oil out there the American government will not release all that oil! They want to keep those prices up! Yet we are buying more oil now from the Arab countries, & our dollars aren't worth "swat diddlely". This or course has been helped along with the wars of domination and conquest and our national debt being in the toilet. But, you're all right about alternatives. The government and the oil companies haven't helped the people and this has been the plan! Those true Americans that believe that drilling more will help are simply wrong. Alternatives! Renewable resources, no more control by the oil power mongers. That includes the Bush administration as well! So go listen to the reverend. He should be on the last page. It's 1hr and 15minutes and he'll tell you it's all a scam! He ought to know, he worked for ARCO and he's risking his life to tell you all of this!