Political stances have consequences: “Natural gas is so abundant and cheap in much of the U.S. that producers want to export it overseas. Except in New England, where gas is so hard to get that companies are importing it from as far away as Yemen.” In this particular case, the stance was we do not want any of those dirty, dirty fossil fuel pipelines in our backyards; and the consequences are soaring natural gas prices (2/3rds higher than the rest of the country) according to the WSJ, with the price probably continuing to skyrocket because of increased demand from consumers and what may be a really, really cold winter*. There’s also apparently the consequence that New England air pollution levels have been rising in the last year due to the need to burn stuff that’s less efficient than natural gas, but that’s a whole different issue**.
…Well. Loathe as I am to see a bunch of Americans pay through the nose for electric – and more importantly, heat – many, many people are going to not-really-nicely note that New Englanders have largely brought this fate down upon themselves by voting in Democrats. And it’s true! New Englanders did, and they have. . . .
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| Who makes snowmen out of oil? |
Maybe their politicians have taken the pledge:
Oil Trade Group Challenges Environmentalists: Enough Talk, Try Actually Living Without Fossil Fuels
One of the more prominent among the manifold idiocies of the environmental left is the idea that oil is evil. Recently, according to a press release from the Western Energy Alliance, a non-profit trade association representing more than 450 companies engaged in exploration and production of oil and natural gas in the West, more than 400 groups converged on the White House to demand we keep fossil fuels in the ground.
If it doesn't get used it's not "fuel" just fossil.
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| Plastic fantastic flowers |
They did this, of course, while waving signs made of plastic and having driven or flown in fossil fuel-powered vehicles to Washington. And probably while drinking from plastic or aluminum water bottles, or while sipping an extra-soy-macchiato latte, all of which require fossil fuels to produce. These are the same sorts who tried to block offshore drilling in the Arctic by blockading a harbor with kayaks and canoes made of plastic.
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| A sea of polymerized crude oil |
To shine light on the idiocy, this week the WEA challenged people who insist that oil is evil to live a full seven days without using fossil fuels. To any who would accept the challenge, they would find this is impossible.
Said WEA president Tim Wigley:
Environmental groups have actively promoted ending fossil fuel consumption. The problem is the average person doesn’t understand where things come from.
…
Taking these groups at their word, we created the Challenge to show that oil and natural gas products are not easily dispensable. In fact, it’s quite the contrary; fossil fuels make modern living possible. They power our economy and provide the basic feedstock used to manufacture smartphones, clothing and medicine and make our world safer, healthier and more convenient.
Of course, they will never accept the challenge. Their protest is mostly virtue signalling. They have no intention of ever living under the kind of conditions they profess they want. I hope they enjoy high gas prices in New England this winter. If they don't like it, they can always do without, or they can vote people in who will support pipeline. But that might take a few years.
Linked at Pirate's Cove in the weekly
"Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup" and links. Thanks, Teach!
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