Energy and Environmental Issues


Bailing Out Big Three Will Keep New Technologies Off The Market

Posted by Chris Berry on December 2, 2008 in Economic Meltdown, Energy and Environmental Issues

The heads of the Big 3 automakers are heading back to Washington this week for another round of congressional hearings on a proposed bailout package. There is little question that the Democrats in the House and Senate will eventually pass a relief package, but what remains in doubt is where the money will come from. [...]

Rewarding Failure Only Postpones The Inevitable

Posted by Chris Berry on November 10, 2008 in Economic Meltdown, Energy and Environmental Issues

In 1979, the federal government provided $1.2 billion in loan guarantees to help the ailing Chrysler Corporation fend off bankruptcy. The company was teetering on the brink of failure because it produced poorly designed and poorly built vehicles that consumers rejected in favor of Japanese and European brands. They were failing because they were unable [...]

Why Energy Independence Really Matters

Posted by Chris Berry on August 14, 2008 in Elections and Voting, Energy and Environmental Issues

After sitting on their hands for the last 35 years, American politicians have finally taken up the call for energy independence. Sadly, it was not a recognition of the true national security significance of the issue, but a short-term spike in the price of gasoline during an election year that finally spurred them to action. [...]

Beware Of Falling Oil Prices

Posted by Chris Berry on August 5, 2008 in Elections and Voting, Energy and Environmental Issues

Over the past couple of weeks, oil prices have been falling as rapidly as they climbed just a few months back. As I write this, oil is trading below $120.00 per barrel for the first time since early May, down nearly $30.00 from the all time high just a month ago. While we may all [...]

Alternative Energy and Climate Change

Posted by Chris Berry on July 10, 2008 in Energy and Environmental Issues

I’m not a scientist by any stretch of the imagination, but with all of the concerns about fossil fuels and climate change, I’ve been wondering about the possible unintended consequences of different forms of alternative energy. Is it not possible that by substituting wind or hydrogen for fossil fuels, we might create an entirely new [...]

Intermodal Facility More Important Than Ever

Posted by Chris Berry on July 7, 2008 in Economic Development, Energy and Environmental Issues

The July 14th issue of Time magazine contains an article titled “10 Things You Can Like About $4.00 Gas”. The author touches on a variety of beneficial side effects, ranging from reduced obesity to lower insurance rates, but the most interesting idea put forth is that high oil prices will bring manufacturing jobs back to [...]

Rethinking The Automobile

Posted by Chris Berry on June 26, 2008 in Energy and Environmental Issues

In the 35 years since the Arab oil embargo of 1973, we as a nation have had ample opportunity to adjust to the reality of a world where efficient use of our natural resources is no longer optional, but instead of taking advantage of this opportunity, we have done virtually nothing. In addition to making [...]

Presidential Politics And The Price Of Gas

Posted by Chris Berry on May 9, 2008 in Elections and Voting, Energy and Environmental Issues

In yet another demonstration of the remarkable gullibility of the American electorate, the price of gasoline has recently taken center stage in the presidential election debate. As we’ve come to expect, candidates from both sides are lining up to tell the voters exactly what they want to hear, rather than what they desperately need to [...]

What Was The IOC Smoking?

Posted by Chris Berry on April 10, 2008 in Energy and Environmental Issues

With the start of the Summer Olympic Games just a few short months away, you have to wonder what was going through the minds of the International Olympic Committee members when the games were awarded to Beijing. Forget about the inevitable protests by human rights activists, and forget about the calls for boycotts that will [...]