US Says Conserving Oil Is No Longer An Economic Imperative

[DonViejo]

Source: Talking Points Memo/AP


By ELLEN KNICKMEYER | August 19, 2018 10:01 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — Conserving oil is no longer an economic imperative for the U.S., the Trump administration declares in a major new policy statement that threatens to undermine decades of government campaigns for gas-thrifty cars and other conservation programs.

The position was outlined in a memo released last month in support of the administration’s proposal to relax fuel mileage standards. The government released the memo online this month without fanfare.

Growth of natural gas and other alternatives to petroleum has reduced the need for imported oil, which “in turn affects the need of the nation to conserve energy,” the Energy Department said. It also cites the now decade-old fracking revolution that has unlocked U.S. shale oil reserves, giving “the United States more flexibility than in the past to use our oil resources with less concern.”

With the memo, the administration is formally challenging old justifications for conservation — even congressionally prescribed ones, as with the mileage standards. The memo made no mention of climate change. Transportation is the single largest source of climate-changing emissions.

Read more: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/us-says-conserving-oil-is-no-longer-an-economic-imperative

[dawg day]

1. "Because we WANT to be dependent on Saudi Arabia!"

"Russia too!"

[Cosmocat]

3. J ... H ... C

This country had its head up its ass on energy before we have a russian stooge as POTUS.

[Maxheader]

7. Yes, up to the neck...

We won't learn until the utilities and gas companys
start serious rationing...

[Perseus]

15. This has to do with Russia more than SA

Remember the oil that Tillerson was supposed to help Putin exploit in Russia? Well, that is where this creep is going, his master Putin has ordered him to pass legislation, such as the asbestos one, and now this one, to move slowly into opening up the "partnership" for the extraction of oil in Russia.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Limits exist on what people can pay

Foreclosing those choices will harm many economically

[justgamma]

4. They have "faith"

that oil will last forever. Cons have no concept of thinking ahead.

[MBS]

5. Criminally irresponsible.

And unbelievably stupid.

[lambchopp59]

6. double down on the publicly displayed scientific ignorance, Frump.

No thought of his own progeny even, aside from everyone else's in that ugly little red head of his.
Dateline 2570, hominids extinct, wiped out by their own pollutants, the fools didn't know when to stop careless dirty fuel combustion. Atmosphere still clearing from the great plague, cleanup effort continues with teams of opposable digit canines.

[bitterross]

8. Putin needs the price per barrel up more

I suspect it has to do with getting the price per barrel up to a level where Putin's supplies are profitable/more profitable. OPEC weren't the ones really hurting when the price per barrel was under $50.

[SCVDem]

9. Any company stupid enough to

change any designs of factories or vehicles to get on tRumps lunacy will get whiplash from zero sales and a return of regulations when we regain control.

We taught our children to be green and now the orange ass is telling them we were wrong.

Run the newsreels of smoggy skies, dirty water and burning rivers.

I wish the kids well in their lawsuit against this unmitigated disaster.

[logosoco]

10. I guess there will always be the people who put ecomonics ahead of

education and the environment. But they should never, ever, ever be in a position of making policy.

[justhanginon]

11. Absolutely right! And they have even given them a name.

They are called republicans because you really "can't fix stupid".

[KY_EnviroGuy]

12. And climate change is entirely 'cause Jesus is pissed at liberals

............ ..........

[Achilleaze]

13. republicans submissively doing russia's biding again

disgusting

[yallerdawg]

14. Well, maybe corporate responsibility and citizenship will step up.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

16. And the Trumpys shove their heads further up their asses.

[forgotmylogin]

19. They don't drive or pay for gas.

They could care less what we plebes have to deal with.

[Honeycombe8]

17. The horror of life on earth and life in this country, now. The horror of it. The cruelty to animals.

The destruction of the environment. The extinction of wildlife..the disregard for life of others not in their group.

This is all getting to be too much.

[sakabatou]

18. It just keeps getting worse

[LakeArenal]

20. So if you want us to use more... Make it cheaper!!!

[Historic NY]

21. If were so awash in black gold, how come the price of the pump is going up?

[Bengus81]

22. Growth of natural gas?? SHIT,heating bills where I live are OUTRAGEOUS.........

You live in a chilly home for months and still pay $175-$200 per month. Gosh...glad we have sooooo much NG around,that we can just blow through oil like it will never run out.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

23. Prof. Lawrence Tribe sez...

Posting this to demonstrate that some great folks intend to fight Trump in court over his trampling of environmental regulations.

Link to tweet

I opposed the way the Obama Clean Power Plan exceeded EPA’s delegated authority but strongly favored what Obama was trying to do about global warming. What Trump is trying to do with power plants, in contrast, is indefensible. There is no Planet B.

Link to tweet

Not only are Trump’s environmental policy goals indefensible; his disregard of legal requirements for regulatory change is staggering. @JodyFreemanHLS and Richard Lazarus of @HarvardELR can be counted on to hold Trump accountable to law.

.......