In Honor of Heroes

As a Vietnam veteran, I recall my return home to the US after my service overseas.  For those of you old enough to remember, this was a very unpopular war.  Soldiers coming home, all with the same problems that our fighting men have now with PTSD (not a term then) and other issues, were treated unceremoniously at the very best and with scorn at the worst.  I say this not as a “poor me” moment since this was 40 years ago and is now a very distant memory, but rather as a thank you to all the troops who have been fighting for this country over the past decades.  Memorial Day (or as I called it when I was young, Decoration Day) has just passed and I see the patriotism in this country so much more noticeable in 2012.   

For those of you interested, John Huston (with his father, Walter narrating), directed a film, “Let There be Light”, after WWII that documented the travails of returning soldiers.  The army did not want it shown so it sat gathering dust until a couple of years ago when it was brought out again.  An hour long, it is well worth viewing.  Here is a link to the site: Let There be Light 

I have told my loyal reader(s) (thanks Mom) that I have been traveling a great deal for the past several months.  June offers no respite, alas.  Because of this, I beg your indulgence in granting me an extra couple of weeks before my next posting (late June). 

There is much going on in the world of energy.  Natural gas prices continue to be low (with little change in sight), followed by a decline in oil prices (gas prices in Tulsa as of today are some of the lowest in the country at $3.14/gallon while just a few months ago hovered above $3.69/gallon.  In California earlier this month, I paid $4.39/gallon).  Coal continues to be the bad boy of energy with rather dim outlooks. 

There’s a recent article of interest that I read in the USA Today regarding what was once considered an old shibboleth, “energy independence”.  So what is the real story today?  Is it a dream or a distinct possibility? Energy Independence? 

Once upon a time, E-Tech had considered working with companies involved in carbon capture as there were energy savings opportunities possible.  Fortunately, as reported in a New York Times article, I didn’t put this into my sales forecast! Carbon Capture Disappointment

Finally, and somewhat analogous to the previous article, coal is finding major difficulties, even in the middle of coal country.  Read this detailed report from the NY Times. Coal in trouble?

And, finishing where I left off, here’s a wonderful saying regarding our marvelous fighting men and women.  

“And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb, and beauty weeps the brave.  Joseph Rodman Drake” (1795-1820)

So, as I mentioned in my last blog (a long time ago, it seems), I have been on the road quite a bit including a trip to the Monterrey Peninsula to play in the Nationwide Boiler Charity Golf Tournament.  The picture of me standing on the 18th tee box doesn't quite depict the big smile on my face.  For those of you who play golf, this is a bucket list item for sure.

So what's new in the world that's interesting?  Aside from the politics, I mean.

Several of my blogs of late have discussed natural gas in particular and energy resources in the US in general.  We have gone from a country that was importing a great amount of our oil from overseas to one that seems to be at the edge of a boom.  And in natural gas - well don't get me started.  There are many stories regarding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  For me it's hard to envision too much criticism of this group as it has, at its heart, our environment and health as its main interest.  But there are those who have suggested doing away with it (you know who you are you dastardly cads!).  But the EPA has taken an interesting view on a difficult issue - fracking.  Is it harmless, dangerous or somewhere in-between.  One would expect the EPA to be rather circumspect on this problem but, as reported by one of my favorite columnists, Ezra Klein, they are taking a longer view.  See the article if you'd like to know more. Ezra Klein article

Another article of particular interest to me, although still on a natural gas theme LNG), is the following one from Politico.  In it is discussed the Cheniere Energy Partners’ Sabine Pass project.  What's so fascinating about this story is that the plant in question was originally conceived as an operation to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) but now is being converted to export it.  How's that for a turn of events?  The question raised in this story is whether or not we should do it?  Take a look and see for yourself. Sabine Pass Terminal

I hope this has proved interesting to you and look forward to writing more next month.

In closing, here's a California theme (how can I not after spending last week in that beautiful state). 

"Helsinki may not be as cold as you make it out to be, but California is still a lot nicer. I don't remember the last time I couldn't walk around in shorts all day." - Linus Torvalds (born 1969)