Greengineering Blog

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)