« Free Cameras for Phony Photo Op | Main | Open Thread »
April 14, 2009
James Hackett of Anadarko Lets Fly at Demented Energy Policy
Not all oil execs are corrupt and/or cowardly enough to play along with the war on economic freedom and prosperity being waged behind the smokescreen of the global warming farce.
Washington's energy and environment policy risks plunging the US into an economic tailspin that could turn it into "the world's cleanest third world country", one of the US oil industry's most successful chief executives has warned.
James Hackett, chairman and chief executive of Anadarko, one of the US's largest independent oil and gas companies, said in an interview: "The histrionic and maniacal focus on carbon dioxide is intellectually repugnant to me."
Mr Hackett's assessment echoes the private views of many oilmen less willing to be quite so direct and reveals the fissure developing between the industry and Washington. His views contrast with those of cautious, politically and environmentally correct European oil executives [at] Royal Dutch Shell.
Unlike executives at many European companies, Mr Hackett opposes a cap and trade system, such as the one included in legislation recently introduced by Democrats in the House of Representatives. He said it was an indirect tax on individuals that would be as open to manipulation as the European model.
As with many industry veterans and proponents of improved energy security, he warns government officials and environmental advocates to stop suggesting that solar and wind could reduce the US's need for petrol.
Instead, he said focusing on solar and wind would work against Washington's goal of reducing the US's dependence on foreign oil as it would displace sources of energy produced domestically, such as uranium, natural gas and coal. Somewhat predictably, opening more US land to drilling would be his solution.
This is predictable not because Hackett is an oil exec, but because he isn't an idiot. Anyone with an IQ above Obama's base can understand that the more bureaucrats force us to rely on inefficient technology like wind, solar, and pixie dust, the more we will pay for energy — at a time when the economy can hardly afford the additional drag.
On a tip from Byron.
Posted by Van Helsing at April 14, 2009 9:13 AM
Comments
On the other hand: eco-moonbat wants to make it a crime to use fuel "wastefully.".
Posted by: V the K at April 14, 2009 9:28 AM
Carter started the department of energy over 30 years ago. It intent was to create sources of energy for the united states. With a budget of 25 billion for this year, we still haven't seen one single result. What the hell are they smoking in washington? Obama shit?
Posted by: Stephana at April 14, 2009 9:55 AM
The government shouldn't have anything to do with "energy policy" and until we can get America back on keel as a limited government our lives are going to be at the mercy of political gamesmanship.
Posted by: Kevin R at April 14, 2009 9:58 AM
It is nice to see an oil company exec finally demonstrate "some huevos" regarding the AGW hysteria.
The marketplace will let us know when the alternatives "are ready". I don't oppose some level of taxpayer-funded research, but simply throwing money (taken from citizens and energy producers) at it will not bring results any sooner.
I wonder if some of the oil/gas companies plan to get in on the Cap-and-Trade as a money-making enterprise? Enron wanted to.
Posted by: on-the-rocks at April 14, 2009 10:40 AM
The eco-freaks wont be happy till were reduced to a miserble primative existence living in caves and cowering in the corner and making virgin sacrifices to the sun gods and gaia whom they worship in their stupid wacko music festivals
Posted by: SPURWING PLOVER at April 14, 2009 11:32 AM
Thank you, Mr. Hackett! Finally, someone with the gonads to stand up to Chairman Zero and his enviro-wacko Gestapo thugs. Helps that he's absolutely right about that [well-spoken and biting] remark: "the cleanest 3rd-World nation on the planet" (to paraphrase) -- the drones who voted for Obambi are hopeless, but I wonder if the more "regular" Democrats are aware of just how horribly poor and energy-starved they are about to be with this moron and his SA-type band of little Nazis in charge of every aspect of their lives?
Maybe they'll wake up by election time in 2010, and cross the aisle, as it were, since there's obviously nothing for them anymore in the Donkey Party, save starvation, death by freezing and/or heat-stroke, come summer, and a life that's truly "short, brutal and cruel."
Posted by: jc14 at April 14, 2009 1:43 PM
He said it was an indirect tax on individuals that would be as open to manipulation as the European model.
Mr Hacket has no idea what he is talking about. The EU cap-and-trade got off to a slow start in reducing emissions because they gave away credits in the beginning. Businesses manipulated the system by requesting more credits than they needed. They have since profited by selling undeserved credits to those who were honest about their emission levels.
People learn from mistakes and the US has learned not to repeat that one. The US cap-and-trade law (which Congress will pass to keep EPA from doing more) will auction off carbon credits.
Despite Hackett's bluster, wind and solar will reduce the need for liquid fuels as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles replace those powered solely by internal combustion.
Cleaner Leaner Future? Plug In -
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/07/20/MNGT7R3OH81.DTL
Posted by: Jay Alt at April 14, 2009 7:25 PM
HYUK,HYUK,HYUK A NEW WAY FOR AL GORE TO RUN HIS PLANES ON RUBBERBANDS SQUAWK SQUAWK SQUAWK
Posted by: Flu-Bird at April 14, 2009 8:24 PM
