Are Energy Co's Enterprises that Must be Stopped to Save the Planet?

This is the only thing I could get out of that passage. There's a whole transmission and transportation segment of the oil, gas and power supply chain that doesn't have commodity reserves or define their value accordingly; but they're fully regulated by local, state and federal authorities with the sole directive of immediate and continuous commodity supply for all the utilities, retail stations and large commercial, manufacturing and public institutions out there. Consider that most of the pipeline and grid infrastructure has been around for 40-50 years and there's no real question about the amount of production, extraction and refining that goes on; and unfortunately the pollution that goes with it.

 

This is why we need a viable alternative energy source and have needed it for some time. How much of the problem is man made? I don't know. We do know that climate has been in flux during the 4.5 billion years the planet has existed. There have been ice ages, etc etc. I think, at a minimum, that we have accelerated the problem and/or exacerbated the problem.

All of that being said, the only way to stop it is to eliminate the demand for the product. This requires an alternative energy source. Even natural gas burns a lot cleaner than oil. I would like to know how many alternative energy patents have been purchased and shelved by big oil. We could confiscate those patents and put those ideas in the public domain or forcibly auction them off.

 

You don't know how many of these patents there are, or anything about them, but you know that they definitely exist.

 

exactly

an idiotic, ignorant comment from Refman

 

Jesus could you be more dramatic. Go look at some of the environmental disasters from 80 years ago and we recovered from them. Look at how much cleaner the petro industry is from its infancy in the times of Rockefeller to now. Americans agriculture created the Dust Bowl and we recovered from it. Yes things need to change and they are being addressed pretty quickly imo.

Let's also not forget that these companies have also helped build civilization into the amazingly dynamic state that it is currently in. Refined fossil fuels, railroads, automobiles, steel, and electricity have created everything you see around you today. They also created everything around you in a MUCH less environmental fashion than when they were first created. Over time things have trended towards being environmentally cleaner.

Let's also not forget that Americans are strongly anti-nuclear. That dependance on non-nuclear power is also what drives our dependance on fossil fuels. Nuclear fission technology is to the point now where waste is minimal and it should be used much more prominently in American energy production. This would allow for the proliferation of electric cars (which are taking giant strides in affordability and practicality) without needing to use fossil fuels to power them.

 

I think what the poster is suggesting is that an organization of some sort be made to publicize all patents. A bureau, agency or commission of some kind, preferably administered domestically, with at least symbolic or quasi-official ties to the sovereign government.

 

Well, let's not just whine about it let's propose some solutions.

We could convert completely to alternative energy now but we would have to pay a hell of a lot more for it and use less of it because there isn't nearly enough of it to support our current energy demands. Oil companies would jump all over that if they had any confidence their consumers would buy it.

But, they won't. The truth is, we all want cheap energy more than we want clean energy. No matter how much we gripe about it, that's what we've decided with our dollar.

 

Thank you energy industry for discovering huge natural gas reserves as a result of fracking technology.

It has resulted in decreased carbon emissions due to the retiring of coal plants and cheaper energy for millions of consumers.

Up next: fracking for oil.

 

As opposed to the sheer drivel that you post on a daily basis.

Jackass.

 

The Patent and Trademark Office would have a record of any such patents and presumably who presently holds the patent.

There are some on this board who have a financial interest in big oil who would like to sweep this under the rug. Fact is, if you think it is inconceivable that these companies would buy and shelve patents that could break up their little oligopoly, then you are either intentionally dense or are a complete buffoon.

 

Patents are searchable.

 

I didn't know you were such a big fracker.

 

No new facts or information and petty, wounded insults; post well done.

 

Of course, you decline to refute that the PTO would have such records or that such shelving of patents is certainly possible. You also decline to address what could or should be done with any such patents.

 

An example of such patent shelving is the 2001 purchase by Texaco of GM Ovonics. It was speculated that Ovonics had field tested a NiMH battery with a capable range of 150 miles. Of course, once Texaco purchased Ovonics and then Chevron purchased Texaco, development ceased.

 

Patent shelving makes about much sense as conspiracy theories about 9/11. Sure, there are things that might be hidden, but full blown conspiracy theories are ignorant.

As you have admitted, patents are recorded and searchable. Patents expire.

Further, why would you shelf a patent and let the competition see the basic design and develop a similar product?

Rich men have no loyalty to a product, just their money.

 

It isn't a conspiracy theory. It is a businessman purchasing patents to products that would go into direct competition with his product. It really isn't that far fetched. It is much more plausible than several hundred people staging 9/11 or the moon landing.

Apples to footballs.

 

Patents being "controlled" by Apple sure stopped the development of smart phone and patent battles over them...................

 

A: Batteries are hardly a green solution. The pollution generated by creation of the batteries and disposal of the batteries and charging of the batteries is much greater than that produced by a reliable well maintained gas engine. If you want to push for something, push for natural gas engines. (or as others have mentioned, nuclear power)

B: The patent conspiracy thing is a little crazy IMO. Back when we had carburetors it was all about the oil companies holding back a carburetor that would let you get 100 mpg. Never mind that physics says it's impossible and there isn't that much energy content in a gallon of gas for a modern vehicle loaded down with heavy safety gear.

C: Oil companies are driving the charge towards fuel efficiency. Shell is a title sponsor of the annual Shell Ecomarathon - a challenge to see just how far you can get a vehicle to go on one gallon of gas.