Okay, y'all: Just what do we want the oil and gas companies to do?

[elehhhhna]

List, please.

I'm hoping we can compile some thoughtful constraints (regulations), rather than deteriorate into generalities like "energy is evil".

I do believe that energy production in the US is important to our general welfare. Hell, I think the production of almost everything we could produce here is important to our welfare, for many reasons. Let's leave off child porn, blood diamonds, etc.

Anyhoo, what say you, DU?

[gratuitous]

1. Clean up the messes they make and not stick us with the bill

I realize that might dent quarterly profits counted in the tens of billions, but it seems only fair that for all they money extractive industries make for themselves, they could clean things up as they go along and not leave a toxic waste dump behind for the taxpayers.

[Taverner]

2. Clean up their mess, pay restitution to the victims, start working on renewable energy

[Kennah]

3. Remove fracking exemption under Safe Drinking Water Act

[Kennah]

4. Several ideas on coal from UCS

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/energy_technologies/coal-power-in-a-warming-world.html

Increase research and development (R&D) for CCS
Stop building new coal-fired power plants without CCS.
Stop investing in new coal-to-liquid plants and reject policies that support such investments.
Ensure that any coal-to-gas plants employ CCS and that the resulting fuel is used to offset coal use rather than natural gas use.
Significantly increase both deployment of and R&D for energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Adopt statutes and stronger regulations that will reduce the environmental and societal costs of coal use
Put a price on CO2 emissions by adopting a strong economy-wide cap-and-trade program
Ensure the transfer of low-carbon technologies to other countries

[Kennah]

5. Address oil subsidies

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/04/business/04bptax.html?_r=1

Either start phasing out subsidies for Big Oil or start increasing the subsidies for renewables and alternatives.

[nc4bo]

6. How about creating more modern/efficient methods to clean up?

From what I understand, technology is stuck in 70's mode.

[Subdivisions]

7. Wanna know why we're absolutely dependent on foreign oil?

Because U.S. oil production PEAKED in 1970...



Just don't let anyone tell you that PEAK OIL is real. They're crazy people.

[elehhhhna]

8. and why did it peak inthe 70's?

[elehhhhna]

9. kick for more suggestions,

[Kennah]

10. Support higher CAFE standards

Obama's 39 MPG by 2016 is a start.

I prefer 60 MPG by 2025.
http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2010/09/60-mpg-by-2025-consumer-enviro-groups-urge-70-hike-in-cafe-standard.html

Then 74 MPG by 2035.
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/03/gas-cars-could-get-74-m-p-g-by-2035-a-researcher-says/

[MadHound]

11. Stop using their wealth and power to set up roadblocks preventing adaptation of renewable energy

I would like to start seeing refineries retooling for the production of algae based biodiesel. I would like to see at least one big energy corporation seriously transition to solar and/or wind.