Category: Press Room

The Energy Industry arguments

Let me just start off by saying… Make it make sense to me everyone. I am NOT against ANY resource being utilized to provide some type of energy.

But seriously everyone, you have to think about what is going and think about it.

First, what is going on currently with Ukraine and Russia is terrible. War sucks regardless. The saddening part is that there’s always money to be made when there is a war. Largely the entities that benefit from wars going on is most of the time government’s, elites and elected officials – regardless. There’s always money made to be somewhere between the lines of wars. It’s what they call “smoke and mirrors” because us regular people do not know what actually happens behind the scenes. I will just leave it at that.

Second, the always unanswered question(s)… Why are we still paying to foreign countries to get oil/fuel from them? Why are we still IMPORTING oil/fuel from other countries? Why isn’t the United States of America producing, drilling, fracking, etc. the oil domestically? Forcing people to go to only one direction and only one resource or product (basically limiting the availability of options), hmmm. How has that ever helped any country when they only have 1 product and no freedom of choice of other options?

My main image cover for this particular blog is why I’m asking:

There was detailed report and research conducted back in 2011 (possibly earlier) through 2013 from the Institute for Energy Research. A report was prepared on October 29, 2013 and provided before the Subcommittee on Energy and Power Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing on the North American Energy Infrastructure Act.

The Institute for Energy Research (IER) is a not-for-profit organization that conducts intensive research and analysis on the functions, operations, and government regulation of global energy markets. IER believes that freely-functioning energy markets provide the most efficient and effective solutions to today’s global energy and environmental challenges and, as such, are critical to the well-being of individuals and society.

The president of this non-profit organization has stated a searchable fact that was conducted over time and makes me think twice (A LOT) of why people are trying to push only 1 or 2 types of a resource to use for energy. Here’s an excerpt from organization’s president, Thomas J. Pyle:

“In the last 100 years, America’s population has tripled. Life expectancy has increased by 70 percent. The productivity of the American people, measured in terms of real per-capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP), has increased by 600 percent. At the same time, we have consumed more than 340 billion barrels of oil, almost 60 billion short tons of coal, and more than 1,090 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. These things are linked. Affordable and reliable energy is a crucial factor in making these and many other significant human, social and technological achievements possible.

Yet even with steadily increasing rates of economic and population growth, as well as increasing energy consumption, the United States today possesses greater recoverable supplies of oil, natural gas and coal than at any point in its recorded history. How can that be? Have vast new sources of hydrocarbon fuels magically materialized beneath our feet over the past 100 years? Or is it possible that, despite what you’ve read, heard and have been told, our continent has always had a lot more energy available to it than some would have us believe?

The answers lie in the data. In 1980, official estimates of proved oil reserves in the United States stood at roughly 30 billion barrels. Yet over the past 30 years, more than 77 billion barrels of oil have been produced here. In other words, over the last 30 years, the United States produced more than two and a half times the proved reserves we thought we had available in 1980. Thanks to new and continuing innovations in exploration and production technology, there’s every reason to believe that today’s estimates of reserves are only a fraction of what will be produced and delivered tomorrow—not only here in the United States, but across the entire North American continent.

Unfortunately, even as updated data show plentiful future supplies of domestic energy, driven by new technologies, a significant movement has emerged. This movement’s mission is to advance and perpetuate falsehoods and inaccuracies with respect to the volume and availability of energy resources in and under our country and continent.

The movement is coordinated, orchestrated and well-funded to create the illusion of scarcity that empowers government to deny citizens access to affordable, reliable and much-needed energy. Furthermore, using supposed scarcity as an excuse, politicians and government agencies justify increasing the power and budget of government while substituting their politically-favored energy choices for those chosen by consumers.

“If America only possesses two to three percent of the world’s oil,” they ask, “why bother to unlock additional acreage for future exploration?” If the world is running out of hydrocarbon fuels, why not insist that government spend billions of dollars to subsidize politically well-connected sources of “alternative” energy? This, they argue, is the justification for spending and mandating the use of energy supplies that otherwise could not survive in a market economy where consumers make their own energy decisions based upon availability and price.

For some, the benefits associated with advancing this agenda are financial. For others, they are ideological. Access to affordable, abundant energy is, fundamentally, a means of freedom. But for those seeking to create a crisis that provides an opportunity to direct the way we live, work and act, affordable, reliable, abundant, domestic energy is a threat. In a very real sense, the more energy we have, the less power they will have. Energy abundance ends the justification for central energy decision-making…”

So what stuck out to what Mr. Pyle has said in the above paragraphs caught my eye: “Access to affordable, abundant energy is, fundamentally, a means of freedom. But for those seeking to create a crisis that provides an opportunity to direct the way we live, work and act, affordable, reliable, abundant, domestic energy is a threat. In a very real sense, the more energy we have, the less power they will have. Energy abundance ends the justification for central energy decision-making.”

Again, referring back to my second topic of “unanswered question(s)”… Why are we still paying to foreign countries to get oil/fuel from them? Why are we still IMPORTING oil/fuel from other countries? Why isn’t the United States of America producing, drilling, fracking, etc. the oil domestically? Forcing people to go to only one direction and only one resource or product (basically limiting the availability of options), hmmm. How has that ever helped any country when they only have 1 product and no freedom of choice of other options?

Let me paint you the picture of some people out there who are out of touch with reality, who cannot understand regular folks who strive, persevere and try any means necessary to make an honest living…

Another interesting report I stumbled upon from the IER – The 100 Percent Renewable Energy Myth

On page 4 of the 100 Percent Renewable Energy Myth report PDF

Even Elon Musk said this…

Again, I say… Make it make sense to me everyone. I am NOT against ANY resource being utilized to provide some type of energy. I’m all for having an availability of options and choices for me and EVERYONE else to freely choose what we all want to use. Technology now is a WHOLE LOT different as it was before and in the past.

I will end here with some interesting news articles and opinions I’ve come across:

Venezuela could be a fill-in for Russian oil, but critics fear aiding another strongman.

Opinion – Biden’s Bizarre Oil Diplomacy

U.S. Officials Meet With Regime in Venezuela, to Discuss Oil Exports to Replace Russia’s

Yeonmi Park’s interview and story speaks volumes

I swear if the younger people want Communism because it was never “properly experienced or properly put into practice…” My goodness how about they just get a plane ticket and live in a communistic regime/country. Start from nothing in those countries, with only a few dollars or no $$ in your pockets.

And tell us then how you like it! Again don’t bring those Socialist or Communistic ideas here in the USA. We don’t need it!

Why is it that people from all over the world still want to come to USA?? Because it’s still the country that represents freedom regardless of creed, race, ethnicity, etc. We are boiling pot of everything.

Yet, however, a lot of people IN THE USA, who were born and raised here having the naivety to the rest of the world and the freedoms and things we literally TAKE FOR GRANTED is showing BIG TIME.

Her interview and story speaks VOLUMES.

What she said is true at the 6:36 minute mark.
As she mentioned attending Columbia University, our education system in the USA is now basically a propaganda – with no allowance of a debate between 2 differing opinions. Only one opinion is fact and true – all others are disregarded. That is sickening in our education system.
Looked at some others comment’s from the video – their stories speaks volumes as well.

Tesla and Electric Charging Stations and Solar on cars

So I just wanted to throw this idea out there for the leading innovator and entrepreneur, Elon Musk, and also Tesla.

I’m not sure if you’ve already thought about this, Mr. Musk, or if it is already in the works for a future vehicle of yours at Tesla.

Since you already have the solar roofs (for homes), solar panels (for homes as well) and various charging stations for your Tesla vehicles out there for consumers… What about these ideas as well?

First idea/example – why not have various electric charging stations partnered with already established gas stations so people with Tesla vehicles (or other electric vehicles) can charge their vehicles at gas stations as well. While they are waiting for their vehicle to charge, they can then go to the station convenient store or shop to buy snacks, use the bathroom, etc.

I think it would be a good idea if there are some Tesla or electric charging stations at some gas stations because it’ll be efficient in that sense. Works both for the consumers and for the station location as well. Instead of trying to find the Tesla charging station which could be somewhere else no where near a convenient store. I could be wrong. However, you may have this idea already in the works or there could be “competition” issues with the gas station… But I think it’s a win-win situation in both aspects.

Second idea/example – since your company already has solar roofs and solar panels for the homes… Why not use that same idea for the Tesla vehicles? So the vehicle can re-charge itself and the driver does not have to worry about finding a charging station if he is unable to locate one currently (while on a trip).

The idea is like having the solar panel on the vehicle to charge the battery – it can be located on the roof of the vehicle, the top of the trunk of the vehicle or the hood of the vehicle. Just throwing that idea out there for you and your company IF you don’t already have that idea floating around.

I mean some companies have tested that idea already and you may have too. But with the technology now, I think it would be a good fit as you and your company are leading a lot in the innovative aspect of this field and then some.

Milton Friedman, video, “Money and Inflation”

Milton Friedman was an American economist and statistician who received the 1976 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his research on consumption analysis, monetary history and theory and the complexity of stabilization policy.

The video below is about 1 hour and 26 minutes long, it is very informational. Please take the time to watch it as it is also educational.

Simple understanding of business start up and tax incentives

So I just have to share my thoughts on this very topic as I keep seeing and hearing the argument from people who are not familiar in general business practice or even how businesses become a business…

Or how they always say that, “These are a ‘tax break’ for ‘big businesses’ only!”

First of all, let me say this… Big businesses used to start off small whether they started out as a corner store, mom and pop shop, out of your back yard, out of your garage, etc. This list can go on. The common logic approach, which I have noticed quite a lot is missing now-a-days, if these small businesses become more successful in what they do – they will grow bigger and eventually become a ‘big business’ that people tend to complain about.

And what do these small business that become a bigger business do? They provide job opportunities to everyone who just want to have a job, that do not have the drive or wish to be a business owner or to open, own and operate a business.

That’s why business owners are also called ‘entrepreneurs’.

This is the exact definition of what an ‘Entrepreneur’ is.

This goes back to my prior blog about what types of businesses are out there: President Biden’s Economic Policies

These business owners take all the financial risk in their business throughout the lifetime of operating their business. What do I mean by financial risk? They usually use their OWN MONEY to fund their business. I mean usually, some other business owners would take out a business loan (but still they use their own money generated back from their business to pay that loan back).

So there are many tax laws provided by the Federal Government, State Governments and local County or City Governments which provide incentives for these business owners to start or have their business in said city or state.

One of many which I won’t get into because the Federal Tax laws are in a whole other field of their own… are business start up costs. A simple explanation of business start up costs you can peruse on your own below and in the link provided.

Now, lets talk about tax incentives… Many cities or states provide various tax incentives for businesses to come to their location. Why? So these specific businesses provide jobs and additional opportunities to people who live in these locations that the business is possibly looking to move to.

It benefits the local community as a whole if that particular business moves there because: 1 – They provide job opportunities to people locally, 2 – Can help the local community be revived if it is at a standstill, 3 – can actually help other businesses in the surrounding environment.

A couple of examples I have experienced directly.

  1. Amazon over the past 2 to 4 years upgraded or replaced their delivery vehicles in our area.
    1. Newer Amazon delivery trucks are driving by when making deliveries locally. Many people, I’ve seen on social media, complained about Amazon not paying taxes or reporting $0 in taxes being paid. Well, many of these people do not realize that Amazon replaced or upgraded their delivery trucks – which in turn is a tax deduction for tax reasons under the Federal Government tax law. So maybe that is one of the reasons why they had little to no taxes paid because Amazon replaced their fleet of delivery vehicles – probably across the nation. Newer trucks means the Amazon people making those deliveries can get to you rather than using a beat up vehicle that can break down or their own vehicle that could break down (as well) while making deliveries because they’re carrying a lot of packages.
  2. Local big name car dealership in Georgetown helping local businesses and the surrounding communities
    1. This car dealership has survived in the Georgetown area for 50+ years and always gave back to the local surrounding communities to help the area stay alive and thrive. What’s an example? Well this car dealership provides free advertising for the smaller businesses in the area and spreads these advertising to the people who come to their dealership whether or not they are purchasing a car from them. And because they advertised these local businesses the businesses themselves are still open and thriving with all the foot traffic brought to them.
  3. Another example I have for you, an automotive repair shop – Austin Automotive – they’re one of many local repair shops in the Central Texas area. They have various locations in the Central Texas area but they could be a small business and you (yourself) may not know that. Just on the surface you could see this repair shop and automatically think – “Oh this is a big business! I do not like them.” But hold on… have some common sense here. What is considered a small business? Please see below of what is considered a small business from the IRS and from American Society for Quality (ASQ):

So a small business can be any of the below (as indicated above from the IRS and ASQ)

  1. IRS – the business owning business assets under $10,000,000 (basically the equipment, building/store front, etc.)
  2. 500 employees or less (Manufacturing and mining)
  3. 100 employees or less (Wholesale Trade)
  4. $6,000,000 in average annual revenue (Retail and Service industries)
  5. $28,500,000 in average annual revenue (General and Heavy construction industries)
  6. $12,000,000 in average annual revenue (Special Trade Contractors)
  7. $750,000 in average annual revenue (Agriculture)

Generally speaking, tax incentives are provided to all businesses regardless if the city or state wants that particular business to come to them (big OR small). And having these businesses come to the local areas (regardless if their big business or small business) these businesses and I will repeat this again…

It benefits the local community as a whole if that particular business moves there because: 1 – They provide job opportunities to people locally, 2 – Can help the local community be revived if it is at a standstill, 3 – can actually help other businesses in the surrounding environment.

I mean honestly, people who complain and moan about big business not paying taxes or have so many tax incentives do not realize the cause and effect of it all. How does it affect YOU personally? It does not. Why? Because you will usually pay the same amount of taxes almost each year.

These businesses pay a lot in taxes after the fact (AFTER) the tax incentives are passed their time – they usually have a set time frame of when tax incentives expire when the businesses takes off – become profitable, grows, etc.

So what does it matter to you if these businesses (small or big) don’t pay taxes now? The businesses will pay taxes later on and usually a hell of a lot more than you do as a person.