You have noticed that OPEC is on the offensive, with our increasing gasoline prices. The U.S. dollar is losing its muscle, no thanks to OPEC and our projected $1.4 trillon debt.

Obama’s statement, “to transform this nation” into the global economy is turning out to be a promise to some while, perhaps, a threat to the rest of us.

The upcoming meeting in Copenhagen on global warming and the impending cap and trade bill disaster could really hurt all of us. We, in this area of our country, will not get too enthused about “green” energy power distribution, but it’s coming. Can you imagine the cost of cleaning all those solar panels? Can anyone feel sorry for those dudes and dudettes that will have to clean off the blades on those whirly pylons? Whew! I’ll never fuss again about cleaning ceiling fan blades.

We do have a water turbine and two nuclear power plants in the area. But those are for electronic consumption, and they are considered “green.”

So now, we come to the nitty-gritty. Our natural gas and petroleum consumers need domestic, Candadian and off-shore increases in drilling. We all know that. But our Congress can’t get loose from the special interest groups’ influences (dollars?)

We need state-of-the-art technology. Rentech is a start, but how about our other sources:

1. Increased technology for natural gas/methane as auto and truck fuel. The vehicle manufacturers need to take on this responsibility.

2. Increased technology on “scrubbing” diesel and CHA to make them as clean as any fuel can be.

3. Increased technology and performance efficiency of catalytic converters, for all combustible-fuel engines’ exhausts. Make it mandatory — use on all types — anywhere.

Here again the vehicle/equipment manufacturers must take responsibility. It is in their own interests to complete this re-design ASAP and reduce their “carbon footprint” as it were.

4. And this could be the hardest one to control — coal. We need top-of-the-line chemists and chemical engineers to design/invent a type of catalytic converter. Neutralize the by-products of these smoke belching furnaces. Could it be as easy as a large water bath, with a down-stream converter and CO2 recovery? Or would the converter come before the bath?

Could there be a type of smoke-eating, fractionating tower?

However coal is cleaned up, it must get started soon.

Coal as everyone realizes, is our least expensive fuel. But it’s going to take the biggest hits when that cap and trade and other anti-global warming measures hit the president’s desk.

What have you done today to reduce your carbon footprint? It’s no joke.

One way or another, that legislation will get a piece of all of us. Do you have a good rapport with your legislator?

Don Davey

Vidalia resident