John J. Connelly, Jr. – 9/11/08

This page was last updated on September 14, 2008.

Let’s look at all our energy options; John J. Connelly, Jr.; Beaver County Times; September 11, 2008.

The letter’s title should have been “Let’s look at all our energy options except oil and nuclear power.”

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“America’s drilling for oil will only affect the global gasoline supply, and it will have little to do with our price at the pump.”

[RWC] Where did Mr. Connelly learn increasing “the global gasoline supply” would “have little to do with our price at the pump?” Do I need to retake all my economics classes from high school through grad school and ignore commonsense?

“I understand that our great savior of the 1970s, Alaska’s oil, is being sent to the Far East. When oil sells for $140 a barrel, it’s $140 no matter who is selling it.”

[RWC] Mr. Connelly needs to check his facts. Alaska monthly production is about 21 million barrels. The total monthly exports of U.S. crude are about 600,000 barrels. Even if all the crude exported were Alaskan, it would be under 3% of production.

“Atomic power plants are hazardous. The spent fuel from the last 30 years of refueling is sitting in stainless steel pools all over the country, including Shippingport. It may be deemed to be safe in 5,000 years, but we’re not sure if stainless steel lasts 200 years.”

[RWC] Who didn’t see this coming?

“I believe hydropower is the answer in our area. The water pressure under our Ohio River dams is tremendous enough to spin any turbine.”

[RWC] In addition to some economics classes, Mr. Connelly needs some geography and science classes. The Ohio is a shallow river, with a maximum depth of about 30 ft. until after Cincinnati. The Ohio has a maximum depth of about 170 ft. around Louisville, but it gradually drops to about 20 ft. once it gets near the Mississippi. In any case, the combination of depth and flow isn’t enough to get serious power.

“The following is another man’s opinion, but I concur with it. Social Security’s cost-of-living adjustments are computed in the third quarter of each year for the following year.

“Is this why our gasoline prices are down? Could big oil and the federal government be working together to keep next year’s Social Security adjustment to a minimum? We’re talking big money.”

[RWC] Great, another conspiracy theorist.

“I’m guessing there will be a nice gasoline price boost in October, November and/or December.”

[RWC] If you check EIA data going back to at least 2000, you’ll find prices have gone up, gone down, and stayed about the same during the fourth quarter.