December 11, 2024 • 27 mins
Chapter 1
America First
This chapter explores the Trump energy plan by examining the mindset of Trump supporters and their views on energy policy. We look at the historical context of energy dependency in the United States, highlighting the shift from energy poverty during the early 2000s shale boom to a desire for energy independence. The discussion touches on the American psyche, which equates dependency with weakness, referencing historical events like the Carter administration's energy policies and the 1973 Arab oil embargo. We consider how Trump's America First policy reflects a belief in strength and self-reliance, critiquing alliances perceived as unfair, such as NATO. We discuss how Trump supporters view Europe's reliance on American defense and the desire for fairness in international relationships. Through these lenses, we gain insight into the components of the Trump energy doctrine and its implications for U.S. energy policy.
Chapter 2
European Electricity and Renewable Sources
This chapter focuses on the current state of electricity generation in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, highlighting the challenges and successes in their energy policies. We examine Germany's reliance on coal and natural gas following the closure of its nuclear power plants, leading to high carbon emissions and expensive electricity despite significant investments in renewables. In contrast, France's energy landscape benefits from a strong nuclear power sector, resulting in low carbon intensity and the ability to export electricity to neighboring countries. The conversation also touches on the UK's recent closure of its last coal-fired power station, noting the rise in electricity costs and carbon emissions as industries face economic pressures. Throughout the discussion, we reflect on the intersection of politics and environmental policies, questioning the broader implications for energy independence and industrial stability.
Chapter 3
Trump's Energy Dominance Strategy
This chapter examines the intricacies of Donald Trump's energy policies and the significance of energy to his supporters. I explore how historical, political, and economic factors shape the belief in an "America First" strategy, emphasizing energy security. The discussion highlights the concept of "energy dominance," where America aims to be the world's leading energy force through technological advancements like fracking and horizontal drilling. I address the Trump administration's approach to bolster the fossil fuel industry, open federal lands, and simplify permitting processes while challenging the Green New Deal and climate change initiatives. We also touch upon the administration's potential strategies to restore America's energy production and address international challenges posed by China. As we conclude, we anticipate exploring further how these policies could impact climate change efforts and environmental quality in the next chapter.
America First
This chapter explores the Trump energy plan by examining the mindset of Trump supporters and their views on energy policy. We look at the historical context of energy dependency in the United States, highlighting the shift from energy poverty during the early 2000s shale boom to a desire for energy independence. The discussion touches on the American psyche, which equates dependency with weakness, referencing historical events like the Carter administration's energy policies and the 1973 Arab oil embargo. We consider how Trump's America First policy reflects a belief in strength and self-reliance, critiquing alliances perceived as unfair, such as NATO. We discuss how Trump supporters view Europe's reliance on American defense and the desire for fairness in international relationships. Through these lenses, we gain insight into the components of the Trump energy doctrine and its implications for U.S. energy policy.
Chapter 2
European Electricity and Renewable Sources
This chapter focuses on the current state of electricity generation in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, highlighting the challenges and successes in their energy policies. We examine Germany's reliance on coal and natural gas following the closure of its nuclear power plants, leading to high carbon emissions and expensive electricity despite significant investments in renewables. In contrast, France's energy landscape benefits from a strong nuclear power sector, resulting in low carbon intensity and the ability to export electricity to neighboring countries. The conversation also touches on the UK's recent closure of its last coal-fired power station, noting the rise in electricity costs and carbon emissions as industries face economic pressures. Throughout the discussion, we reflect on the intersection of politics and environmental policies, questioning the broader implications for energy independence and industrial stability.
Chapter 3
Trump's Energy Dominance Strategy
This chapter examines the intricacies of Donald Trump's energy policies and the significance of energy to his supporters. I explore how historical, political, and economic factors shape the belief in an "America First" strategy, emphasizing energy security. The discussion highlights the concept of "energy dominance," where America aims to be the world's leading energy force through technological advancements like fracking and horizontal drilling. I address the Trump administration's approach to bolster the fossil fuel industry, open federal lands, and simplify permitting processes while challenging the Green New Deal and climate change initiatives. We also touch upon the administration's potential strategies to restore America's energy production and address international challenges posed by China. As we conclude, we anticipate exploring further how these policies could impact climate change efforts and environmental quality in the next chapter.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
You're listening to charged conversations, and I'm your host, Brigham Account.
On this week's episode, we're going to take a look
at the Trump energy plan, first by delving into the
psyche behind what Trump's supporters believe need to be done.
It's through this context that we'll have a better appreciation
(00:22):
for how Trump supporters think about energy. Next, we'll take
a look at the problems facing the world with energy
as viewed through Trump and allies. And then finally we'll
take a look at what parts of the Trump energy
doctrine might look like. We'll finish that in part two,
(00:45):
which will be the next podcast, but for now, let's
get started. Back in early two thousands, the shale boom
in the United States transformed the country. Gone were the
days of energy poverty. And if we look at energy
policy through the lens of Trump and his supporters, well
(01:06):
we have to understand how energy policy is reflected in
this American psyche. For most of our adult lives, the
United States is known but one thing energy dependence dependence
on others. For Americans, dependencies are bad. After all, this
(01:26):
country was founded by people fleeing tyranny and dependencies and
lack of freedom from Europe. They came here and expanded.
They were doers, builders, conquerors, some might say, but Americans
were not dependent upon anybody. We saw this through two
(01:49):
World Wars. Dependencies are not only bad, they reflect weakness,
weakness for character, a weakness of outcome. Weakness is the
equivalent of losing. Just remember President Carter in his sweater,
and that sweater is forever linked to turning down the
(02:11):
heat thermostat. Carter said, we needed to save. Why did
we need to conserve? Because we were weak? Because we
were dependent. We were dependent upon the Middle East for oil,
dependent upon people who were not only democratic, but who
didn't like us very much. And that sweater and Jimmy
(02:34):
Carter and that Thermostat, along with the Iranian hostage crisis,
are forever linked in our minds. Dependency's bad, weakness bad
q Ronald Reagan. Reagan's Peace through Strength initiative got right
at this core concept, And frankly, I'm not sure it's
(02:56):
one hundred percent American either. I think if any country
or any group of people or citizenry around the world
would say they respect strength not weakness, clearly that's the
case when dealing with America's adversaries. We look at deskspots,
authoritarian leaders around the world, totalitarian regimes. Weakness bad weakness
(03:20):
does not get you respect. Remember being weak on the
playground and having the playground bully push you around. Well, God,
that's bully's attention. What earned that respect? Pushing back, not
walking away. This week in the Wall Street Journal, my
colleague and fellow senior scholar at the Hudson Institute, Arthur Herman,
(03:42):
remarked how the industrial mighty of the United States saved
the world during two World Wars. His book, by the Way,
is a great one and you should get it. I
highly recommend it. Called Freedom's Forge, he points out that
not only was America the arsenal of democracy, but Freedom's Forge.
We built stuff, not just tanks and aircraft ships, although
(04:06):
we did all that. We produced oil and gas, we
produced commodity, corn, butter, a little bit of everything. After
all falling the Europeans, it just led to one war
after the next for centuries on end. It was America
that brought peace, strength and stability, and the Marshall Plan
(04:27):
in the United States which rebuilt Europe following the Last
World War nearly one hundred years ago. Speaking of dates
in history, last year marked the fiftieth anniversary of the
Arab oil embargo nineteen seventy three imposed upon the United States.
Because why is United States supported Israel against annihilation from
(04:48):
its Arab neighbors. We stood in lines waiting for gasoline
other oil products, major national embarrassed. Embarrassment Americans would remember
when Jimmy Carter took office, an embarrassment that still remember
as children whose parents had to say, are we even
(05:13):
allowed to purchase gasoline today? Better check our license plate?
Is it odd or even today? Oh? By the way,
eight gallons all you could get. That hardly seemed appropriate
for the country that had established the rule of law
and democracy the world over, the country that frankly won
(05:35):
the Cold War. As we'd know later different story, But
at that point it hadn't happened yet. Russia seemed invincible,
Europe seemed in disarray. In American politics, well, we're as
messed up as they are today. What does this have
to do with energy? Ah? This is part one. This
(05:56):
gets us to the America First policy. Now, I would
say to you that not all alliances are bad, and
despite the neo cons out there, NATO has been a
huge success. But for NATO, Russian tanks would have rolled
in through Europe a long time ago. But for Trump
and his supporters, alliances can be bad. They can be
(06:20):
bad if they're not fair and growing up in the Midwest,
this is something I experienced firsthand. Midwesterners are very kind people.
We don't mind helping out. Same thing with Texans and
Southerners and well pretty much most of the country. If
you need help, individuals are there to help you. Organizations
are there to help you. Notice I didn't say government's
(06:43):
there to help you, but the average person is willing
to chip in and help out. When somebody's down on
their luck. Heard that term, we've all heard of town.
He's down on his luck, Well, let's help him out.
What Americans don't want is to be taken advantage of. However,
don't like it when people actually could raise themselves up
(07:05):
but instead rely on handouts. It's the whole Give the
man a fish, great, he won't be hungry. Teach a
man to fish, and you won't have to give him
fish any longer. Right. So, for Trump world, Europe became spoiled.
Europe became reliant on US defense in the nuclear umbrella.
(07:28):
Europe didn't really have to worry very much because America
would always be there. America would pay the vast amount
of NATO's budget and has since its founding. America America America.
We'll make fun of America, we'll call them uneducated, and
we'll laugh about how they don't understand a renoire from
(07:52):
a monet from a money, but you know, we'll take
their money. That's what Trumpians don't like, you see, or
to them Europe and quite frankly many other countries. I
like the adult kids still living in your basement. They
eat your food, they don't pay rent, but yet they're
(08:13):
warmed fed, Probably have a car mom and dad are
still paying for. Probably have a cell phone Mom and
dad are still paying for while they have their own
disposable income, which they spend however they want. Europe has
the money to spend on defense, let's face it, they
just don't do it. Instead, they invest in social programs,
(08:34):
social engineering, government controlled markets. Well, you see they've worn
out there. Welcome. It was great when the chips were down,
but this isn't nineteen forty five, it's almost one hundred
years later. Time to go get yourself your own apartment,
time to pay your own bills, time to adult adulting
(08:56):
is hard. Be our partner adulting, not our kids living
in the basement. Part two. Energy. We have a problem
in this country, one that's not only Germane to us,
but Germane to the entire world. The world has suddenly
become fascinated with energy from centuries ago. The energy transition,
(09:22):
we're told is a necessary commodity away from oil and gas,
which pollutes the earth, hurts our health, and damages the economy.
The issue with this, though, is that the world has
always been in the midst of energy transition, not a
(09:42):
transition that you can literally watch occur in one day,
but occur over years, decades, or even centuries. Throughout history,
we've experienced multiple energy transitions. Why, because we're trying to
improve our quality of life. Its success comes requirements. The
(10:03):
greater the economy, the more value instilled in it, the
more progress we make, the more energy we need. That's
why the world has never used less energy, only more.
It would be foolish to think that we could transition
(10:25):
to a form of energy that is less reliable, less dense,
costs more, and was a favorite of the Greeks and Romans.
That's not for it. Progress, that's going backwards. Yes, the
Romans and the Greeks used wind and solar and look,
(10:46):
I'm not disan on solar power. After all, photosynthesis is
the magic of life. It makes everything happen. But to
Trump folks, they feel we're moving backward. Progress is not less,
it's more. And in their view, energy density matters, reliability matters,
(11:09):
and cost matters. Saying we're going to transition to renewable
only power in the next few years or even in
my lifetime seems foolish. It's as foolish as trying to
jump across the Grand Canyon. It's as foolish as the
current Secretary Jennifer Granholms saying we'll have electric tanks and
(11:30):
electric vehicles to fight wars. Newsflash, not going to happen.
So to recap, the America First policy doesn't truly mean
America at the expense of the rest of the world,
America against the whole world. Now, it means that we
have to take care of our own citizens here first.
(11:51):
We have to take care of our neighbors, our friends,
our families, and we're willing to help out after that.
But it also means to the Trumpians that we're not
going to destroy the economy for the Green New Deal.
One need only look to Europe to see what a
disaster these green policies have been. Germany's coalition government has
(12:16):
come apart, led by German Chancellor Uloff Schultz that consists
of the center left Social Democratic Party known as the
SPD and the Green Party and the liberal Free Democratic
Party the FDP. The expectation, I think, had been that
this coalition government would work, and in a coalition government,
(12:38):
you come together because no single party has enough to
control the government has enough seats in Parliament their version
of our Congress, lower house, in order to rule. This
is very common throughout Europe, where there are more political
parties along the entire spectrum from left to right, as
(12:59):
opposed to the majority parties here in the United States.
Be that as it may. The Greens wanted to have
well the energy and climate in their portfolio, and they
got it. The Greens are pulling a little under ten
percent in Germany right now. So I don't mean to
impugne all Germans when we talk about this, but Olof
Schultz and his coalition government have literally destroyed the industrial
(13:20):
capacity of Germany practically overnight. If we go back to
doubling down on green energy and the EU itself doubling
down on renew policies, we see that energy in Europe
by and large has gotten quite expensive. Because energy is
(13:42):
the third most important and costliest factor in production of
goods and finished products, it should be fairly obvious to
anybody looking that next to the cost of raw materials
in labor, it's a big deal. If you're to be
economically competitive, you have to have low energy costs. Not
(14:05):
only do you have to have low costs, you have
to have availability of that energy, an uninterruptible supply of
available energy reliably dispatched to where and when it is
needed at an affordable price. That's not Brigham's definition. That
is the world accepted definition of energy security. It's not
(14:25):
that hard, folks. Yet in Germany we've seemed to do that.
Don't worry, Germany, You're not alone. I'm going to talk
about the United Kingdom here in just a little bit.
But let's take a look at Germany right now. You
are currently this is just electricity. This is not petrol,
this is not other pieces, but electricity which is really
(14:47):
important in Europe, especially since they don't have the natural
gas we have and similar to some of the leftists
in this country trying to ban natural gas in view
of everything being electrified. Let's take a look at this Germany,
how well are you doing well? Right now? You have
a score of using thirty nine percent of your electricity
(15:12):
is coming from renewables, Okay, not bad. What percent of
your electricity is generated from low carbon sources forty three percent?
Where are you getting most of your electricity power right now? Well?
Coals in the number one spot. Sorry, Germany, you close
(15:32):
your nuclear power plants. Gas would be number two. Wind
is number three, hydro storage and biomass pro tip for
the insider. Biomass can mean anything from oh, from corn
and oats and things that we use to make ethanol.
(15:53):
But here we were primarily talking about wood, solar, solar.
Don't see solar, it's dark right now? Okay, no solar,
check some winds, but honestly, not very much. Oh gosh,
I would say that's probably fifteen percent, twenty percent maybe
(16:14):
what you're getting? Oh golly, then what well? You are
importing power from Norway, the Netherlands and France. Right now, Oh, France. Oh,
before we go to France, Germany, your carbon score, the
amount of CO two per kilowat hour that you are
(16:35):
putting into the atmosphere, stands at four hundred and ninety grams.
Spoiler alert. That's not good. That's dirty. Germany is producing
dirty electricity despite all of this money on renewables and
despite all these policies. Oh, and it's more expensive than ever.
(16:57):
Let's go next door to France. Hello, how are we
doing in France? Well, you've got twenty eight percent of
your electricity being generated by renewables. But oh my gosh,
look at that ninety percent of your generation capacity is
low carbon and your carbon intensity score is it anywhere
near Germany's four hundred and ninety No, sir re, you're
(17:19):
clocking in at sixty three grams per kilowatt hour of
CO two emissions. Well done. Why is that You've got
some gas? You've got some hydro storage, water storage, that check,
you've got some wind going on? Okay, good? Oh? Look
at that nuclear nuclear power is generating eh, almost eighty
(17:43):
percent of your electricity right now, and you're not only
exporting it to Germany, you're exporting some to Spain, to
Great Britain, Wow, to Italy and to Switzerland. Right now, Well, Germany,
what's wrong with nuclear power other than you don't like it? Ah,
you don't like it because leftists have never liked nuclear power. Leftists,
(18:06):
by the way, I've never liked capitalism. And I don't
want to get too political in this podcast. But when
you've got Greta Thunberg in Germany today saying f Germany,
f Israel, go Palestine, one has to wonder if there
is not an intersection in the Church of religion when
it comes to climate change. I said I wouldn't leave
(18:29):
Great Britain alone, and I shan't. Great Britain is jumping
up and down with much happiness that they have closed
their last coal fired power electricity power Jenerting station. Great. Well,
let's see how you guys are doing renewables thirty three percent,
low carbon forty five percent. Ah. Your carbon emissions are
(18:53):
pretty high too, they are, Great Britain. You're at three
hundred grams per kilowatt hour. That's it's a fair amount.
Remember France was only at sixty three. Oh, and your
electricity costs wholesale have risen. Great Britain by nearly four
hundred percent. Hu. That's working out real well for you guys,
(19:18):
I can see. In other words, it's not you too
are seeing companies flee, industries, flee petrochemical industry, manufacturing industries, flea. Newsflash,
you destroy your industrial base, you will not have an
economy upon which to move forward. Last part, what exactly
(19:46):
is a Trump energy plan? By the way, you've been
listening to charged conversations, I'm your host to bring him
account and today we've been talking about the psyche of
Trump and his supporters and why energy is just so
important to them. We've taken a look at historical political
(20:08):
factors and economic factors that lead these folks to believe
that America First, a strategy based on strong energy security
will better help America in the long run. Speaking of Trump,
we could have an entire podcast, and the second half
of this podcast, which will air next will really concentrate
(20:33):
on Trump's energy policies, just because I think there's so
much that needs to be talked about and we couldn't
possibly get it out in the second half of this podcast,
but let's give it a close look. We've already talked
about that energy and energy security is crucial for any
(20:55):
modern society, right, and that history is shown over and
over again that countries that are energy rich do well,
countries that energy poor don't. Trump and people serving in
the Trump administration have taken notice of this. You'll hear
terms like there is no such thing as a wealthy
(21:16):
country poor energy resources. There are plenty of wealthy countries
with lots of energy resources, but there are also energy
rich country with poor economies. And you may go, aha, well,
then energy is not predetermined. Well, it is when you
have a socialist government in place. One need only look
(21:38):
to Venezuela to see where that has come to fruition.
A once prospering nation has been destroyed by politics. Yet
they have a fair amount of energy. So I think
you will see President Trump making America energy dominant again,
(22:02):
not just energy independent, but energy dominant. That's maybe a
scary term for some, And look, it's not my term,
it's the administration's term. Energy dominance means being stronger than
any other country in the world when it comes to energy.
Through the shale revolution, as amplified by growing technologies of
(22:28):
fracking and horizontal directional drilling, changed America from that country
of energy dependence of weakness into a country that was
energy independent. But moreover, just like Arthur Hermann's note about
America's Forge America, energy makes the world safe, makes the
(22:50):
world safer, helps our allies and friends, is a diplomatic, economic,
and even military tool to be employed against our enemies.
But Trump administration understands this, and so this notion on
energy dominance is to make sure that we can grow
(23:13):
a healthy economy here at home and enhance our position
internationally while contributing to national security. Trump administration will end
what they view has been for the last four years,
a war on the fossil fuel industry, opening up federal
(23:34):
and public lands which had been closed off, removing barriers
to drilling, to new energy infrastructure projects, but also opening
up and embracing nuclear power, and opposing these Green New
Deal policies and perhaps even some provisions of the IRIA,
(23:59):
which I think we can all agree by now was
a massive, massive spending bill of the left, not a
bill aimed at reducing inflation. If anything, it is contributed
to inflation. It's probably pretty obvious too that the government
(24:20):
will seek to roll back climate change initiatives, reducing permitting
requirements or making permitting requirements more easy, eliminating the mandate
for Americans to transition to electric vehicles in the next
few years, providing some relief from automobile manufactures of the
(24:42):
fleet mileage requirements known as CAFE standards, and understanding that
the internal combustion engine is not evil and can live
on whether it is eventually using sustainable liquid fuels or
traditional fuel. And like the Biden administration did, I believe
(25:05):
Trump's people have been watching, learning, listening to this quote
whole of government approach to doing something, and will now
take their turn as a whole of government approach to
root out these counterproductive measures, which in their view, has
weakened the US economy, has weakened our national security, and
(25:28):
has given precedence to China and its supply chains of
renewables and critical minerals rare earth materials. During last Trump administration,
the US became the world's largest energy producer, and I
think this next administration will take a look at that
success and realized that it was built upon a public
(25:50):
private partnership of sorts, with the private industry making things
happen while the government got out of the way. Something
again that Arthur Hermann pointed out in Freedom's Forge that
during World War Two, President Roosevelt was told by several
CEOs of major companies, he leave it to us, and
(26:12):
we will industrialize to a point that no government could
ever do. And they were right. They were right. So
next time we'll talk about how a new Trump administration
might look to restore America's energy production as they see it,
what impediments they may see, and why those that believe
(26:34):
tackling the climate crisis is an extrabstential threat to America
and the world may respond. And if we have time,
we'll delve into climate change and try to best determine
how we should all be proceeding to improve the quality
(26:54):
of our water and air. We'll have to leave it
there for there. Today you've been listening to Charge Conversations,
a Joe Strucker production. I'm your host, Brigham mccount, and
I'll see you next time.
You're listening to charged conversations, and I'm your host, Brigham Account.
On this week's episode, we're going to take a look
at the Trump energy plan, first by delving into the
psyche behind what Trump's supporters believe need to be done.
It's through this context that we'll have a better appreciation
(00:22):
for how Trump supporters think about energy. Next, we'll take
a look at the problems facing the world with energy
as viewed through Trump and allies. And then finally we'll
take a look at what parts of the Trump energy
doctrine might look like. We'll finish that in part two,
(00:45):
which will be the next podcast, but for now, let's
get started. Back in early two thousands, the shale boom
in the United States transformed the country. Gone were the
days of energy poverty. And if we look at energy
policy through the lens of Trump and his supporters, well
(01:06):
we have to understand how energy policy is reflected in
this American psyche. For most of our adult lives, the
United States is known but one thing energy dependence dependence
on others. For Americans, dependencies are bad. After all, this
(01:26):
country was founded by people fleeing tyranny and dependencies and
lack of freedom from Europe. They came here and expanded.
They were doers, builders, conquerors, some might say, but Americans
were not dependent upon anybody. We saw this through two
(01:49):
World Wars. Dependencies are not only bad, they reflect weakness,
weakness for character, a weakness of outcome. Weakness is the
equivalent of losing. Just remember President Carter in his sweater,
and that sweater is forever linked to turning down the
(02:11):
heat thermostat. Carter said, we needed to save. Why did
we need to conserve? Because we were weak? Because we
were dependent. We were dependent upon the Middle East for oil,
dependent upon people who were not only democratic, but who
didn't like us very much. And that sweater and Jimmy
(02:34):
Carter and that Thermostat, along with the Iranian hostage crisis,
are forever linked in our minds. Dependency's bad, weakness bad
q Ronald Reagan. Reagan's Peace through Strength initiative got right
at this core concept, And frankly, I'm not sure it's
(02:56):
one hundred percent American either. I think if any country
or any group of people or citizenry around the world
would say they respect strength not weakness, clearly that's the
case when dealing with America's adversaries. We look at deskspots,
authoritarian leaders around the world, totalitarian regimes. Weakness bad weakness
(03:20):
does not get you respect. Remember being weak on the
playground and having the playground bully push you around. Well, God,
that's bully's attention. What earned that respect? Pushing back, not
walking away. This week in the Wall Street Journal, my
colleague and fellow senior scholar at the Hudson Institute, Arthur Herman,
(03:42):
remarked how the industrial mighty of the United States saved
the world during two World Wars. His book, by the Way,
is a great one and you should get it. I
highly recommend it. Called Freedom's Forge, he points out that
not only was America the arsenal of democracy, but Freedom's Forge.
We built stuff, not just tanks and aircraft ships, although
(04:06):
we did all that. We produced oil and gas, we
produced commodity, corn, butter, a little bit of everything. After
all falling the Europeans, it just led to one war
after the next for centuries on end. It was America
that brought peace, strength and stability, and the Marshall Plan
(04:27):
in the United States which rebuilt Europe following the Last
World War nearly one hundred years ago. Speaking of dates
in history, last year marked the fiftieth anniversary of the
Arab oil embargo nineteen seventy three imposed upon the United States.
Because why is United States supported Israel against annihilation from
(04:48):
its Arab neighbors. We stood in lines waiting for gasoline
other oil products, major national embarrassed. Embarrassment Americans would remember
when Jimmy Carter took office, an embarrassment that still remember
as children whose parents had to say, are we even
(05:13):
allowed to purchase gasoline today? Better check our license plate?
Is it odd or even today? Oh? By the way,
eight gallons all you could get. That hardly seemed appropriate
for the country that had established the rule of law
and democracy the world over, the country that frankly won
(05:35):
the Cold War. As we'd know later different story, But
at that point it hadn't happened yet. Russia seemed invincible,
Europe seemed in disarray. In American politics, well, we're as
messed up as they are today. What does this have
to do with energy? Ah? This is part one. This
(05:56):
gets us to the America First policy. Now, I would
say to you that not all alliances are bad, and
despite the neo cons out there, NATO has been a
huge success. But for NATO, Russian tanks would have rolled
in through Europe a long time ago. But for Trump
and his supporters, alliances can be bad. They can be
(06:20):
bad if they're not fair and growing up in the Midwest,
this is something I experienced firsthand. Midwesterners are very kind people.
We don't mind helping out. Same thing with Texans and
Southerners and well pretty much most of the country. If
you need help, individuals are there to help you. Organizations
are there to help you. Notice I didn't say government's
(06:43):
there to help you, but the average person is willing
to chip in and help out. When somebody's down on
their luck. Heard that term, we've all heard of town.
He's down on his luck, Well, let's help him out.
What Americans don't want is to be taken advantage of. However,
don't like it when people actually could raise themselves up
(07:05):
but instead rely on handouts. It's the whole Give the
man a fish, great, he won't be hungry. Teach a
man to fish, and you won't have to give him
fish any longer. Right. So, for Trump world, Europe became spoiled.
Europe became reliant on US defense in the nuclear umbrella.
(07:28):
Europe didn't really have to worry very much because America
would always be there. America would pay the vast amount
of NATO's budget and has since its founding. America America America.
We'll make fun of America, we'll call them uneducated, and
we'll laugh about how they don't understand a renoire from
(07:52):
a monet from a money, but you know, we'll take
their money. That's what Trumpians don't like, you see, or
to them Europe and quite frankly many other countries. I
like the adult kids still living in your basement. They
eat your food, they don't pay rent, but yet they're
(08:13):
warmed fed, Probably have a car mom and dad are
still paying for. Probably have a cell phone Mom and
dad are still paying for while they have their own
disposable income, which they spend however they want. Europe has
the money to spend on defense, let's face it, they
just don't do it. Instead, they invest in social programs,
(08:34):
social engineering, government controlled markets. Well, you see they've worn
out there. Welcome. It was great when the chips were down,
but this isn't nineteen forty five, it's almost one hundred
years later. Time to go get yourself your own apartment,
time to pay your own bills, time to adult adulting
(08:56):
is hard. Be our partner adulting, not our kids living
in the basement. Part two. Energy. We have a problem
in this country, one that's not only Germane to us,
but Germane to the entire world. The world has suddenly
become fascinated with energy from centuries ago. The energy transition,
(09:22):
we're told is a necessary commodity away from oil and gas,
which pollutes the earth, hurts our health, and damages the economy.
The issue with this, though, is that the world has
always been in the midst of energy transition, not a
(09:42):
transition that you can literally watch occur in one day,
but occur over years, decades, or even centuries. Throughout history,
we've experienced multiple energy transitions. Why, because we're trying to
improve our quality of life. Its success comes requirements. The
(10:03):
greater the economy, the more value instilled in it, the
more progress we make, the more energy we need. That's
why the world has never used less energy, only more.
It would be foolish to think that we could transition
(10:25):
to a form of energy that is less reliable, less dense,
costs more, and was a favorite of the Greeks and Romans.
That's not for it. Progress, that's going backwards. Yes, the
Romans and the Greeks used wind and solar and look,
(10:46):
I'm not disan on solar power. After all, photosynthesis is
the magic of life. It makes everything happen. But to
Trump folks, they feel we're moving backward. Progress is not less,
it's more. And in their view, energy density matters, reliability matters,
(11:09):
and cost matters. Saying we're going to transition to renewable
only power in the next few years or even in
my lifetime seems foolish. It's as foolish as trying to
jump across the Grand Canyon. It's as foolish as the
current Secretary Jennifer Granholms saying we'll have electric tanks and
(11:30):
electric vehicles to fight wars. Newsflash, not going to happen.
So to recap, the America First policy doesn't truly mean
America at the expense of the rest of the world,
America against the whole world. Now, it means that we
have to take care of our own citizens here first.
(11:51):
We have to take care of our neighbors, our friends,
our families, and we're willing to help out after that.
But it also means to the Trumpians that we're not
going to destroy the economy for the Green New Deal.
One need only look to Europe to see what a
disaster these green policies have been. Germany's coalition government has
(12:16):
come apart, led by German Chancellor Uloff Schultz that consists
of the center left Social Democratic Party known as the
SPD and the Green Party and the liberal Free Democratic
Party the FDP. The expectation, I think, had been that
this coalition government would work, and in a coalition government,
(12:38):
you come together because no single party has enough to
control the government has enough seats in Parliament their version
of our Congress, lower house, in order to rule. This
is very common throughout Europe, where there are more political
parties along the entire spectrum from left to right, as
(12:59):
opposed to the majority parties here in the United States.
Be that as it may. The Greens wanted to have
well the energy and climate in their portfolio, and they
got it. The Greens are pulling a little under ten
percent in Germany right now. So I don't mean to
impugne all Germans when we talk about this, but Olof
Schultz and his coalition government have literally destroyed the industrial
(13:20):
capacity of Germany practically overnight. If we go back to
doubling down on green energy and the EU itself doubling
down on renew policies, we see that energy in Europe
by and large has gotten quite expensive. Because energy is
(13:42):
the third most important and costliest factor in production of
goods and finished products, it should be fairly obvious to
anybody looking that next to the cost of raw materials
in labor, it's a big deal. If you're to be
economically competitive, you have to have low energy costs. Not
(14:05):
only do you have to have low costs, you have
to have availability of that energy, an uninterruptible supply of
available energy reliably dispatched to where and when it is
needed at an affordable price. That's not Brigham's definition. That
is the world accepted definition of energy security. It's not
(14:25):
that hard, folks. Yet in Germany we've seemed to do that.
Don't worry, Germany, You're not alone. I'm going to talk
about the United Kingdom here in just a little bit.
But let's take a look at Germany right now. You
are currently this is just electricity. This is not petrol,
this is not other pieces, but electricity which is really
(14:47):
important in Europe, especially since they don't have the natural
gas we have and similar to some of the leftists
in this country trying to ban natural gas in view
of everything being electrified. Let's take a look at this Germany,
how well are you doing well? Right now? You have
a score of using thirty nine percent of your electricity
(15:12):
is coming from renewables, Okay, not bad. What percent of
your electricity is generated from low carbon sources forty three percent?
Where are you getting most of your electricity power right now? Well?
Coals in the number one spot. Sorry, Germany, you close
(15:32):
your nuclear power plants. Gas would be number two. Wind
is number three, hydro storage and biomass pro tip for
the insider. Biomass can mean anything from oh, from corn
and oats and things that we use to make ethanol.
(15:53):
But here we were primarily talking about wood, solar, solar.
Don't see solar, it's dark right now? Okay, no solar,
check some winds, but honestly, not very much. Oh gosh,
I would say that's probably fifteen percent, twenty percent maybe
(16:14):
what you're getting? Oh golly, then what well? You are
importing power from Norway, the Netherlands and France. Right now, Oh, France. Oh,
before we go to France, Germany, your carbon score, the
amount of CO two per kilowat hour that you are
(16:35):
putting into the atmosphere, stands at four hundred and ninety grams.
Spoiler alert. That's not good. That's dirty. Germany is producing
dirty electricity despite all of this money on renewables and
despite all these policies. Oh, and it's more expensive than ever.
(16:57):
Let's go next door to France. Hello, how are we
doing in France? Well, you've got twenty eight percent of
your electricity being generated by renewables. But oh my gosh,
look at that ninety percent of your generation capacity is
low carbon and your carbon intensity score is it anywhere
near Germany's four hundred and ninety No, sir re, you're
(17:19):
clocking in at sixty three grams per kilowatt hour of
CO two emissions. Well done. Why is that You've got
some gas? You've got some hydro storage, water storage, that check,
you've got some wind going on? Okay, good? Oh? Look
at that nuclear nuclear power is generating eh, almost eighty
(17:43):
percent of your electricity right now, and you're not only
exporting it to Germany, you're exporting some to Spain, to
Great Britain, Wow, to Italy and to Switzerland. Right now, Well, Germany,
what's wrong with nuclear power other than you don't like it? Ah,
you don't like it because leftists have never liked nuclear power. Leftists,
(18:06):
by the way, I've never liked capitalism. And I don't
want to get too political in this podcast. But when
you've got Greta Thunberg in Germany today saying f Germany,
f Israel, go Palestine, one has to wonder if there
is not an intersection in the Church of religion when
it comes to climate change. I said I wouldn't leave
(18:29):
Great Britain alone, and I shan't. Great Britain is jumping
up and down with much happiness that they have closed
their last coal fired power electricity power Jenerting station. Great. Well,
let's see how you guys are doing renewables thirty three percent,
low carbon forty five percent. Ah. Your carbon emissions are
(18:53):
pretty high too, they are, Great Britain. You're at three
hundred grams per kilowatt hour. That's it's a fair amount.
Remember France was only at sixty three. Oh, and your
electricity costs wholesale have risen. Great Britain by nearly four
hundred percent. Hu. That's working out real well for you guys,
(19:18):
I can see. In other words, it's not you too
are seeing companies flee, industries, flee petrochemical industry, manufacturing industries, flea. Newsflash,
you destroy your industrial base, you will not have an
economy upon which to move forward. Last part, what exactly
(19:46):
is a Trump energy plan? By the way, you've been
listening to charged conversations, I'm your host to bring him
account and today we've been talking about the psyche of
Trump and his supporters and why energy is just so
important to them. We've taken a look at historical political
(20:08):
factors and economic factors that lead these folks to believe
that America First, a strategy based on strong energy security
will better help America in the long run. Speaking of Trump,
we could have an entire podcast, and the second half
of this podcast, which will air next will really concentrate
(20:33):
on Trump's energy policies, just because I think there's so
much that needs to be talked about and we couldn't
possibly get it out in the second half of this podcast,
but let's give it a close look. We've already talked
about that energy and energy security is crucial for any
(20:55):
modern society, right, and that history is shown over and
over again that countries that are energy rich do well,
countries that energy poor don't. Trump and people serving in
the Trump administration have taken notice of this. You'll hear
terms like there is no such thing as a wealthy
(21:16):
country poor energy resources. There are plenty of wealthy countries
with lots of energy resources, but there are also energy
rich country with poor economies. And you may go, aha, well,
then energy is not predetermined. Well, it is when you
have a socialist government in place. One need only look
(21:38):
to Venezuela to see where that has come to fruition.
A once prospering nation has been destroyed by politics. Yet
they have a fair amount of energy. So I think
you will see President Trump making America energy dominant again,
(22:02):
not just energy independent, but energy dominant. That's maybe a
scary term for some, And look, it's not my term,
it's the administration's term. Energy dominance means being stronger than
any other country in the world when it comes to energy.
Through the shale revolution, as amplified by growing technologies of
(22:28):
fracking and horizontal directional drilling, changed America from that country
of energy dependence of weakness into a country that was
energy independent. But moreover, just like Arthur Hermann's note about
America's Forge America, energy makes the world safe, makes the
(22:50):
world safer, helps our allies and friends, is a diplomatic, economic,
and even military tool to be employed against our enemies.
But Trump administration understands this, and so this notion on
energy dominance is to make sure that we can grow
(23:13):
a healthy economy here at home and enhance our position
internationally while contributing to national security. Trump administration will end
what they view has been for the last four years,
a war on the fossil fuel industry, opening up federal
(23:34):
and public lands which had been closed off, removing barriers
to drilling, to new energy infrastructure projects, but also opening
up and embracing nuclear power, and opposing these Green New
Deal policies and perhaps even some provisions of the IRIA,
(23:59):
which I think we can all agree by now was
a massive, massive spending bill of the left, not a
bill aimed at reducing inflation. If anything, it is contributed
to inflation. It's probably pretty obvious too that the government
(24:20):
will seek to roll back climate change initiatives, reducing permitting
requirements or making permitting requirements more easy, eliminating the mandate
for Americans to transition to electric vehicles in the next
few years, providing some relief from automobile manufactures of the
(24:42):
fleet mileage requirements known as CAFE standards, and understanding that
the internal combustion engine is not evil and can live
on whether it is eventually using sustainable liquid fuels or
traditional fuel. And like the Biden administration did, I believe
(25:05):
Trump's people have been watching, learning, listening to this quote
whole of government approach to doing something, and will now
take their turn as a whole of government approach to
root out these counterproductive measures, which in their view, has
weakened the US economy, has weakened our national security, and
(25:28):
has given precedence to China and its supply chains of
renewables and critical minerals rare earth materials. During last Trump administration,
the US became the world's largest energy producer, and I
think this next administration will take a look at that
success and realized that it was built upon a public
(25:50):
private partnership of sorts, with the private industry making things
happen while the government got out of the way. Something
again that Arthur Hermann pointed out in Freedom's Forge that
during World War Two, President Roosevelt was told by several
CEOs of major companies, he leave it to us, and
(26:12):
we will industrialize to a point that no government could
ever do. And they were right. They were right. So
next time we'll talk about how a new Trump administration
might look to restore America's energy production as they see it,
what impediments they may see, and why those that believe
(26:34):
tackling the climate crisis is an extrabstential threat to America
and the world may respond. And if we have time,
we'll delve into climate change and try to best determine
how we should all be proceeding to improve the quality
(26:54):
of our water and air. We'll have to leave it
there for there. Today you've been listening to Charge Conversations,
a Joe Strucker production. I'm your host, Brigham mccount, and
I'll see you next time.
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