Comments on: Inhofe: Oil and gas don’t cause pollution

By: Gary K

Gary K — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:34:12 +0000

I would really like to see the EPA-OBD II Annual Vehicle Emissions Inspection Law closely examined, and changed.As it stands right now, it is entirely possible for any Gasoline powered Vehicle, from 1996 to the present, to fail it’s Emissions Inspection, for not emitting enough polluting Exhaust Emissions ! All such Vehicles have on board Oxygen [O2] Exhaust Sensors.These O2 Sensors are set up to detect a level of polluting Exhaust Emissions that would indicate that Gasoline is being consumed by an Engine at 14.7 parts of Air to 1 part of Fuel.If there is a low level of Oxygen, and a high level of Pollution, a Vehicle will fail it’s Emissions Inspection, as well it should.But, Gasoline can be safely vaporized into a mixture that is 100 parts of Air to 1 part of Fuel.With this, even the largest SUV could easily get 50 + MPG, and emit a fraction of the Emissions of a conventional 14.7/1 Fuel System, with an increase in Power, and much longer Engine life.I’m not the first to figure this out.Far from it ! For proof, do a search on [the late] Tom Ogle, and Charles Nelson Pogue.Then, go to http://energy21.freeservers.com/bookrep.html, and scan down the page to just before the update.But, even if it is not to be believed that Fuel Vaporization is entirely possible, it’s illegal to even attempt to do so, with any Vehicle, 13 years old, or newer.O2 Sensors are set up to detect that Fuel is being consumed at 14.7/1. A mixture of 100 / 1 will not emit enough Polluting Exhaust Emissions to register on O2 Sensors.When such a Vehicle is connected to an OBD II Emissions Inspection Analyzer, an O2 Sensor Failure Code will be generated, which will result in a failed Emissions Inspection.O2 Sensor Exemptions are permitted for Vehicles that have been legally converted to operate on Natural Gas, Propane, or Hydrogen, and are Registered as such.But not for vaporized Gasoline.Thus, it is entirely possible, under this EPA-OBD II Vehicle Emissions Inspection Law, for any Gasoline powered Vehicle, 13 years old, or newer, to fail it’s Emissions Test, for not emitting enough polluting Exhaust Emissions ! As long as this insane 14.7/1 Law that only benefits Big Oil remains in effect, the only way to make Vehicles more “efficient” will be to make them lighter, and smaller.This has got to change ! I have asked the Question many times ; “Why is it illegal for any Gasoline powered Vehicle, 13 Years old, or newer, to emit too little polluting Exhaust Emissions”? So far, not one Big Oil Executive, Politician, or Concerned Environmentalist can, or will answer the Question.Those that have replied can’t seem to come up with an Answer either.Can you ?

By: afrjc

afrjc — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:59:20 +0000

He’s got to be referring to the idea that CO2 itself is (or isn’t) a pollutant, right? I.e., CO2, it’s natural, it’s life giving, right — how could that be a pollutant? Regulate it as a pollutant? Crazy environmental over-reach.

Totally misguided argument, but that seems the clear candidate for what he thinks he’s talking about.

By: Asteroid Miner

Asteroid Miner — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:25:53 +0000

PS: Scented candles release benzene when burned.

By: Asteroid Miner

Asteroid Miner — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:23:14 +0000

Thank you for mentioning that Benzene is a carcinogen. In fact, benzene is one of the strongest cancer causing agents known. Benzene is found in both crude oil and coal.

By: Chris Winter

Chris Winter — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 03:03:45 +0000

Lou Grinzo wrote: “Or is his continued presence in that body simply a sign that his constituents want a Senator to be a relentless cheerleader for their economic issues, regardless of how much of reality he has to ignore in the process?”

I’m sure that’s the answer, and fossil-fuel interests are happy to help. In researching this earlier I found that only John Cornyn got more money from oil and gas interests during the 2002 election.

This site has some more detail:

http://www.opensecrets.org/ politicians/ summary.php?cid=N00005582

By: Richard Pauli

Richard Pauli — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 21:35:35 +0000

#7 Creative Greenius… you are spot on.

If there are future historians, they will judge terrorism to be the Maginot Line of civilization.

By: cougar_w

cougar_w — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 21:03:29 +0000

There is a sizable part of the American electorate that wants people to say things like this. If only to “put it to those enviro-wackos” who are becoming a threat to their Sacred American Way of Life.

My parents are those kind of people, and say those kinds of things. RV-driving cross-country early retirees who are going to enjoy their well-earned golden years even if it kills someone. Which it most likely will. We don’t talk any more, for a number of reasons.

cougar

By: Creative Greenius

Creative Greenius — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:42:27 +0000

Even scarier when you realize this climate denier cult leader has a big say on our energy and climate policy and that Barbara Boxer has to make believe Inhofe is anything but the Senator from Exxon.

No American in government today has done more to bring the worst impacts of climate change home to all of us. No foreign terrorist could ever hope to wreck the havoc that Inhofe is, and will be, responsible for.

By: ecostew

ecostew — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:35:51 +0000

Very scary when you realize that he was just re-elected.

By: Richard L

Richard L — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:46:07 +0000

I was told not too long ago that many states have no limits on campaign financing. Possibly only one or two large industries could fund a candidates entire campaign. I haven’t spent time verifying this, but it seems to explain the biased comments that seem to pervade our ‘leadership’