By Anne Beckett [contributor to The Tennessee Conservative and founder of Tennessee Action Group] –

The Green New Deal is part of a socialistic policy based on a long running fallacy:  that we have limited amounts of oil that are not renewable. 

The New Green Deal defines its goals as,  “meeting 100 percent of national power” demand through renewable sources, retrofitting “every residential and industrial building for state-of-the-art energy efficiency, comfort, and safety,” and eliminating “greenhouse gas emissions from the manufacturing, agricultural, and other industries.”

That will be done through “green power,” defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as “electricity produced from solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, eligible biomass, and low-impact small hydroelectric sources.”

Many Americans (Dems 92%, Repubs 64%)  back the Green Deal plan (which would include universal healthcare) until they know the cost of beginning estimates at $5.2 trillion over 20 years. It would also incur increased taxes to pay for the 170% increase in the federal budget for these 2 programs (would that be a 170% increase in taxes? Do the math).  Ultimately, the Green New Deal, is actually just a “starter package for turning our mostly free-market economy socialist.”

But wait, oil is not renewable! Or is it?  We need to conserve! Or do we?

According to an article published in 2016 by CNN Business, “America now has more untapped oil than any other country on the planet.”  In 2016, we were the greatest producers of oil in the world.

Most importantly, there are two competing arguments for the source and composition of oil.  Depending on which historical analysis you choose to believe, oil is either abiotic or biogenetic.  That is, it is either abiotic- composed of non-living physical and chemical elements (water, air, soil, sunlight and minerals); or, biotic, biogenetic- composed of once-living organisms (animals, plants, fungi). 

If the non-organic, abiotic theory is correct, then hydrocarbon reserves would be “enormous and almost unexhaustible.”

Since we have the ability to analyze the true composite of oil, it is no longer a theory.  For readable in-depth analyses of the science and history of abiotic vs. biogenetic, see here, here, here, and here.   We easily see that oil is abiotic. It is a renewable element produced by the earth itself.

So, what in the world is happening? It might be worth remembering Lenin’s words:  “A lie told often enough becomes the truth.”  And as is true for most quandaries, particularly political,  to understand what is happening then follow the money.  In other words, cui bono.   Who benefits? 

We do know Shell Oil company had record earnings the first quarter of 2022, beating its previous highest quarterly profits in 2008. It seems the past year has been good for the oil business. Here are their first quarter earnings for 2021 and 2022:  $3.2B vs $9.1B. That is an 84% increase in one year.  Wait, weren’t we in lockdown? 

If that does not make you ill, then enjoy riding your bicycle to work. The rest of us find it outrageous and, well, criminal. No one faults business succeeding in our capitalistic society. We do protest when it is done deceptively. The founders of the oil companies were well aware of oil’s sources. They still are. Don’t be fooled. Please. 

What will it take for the populace to rise up and say “no more”?   Most, it seems, are hanging by fingernails waiting for 2022 elections. In the least, then, let’s hope conservative politicians dominate the elections, and, they have the courage, fortitude and patiotric sense to save America.  Otherwise, we all need to find our sea legs in this rambunctious climate and make a stand ourselves.