Mining’s old guard needs strong medicine
A new report details subpar investor returns in the mining industry over the last decade, particularly big cap diversified companies which have not adapted to new realities.
The Keystone XL pipeline may be unpopular with the president, but if it were up for referendum it would stand a good chance: 65% of Americans are in favour of building Keystone XL, according to a recent report by the Pew research Center.
The non-partisan think-tank surveyed 1,500 adults in early September. Unsurprisingly, there’s a sharp partisan divide.
Republicans are overwhelmingly in favour – 82%. Independents: 64%. Democrats: 51%.
Meanwhile, the same group of survey respondents, by exactly the same margin as the pipeline, say they favour stricter limits on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. Even a majority of Republicans support this.
The pipeline, which would transport oil from Canada’s oil sands to Texas refineries, is the subject of a hot debate between the two countries. President Barack Obama says he won’t approve the project if it were to “significantly” increase carbon pollution. But Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who recently said he “won’t take no for an answer,” has been leading an unrelenting campaign to coax the White House into agreement.
Other results in the national survey on US energy show that the American public is becoming more wary of traditional energy sources.
Over the past year, opposition to hydraulic fracturing as well as nuclear power has grown, with 49% saying they oppose the increased use of fracturing. This figure has jumped by more than 10% since March.
Nearly 60% of respondents say they are against the increased use of nuclear power – the highest level of opposition since the question was first asked in 2005.
The sharpest partisan divide is over offshore drilling. Nearly 80% of Republicans want to see more of it, compared with 44% of democrats.
When it comes to funding alternative energy, support is waning.
In 2006, all three major political groups overwhelmingly supported funding for research on wind, solar and hydrogen technology.
Now, Republican support has dropped by 24%. Independent support by 10%. Democrats are slightly more in favour.
But for all they had to say about pipelines and fracturing, the respondents were largely ignorant of an important trend in their country’s energy sector. Survey results show that more than half are unaware of the American energy boom of recent years – and only 34% knew that it came from traditional energy sources.
Creative Commons image by: shannonpatrick17
5 Comments
nobody24
The public is ignorant of the facts, and this comes as a “surprise” to anyone? They’ve been fed green-propaganda by such knowledgeably people as Robert Redford and Al Gore (next Honey Bo Bo will be a quoted authority) as if “celebrity” somehow translates to trustworthy and knowledgeable…
But then “Reality TV” thrives… enough said about the “public”
Jake
Ignorance and incompetence are on display in equal measure throughout the deadly parasitic government-media-education-environment complex that is rapidly corrupting and devouring the United States of America. We have been, currently are, and shall remain heavily dependent upon our petrochemical resources and infrastructure for decades to come (as even the DOE readily acknowledges).
The so called unconventional hydrocarbons, including those sourced from fracking, oil/tar sands are an important and vital lifeline to the struggling US economy; how ironic that it is propping up this corrupt administration and it’s minions even as they relentlessly destroy productivity and investment across the nation.
apple
Jake
Here in Canada the level of knowledge on Energy and Mining issues is about the same as the United States, dismal and from sound bites on
television. In urban areas most people have no concept of the processes that put gas in their cars, electricity in their homes or steel for their cars.
There is the belief that we can stop all the mining and energy production and the world will just carry on, that their lifestyle will only get better. And
the politicians are willing to promote these concepts for votes.
The Energy and Mining issues in Canada are further clouded by the first Nation issues, which has now become directly linked. Most Urbanites have a fantasy view of aboriginals as some sort of super environmentalists with an innate understanding of the earth. When in reality aboriginals have about the same skills and knowledge as everyone
else and contrary to belief most do not live on reserves. Further aboriginals and mines are just part of the “up north”, beyond the end of the subway system and cottage country.
Students in high school need some education in how all processes
of their life, food, water, energy and commodities are connected to everyday. How their actions affect other parts of the country and the world and the other way around.
KDM
Wonder how Obama thinks the XL pipeline will increase carbon pollution? If the oil dont come by the XL it will come from the middle east and the USA will still consume just as much,like i have said all along get what you need from a safe reliable country not ones you are at odds with most of the time
xxxxxxxxxxx33
The kind of ‘green propaganda’ that accepts that climate change exists and should be acted on? Oh so you mean the kind that is supported by virtually every credible scientist internationally then. The ignorant ones are those that claim to know best while flying in the face of clear-cut facts. The ‘celebrities’ you quote are supporting a view backed by empirical scientific fact, but of course oil barons are clearly far more likely to give an impartial view. Wow, those reality TV viewers are starting to look quite smart in comparison…