New Sources For Energy For EU -- April 26, 2022

I don't recall if I posted the link to the article that suggested the EU plans to be "free" of Russian energy (all forms) by 2027.

A reader sent me a note regarding feasibility of doing that, even forgetting about all the environmental issues. One needs to remember that not all energy that the EU relies on comes from Russia. Even by doing nothing in terms of new infrastructure, the EU could significantly reduce dependence on Russian energy. Having said that, not ready-for-prime-time:

Regarding the feasibility of the EU ending all Russian energy imports by 2027, there is another article that I was going to post but did not because the article was too mundane/esoteric, but Germany is accelerating plans for LNG import facilities. 

These new facilities take a few years to build after permit approval (which is pretty much being thrown out now) but floating LNG import terminals, modular, can be brought in in months, if not weeks.

So, there will be many options. [Think how quickly the US converted LNG import facilities to export facilities a few years ago, and how many new LNG export facilities the US has added to those over the past few years. The US has one huge "harbor" -- Texas/Louisiana for all of this; the EU has many ports/many options, going counterclockwise, from Poland to the Netherlands to Germany to France, to Spain, to Italy.]

In addition, many more articles on going back to more drilling in the North Sea, and even the Netherlands / Groningen for natural gas is getting a re-look.

Right now, the environmental concerns are on the back burner, very much like the John Kerry - Nancy Pelosi - Jen Psaki explanation for increased drilling (but very little); a few pipelines (but very few); and, a bit more rail to transport fossil fuel. 

The  bottom line for me is to what I alluded in this post: Russia has joined a very exclusive club composed of itself, North Korea, and Cuba. There may be a few others seeking membership (e.g., Iran, Venezuela). 

Based on what I'm reading in social media right now, the EU's goal to end all Russian energy imports could happen much more quickly than anticipated. It's much more "will" than "way," as in, "if there's a will, there's a way."

Germany and Austria are generally seen as the "hold-outs" (again, in general reading of social media) but Germany is being "shamed" into going along with the US. Austria may be a "lost cause." 

On a completely different note, there are three arenas on which to focus:

• economic
• diplomatic
• military.

Without question, the military is probably running the show with short-term goals, while diplomacy has long-term goals, all being bridged by the bankers and industrialists with long-term economic / short-term financial goals. 

But right now, without question, the US military-industrial complex is the huge winner in all this (see below). 

I think everyone saw the article regarding a new book coming out on the rocky relationship between Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Clearly, the pundits are correct: Joe Biden has a much bigger opportunity -- by doing almost nothing -- to be a more transformative president than Barack Obama. 

As good as the "Brian Williams" tape, link here:

****************************
The Military-Industrial Complex 

Link here.