Us Against Them

Team ONG vs Team Green.  The oil and gas industry vs the renewables (wind, solar, nuclear, etc.) backed by the environmentalists and the US government in a football parody.

Oil and gas formed from sedimentary deposits that have broken down millions of years ago, but the first documented oil wells were drilled in China in 347 AD using bamboo pipelines to extract oil from the ground. Drilling began in the US in Pennsylvania in 1859.

Wind has been around in the way of windmills, and waterwheels since 3500 BC, but the renewable industry as we know it today in the US has been around since the 20th century. The first hydropower (water) plant opened in 1882 in Appleton, Wisconsin, the first commercial nuclear power plant opened on May 26,1958, and solar in the 1980s.

ONG scores a touchdown after the Green team punts. The US Democrat led government has given million in incentives to jumpstart the renewable market: however, the American consumer has been slow to embrace the idea.

Halftime: ONG 7 Green 0

Penalties are mounting against the Green team. Unproven media propaganda against the ONG has done nothing to move the ball closer to the goal line. High sticker costs of EVs plus a lack of demand shown by the consumer. This is evident with Hertz selling many of their vehicles in their EV fleet while taking a major financial loss. They posted a loss of $392 million in the first quarter of 2024 alone. The inconvenience of charging is due to very few charging stations. This creates headaches if you are heading to grandma’s during a holiday week. Loss of time and the anxiety of wondering whether you may be stuck on a country road in the middle of nowhere. Unreliable performance in extreme hot and cold weather may cause the vehicle to not start or stall. Meanwhile your home may not have the capacity to charge your vehicle, adding more cost to owning an EV. A special charging station may be needed. If you lose power or the city puts a restriction on home electricity due to heat, what do you do? Forfeit the game as you lost your QB. Ball turned over on 4^th down.

ONG keeps moving down the field with the convenience of pumping gas within 10 minutes and the running back is charging into the end zone. Touchdown. With the numerous makes and models available, the consumer can decide whether to purchase big, small, cheap or expensive. Also, there is no need for extra equipment such as a home electrical charging station. And what if you are living in an apartment or a house that has no garage? Do you want to have to run an extension cord from your house to the vehicle in a snowstorm? Forget the apartment. Two-point conversion is good.

Green team fumbles after EV battery manufacturing issues. These issues include the minerals that make up the lithium-ion batteries. These minerals are found in large deposits in Africa, South America and Australia. The Congo has almost the entire supply of cobalt. Also, low wages and child labor is a major problem in Congo. Transportation and manufacturing are slow due to location and worldwide demand.

ONG is throwing down field to the receiver in the end zone. Americans love their big vehicles and the versatility. For example, a family of 8 can fit comfortably in a Ford Expedition EL, KIA Telluride or a Chevrolet Suburban, etc.  And they can go offroad with no fear of running out of power and gas in a pickup truck. Touchdown ONG!

Green team has the ball on the 40-yard line as ONG had an illegal blocker downfield. The (government) referees made a bad call. No review. More vehicles are becoming available in larger sizes, but their reliability is being tested. Field goal is good.

Time ran out. Game is over.

Final score: ONG 23 Green 3

Go ONG!