Even as Western Europe struggles with how to meet its near-term energy needs this winter and in 2023, there is a potential solution sitting right under its feet – the largest natural gas field on the continent.
One might think the West would rush to put this resource to maximum use. Instead, it's in the process of completely shutting down production. As Bloomberg reports, the reason is earthquakes, and despite the crying demand for non-Russian gas, the locals are against keeping the field active:
Dutch mining minister Hans Vijlbrief says that it's dangerous to keep producing but that the country can't ignore suffering elsewhere in Europe. A lack of gas “could force us to make that decision,” he says, adding that it could be a safety issue if hospitals, schools, and homes can't be heated properly.
Okay, earthquakes are bad. Potentially catastrophic. What sort of tremors are we talking about here?
Groningen recorded its first small tremors in 1986. Since then, there have been hundreds more. Although most are undetectable except by instruments, a magnitude 3.6 earthquake hit the province in 2012, resulting in thousands of property damage claims. Starting in 2014, the Dutch government has placed ever-stricter limits on production from the field, and the output dropped from 54 billion cubic meters in 2013 to an expected 4.5 billion cubic meters this year.
And it's true: Homes have been wrecked, businesses and livelihoods lost…what, then, is the Dutch response to putting its trillion-dollar gas field off limits? Burning more coal and importing gas from abroad:
Rather than boosting gas output, the Netherlands has instead removed limits on coal-fired power plants to help ensure energy security, joining other EU members in turning to the heavily polluting fuel. It also doubled import capacity for liquefied natural gas and filled gas storages to ensure they're 80% full before winter.
Europe's energy choices are, to be charitable, baffling. But they also seem to fit a pattern: Preach green, practice dirty…and go even dirtier if it threatens to upset the locals (who will, without a moment's reflection, complain bitterly when the cold and dark descend on them in winter).
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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Sometimes if people are stupid, the best thing to do is let them collapse. Cutting domestic energy production and importing millions of Muslims may finally wise them up. I’m hoping that after Biden the U.S. will close its borders and return to energy independence. Also, let the Democrats go the way of the Whigs.
Our immigration policies, both legal and illegal, will be our downfall unless we start enforcing our laws already on the books. We need to go back to the way things were in the early 1900’s where we had limits on how many people from each country was allowed to come here. If we don’t control the migration it won’t be many years where there will no longer be a United States of America
I would argue that we are already no longer the USA. A nation that cannot -or will not – control its borders is no longer a sovereign nation.
Further, nations are held together by the things they have in common. In most cases, this means a common language, a common ethnic identity, a common history, perhaps a common religion, and a common culture.
When a nation is flooded by millions of immigrants because THEY choose the come (as opposed to a nation choosing to allow a defined number of immigrants based on need or a common culture), the ties that bind us together start to fray.
We’re frequently told “Our strength is our diversity.”. Since when is it considered a “strength” to have millions of people who don’t speak our language and will not assimilate to become true Americans? Consider, too, that some of those people despise the US but will barely tolerate us in order to gain the freedom and economic benefits we offer. How does this make the US stronger? “Diversity is our strength” is a slogan used by the left to have even more ways to divide us.
There are good reasons to allow immigrants to come to the US – when they come legally, have gone through a background check, and have something to offer the US (whether that is a needed profession, a skill, or young people to offset a declining birthrate, etc).
But open borders, whereby anyone can come from anywhere for any reason is a free-for-all, not a sovereign nation. RIP, USA.
You mean there is one now? Our States don’t look very united to me.
Hey EU tap the NG in your area & add $$$ for EU
I have to break it to you but clean coal is NOT a dirty fuel. WTF? Have I.Q.’s suddenly dropped here?