Is ‘Big Oil’ Going Green? Don’t Bet The Car On It.
Oil Companies – How Green Are They? — Posted by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at The Care2 Election Blog)
Are the oil companies going green? If by “green” we are talking about cold hard cash…The oil companies are very, very green. In fact, their cups runneth over with greenness. However, in this case, the oil companies (a.k.a. Big Oil) are spending a lot of money on commercials designed to convince you and me that they are investing in our environmental future. So, how green are they?
So what do you think? Are the oil companies really going green? Or, are they just playing green on tv?
Personally, I think they should be required to spend a certain percentage of their profits on green alternatives to oil…at the very least.
Comments
Comment from Catherine Morgan
Time: May 22, 2008, 3:05 pm
Hi Debra. I’m so glad this comment came from you…I would probably be very skeptical of anyone who I didn’t actually know, making the same comment. Thanks so much for sharing this information.
I don’t have any doubt that the oil companies are making investments in alternative fuels…I guess I just don’t think it is near enough. With the money they are making in profits each year, they really could afford to put much more towards these efforts. I think if the oil companies wanted to…they could definitely have a viable alternative in 5 years…maybe less.
Anyway, thanks so much for taking the time to comment on this Deb. 
Comment from Debra
Time: May 22, 2008, 2:41 pm
Catherine,
My husband is a research scientist for Chevron. Last year he was recruited to shift from his older research department and move to a newer company (under the corporate umbrella) that is specifically working on biofuels and other alternatives to oil.
He has regular discussions with scientists at universities and other research facilities about ways of acquiring raw materials (from lumber waste, from switch grass, etc. ways much more energy efficient that the current corn solution). The money is being spent, and many at the oil companies hope that in the near future they will be able to make major impacts.
I asked him a couple days ago about the refineries. Found out they are talking about way to process the waste from some of the cellufiber biofuel productions, and from vegetable oils and use these materials in refineries.
There are major steps being taken to responsibly move “big oil” companies away from petroleum and into other methods of producing the power and energy that we as a nation have become dependant upon. In this, the big companies have looked at the future and see this as the only possible answer. Research is only the start, but it’s the only place to start. Eventually, a viable supply chain will be developed. Will it happen this year? NO. Will it happen in 5 years? Risky, but possibly. Will it happen in 10 years? I’d say most definitely.