For decades many environmentalists have called for ending the use of fossil fuels. But do you want that? Do we want that? What would we do without “petrochemicals”—chemical products obtained from petroleum? Few think through the “all or nothing” approach to solving a problem.
Let’s begin with something anyone with a car encounters every day. If you drive, you run into (or over) Asphalt just about every day: Asphalt. The U.S. produces more than 420 tons of asphalt each year. The main ingredient of asphalt is crude oil. No oil, no asphalt—so, no paved roads. When was the last time you’ve been on a stretch of road and not seen road repairs in play? That means asphalt will be needed to complete the work.
And that’s just one product that comes from petrochemicals. Paint flooring, window blinds, toothpaste tubes, detergent, and food storage containers are all made from petroleum. As are your computer screen, cell phone, the casing for your car battery, and even the buttons on your shirt. Say what? Yes, they all contain fossil fuels, specifically plastic—another fossil fuel derivative.
And that is only a small part of a much larger picture. In fact, it’s a HUGE picture. The raw materials from which these products are transported by vehicles are most likely powered by fossil fuels. The machines in those factories are also typically powered by fossil fuels.
You eat, don’t you? Have you thought about food production? In 1950, more than 60% of the world was undernourished. By 2019, it was down to about 9%, even though there are three times the number of people. Why? It was the introduction of modern herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and fertilizers—all of which depend on petroleum products.
Before the 20th century, fertilizers were mainly waste products like animal dung. Thanks to the Haber-Bosch process, which attaches nitrogen with hydrogen to produce ammonia, a crucial catalyst for plant growth was created. The result was enormous. In America in the 1920s, farmers produced less than two tons of corn per hectare—that’s equal to 2.47 acres. Today, that same plot of land will produce 11 tons—five times the amount of corn.
Combined with improvements in farm equipment, also powered fuel by fossil fuels, and the human labor required to harvest a kilogram of American wheat, production has fallen in the past two centuries from 10 minutes to two seconds. In short, without fossil fuels, much of the world’s population would starve.
Even renewable energy, at least in relation to power and transportation, is dependent on fossil fuels. The wind turbines and solar panels are made of fiberglass and many other materials derived from petroleum. There is no renewable energy without fossil fuel energy.
The dependency on petroleum goes even further. The sun doesn’t always shine and it’s not always windy, so there has to be a fossil fuel backup nearby.
You’ve got the idea now. Fossil fuels aren’t just about driving your car or heating your home. Fossil fuels are everywhere and in everything.
This blog is based on information from a Prager U video by Rogan O’Handley, who also calls himself “DC Draino.”
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Frank Victoria is an award-winning author and screenwriter. He’s been an Amazon bestseller with his recent book, The Founders’ Plot, a political thriller for our times. He donates proceeds of his books to Tunnels to Towers and Fisher House, helping military veterans and first responders. His novellas, The Ultimate Bet and The Protectors are available on his website and Amazon. Check out his new website: FrankVictoriaAuthor.com.
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