Fuel prices around the world.

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/ Fuel prices around the world. #461  
Ford just came out with the Maverick, which is similar to a Ridgeline and depending on configuration can get 30+ MPG.
Orders exceeded demand by so much that they've stopped taking orders for this model year... and that was before gas started skyrocketing. Do you suppose maybe they'll get the message that people want inexpensive, simple vehicles with decent fuel economy?
Maybe, maybe not. All about max profit per unit, not economy or anything else. If it sell, they build it. If not, they drop it. Problem is, retooling takes time. No late model anything is simple today sadly.
 
/ Fuel prices around the world. #462  
Keep all the Amish in fun money.... We shall see and it won't take long, spring is almost here and spring is when RV'ers buy RV's.

I bet old whats his name in Nebraska (Berkshire Hathaway) is nervous right now. He's the kingpin of the RV industry.
Why would Buffet be nervous? If the entire RV industry went down, I don’t think he’s going to starve.
 
/ Fuel prices around the world. #463  
Not when the government gets involved in making them die faster.
Anyone who refuses training in other industries will have to suffer, but if you are going to mandate the death of coal from gov, then something must be offered to help these poor people.

“We all make choices”. Im aware. Its when the choice to end your job comes via mandate that I think its only fair to offer some assistance.
The power companies killed coal because they switched to less expensive fuel sources. Quit blaming everything on the government. The largest power plant in my state is converting to natural gas because they are planning to save 10-15 million dollars annually. Coal isn’t the cheapest fuel anymore. Coal plants also require a lot more maintenance.
 
/ Fuel prices around the world. #464  
Why would Buffet be nervous? If the entire RV industry went down, I don’t think he’s going to starve.
He's been investing in trains for about 15 years, and thinks they are going to make a comeback.

 
/ Fuel prices around the world. #465  
Why would Buffet be nervous? If the entire RV industry went down, I don’t think he’s going to starve.
His stockholders will take a hit however and don't forget his largest holding... BNSF railroad. They already took a hit on railed crude and will take another hit on diesel fuel cost. Warren will never starve, he's smart but frugal.
 
/ Fuel prices around the world. #466  
/ Fuel prices around the world. #467  
/ Fuel prices around the world. #468  
His stockholders will take a hit however and don't forget his largest holding... BNSF railroad. They already took a hit on railed crude and will take another hit on diesel fuel cost. Warren will never starve, he's smart but frugal.
All railroads are thrilled about the funding they are getting from infrastructure legislation. The plan is to double the transcontinental tracks to prepare for a shift in transcontinental shipping from truck to rail. The cost of rail shipping with the new infrastructure will be a fraction of truck shipping and will help considerably with the congestion at ports. I saw a presentation from BNSF last fall about these plans. I think it’s a great idea and will especially enjoy traveling interstate highways with less truck traffic. One train replaces 128 trucks on the interstate.
 
/ Fuel prices around the world. #469  
All railroads are thrilled about the funding they are getting from infrastructure legislation. The plan is to double the transcontinental tracks to prepare for a shift in transcontinental shipping from truck to rail. The cost of rail shipping with the new infrastructure will be a fraction of truck shipping and will help considerably with the congestion at ports. I saw a presentation from BNSF last fall about these plans. I think it’s a great idea and will especially enjoy traveling interstate highways with less truck traffic. One train replaces 128 trucks on the interstate.

I can agree with this and get behind that idea.
 
/ Fuel prices around the world. #470  
Ford just came out with the Maverick,
Ummm ...

Hemmings Find of the Day - 1971 Ford Maverick | Hemmings

Adapt, move, or die destitute. That's about the only choices coal miners have for a future.

Coal miners are no different than lots of other folks working in dying industries. And many have refused retraining opportunities. We all make choices.
Which makes no sense at all. Who would WANT to work in a coal mine? Most of them started out as kids because that what Dad, Grandad and Great Grandad did, so it's just what there was to do. Give them an opportunity to learn to do something far more safe and they say ... 'no we do coal, that's what our family does, that's all we know'.


I'm OK with trains, just don't let them block crossings for hours while switching.
 
/ Fuel prices around the world. #471  
I can agree with this and get behind that idea.
The presentation from BNSF highlighted the following:
1. Add additional tracks parallel to the existing transcontinental lines.
2. New facilities at the ports and major manufacturers to increase efficiency for loading and off-loading.
3. West coast ports to Chicago in 2 days.
4. One train = 128 trucks.
5. One train = 25% of diesel fuel as 128 trucks.

They also talked about intermodal being seamless: train to ship for export/imports. I attended the conference because we are interested in exporting wood products to Asia. I hope we can go this way. I drive I-40 almost daily and the amount of truck traffic is a safety hazard.
 
/ Fuel prices around the world. #472  
Maybe way back then. Now other fuel sources are cheaper, cleaner, and easier to use. Power companies don’t want to screw with coal anymore. Why would a power company want to mess around with a fuel that must be mined, trucked, rail transported, and then dispose of hazardous waste? Natural gas turbines get fuel delivered by pipelines, can be fired up and turned off instantaneously, and burn clean with no plant cleanup or waste to dispose of. And cost less overall. Solar farms, once installed feed energy directly to the grid, supplementing the gas turbine produced energy. There is zero reason to mess around with a fuel that’s both dirty and more expensive.

IF pipelines can be built.
 
/ Fuel prices around the world. #473  
IF pipelines can be built.
Every power plant in my state has pipelines built going to them. Never heard of a power plant being denied gas service anywhere. Cross country pipelines that only benefit Canada are the only pipelines denied. Especially when Indian tribes don’t want them on their lands.
 
/ Fuel prices around the world. #476  
What a heartless remark. Too weak? Opioid and fentanyl have killed so many people including a huge swath in the Appalachian region. Many Miners there grew up knowing that was their only career. Could you make a sudden change this late in your career? I bet it would be extremely difficult
Try to have a little empathy for them.

Diesel here is now $4.99
This is a full blown fuel crisis.
Yes it is a fuel crisis created by war. Same thing happened in WW2, now we are in WW3. But that has nothing to do with coal mining. I’m done with this discussion: you continue to beat a dead horse with the same old comments. I’m going to tell a personal story: my grandfather was a coal miner in Wheeling, WV and southern Ohio areas. He told my father and I 50-years ago there was no future in coal and said get an education or learn a trade. We moved west in 1970 and made a better life for ourselves, didn’t stay in Appalachia and do drugs. Grandpa died from mining related lung disease. Ten years ago, the Peabody coal mines in the San Juan basin in my state closed. The miners there either moved or found new jobs. Currently the mines in Wyoming are closing. I have lots of in-laws in that country. They have told me that the communities are losing population because people are moving on to new jobs elsewhere. But they are also seeing people move in to enjoy the rural lifestyle because they are teleworking. Yes, there are drug problems in every state, but most people moved on with their lives. This is America: we find opportunities and industries change over time. Nobody has to do the same job that their grandfather did.

Now I’m done with this discussion topic.
 
/ Fuel prices around the world. #477  
So what's your point? Auto manufacturers are always bringing old, popular names back. My first Ford Ranger was a 1973, the Silverado was once just an expensive option class of the Chevy truck. The Dodge Dart was once a 2 door coupe which was easily hot rodded, rather than the econobox they came out with later. The only names which I don't expect to see again are Pinto, Edsel, and Vega; although the first was actually a rather tough car, until you got rear ended. Yet I have to wonder if a big part of that was that it was the beginning of Japanese car fandom, rather than a problem with the car. One name I'm surprised they haven't resurrected is the Corvair; another car which was killed by Nader's hype, more than an actual car.
 
/ Fuel prices around the world. #478  
I had a Maverick way back when. Very weak front end and a chronic ruster too. Used to call it an 'Ick'. Bought it used beat on it and scrapped it.
 
/ Fuel prices around the world. #480  
Keep thinking to myself, I bet he likes filling up that new Dodge diesel he just bought at 4 bucks plus a gallon.
 
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