Looks like the algae and Sunfuel have some competition!

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/12825329.htm

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/ecotech/ecot.htm

I'm not so thrilled about all the natural gas being burned to extract the tar from the dirt, it's adding a lot of pollution and CO2 that Canada really doesn't need, considering we have signed the Kyoto agreement.

2001 Prius Photos       2005 Prius Photos
1992 Mitsubishi Delica Diesel-WVO Hybrid Photos

Hi Clett:

___The Canadian Oil Sands have been profitable for years (when oil first went above $30 per BBl). With the recent price spikes (PO, Hurricane related supply issues, World demand, etc.), I am even considering a career change as the individuals working huge hours for Shell, SunCor, Syncrude … and all the support companies are making huge $’s for the few years they are up there.

___You should look up the area on a map sometime as it is about as remote as one could possibly imagine! I only saw one smaller highway leading to Ft. McMurray – Alberta – Canada and it actually ends there. I can only imagine what winters are like that far north Schwa and I may just become countrymen after all

U.S. energy future rests with development of Canadian oil sands …

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

With all the news going on about people trying to get into the USA because of job opportunities, it would be pretty funny if there's a huge run on high paying Canadian jobs. I think there's a lot of folks (myself included) that just can't deal with the cold at all though. There's a good reason Florida, Texas, and California are among the most populated states!

It's already getting cold and snowy!

2001 Prius Photos       2005 Prius Photos
1992 Mitsubishi Delica Diesel-WVO Hybrid Photos

Hi Schwa:

___I love the cold myself but I have to ask where the pic was taken at? I think the Ranger and Accord could still receive EPA busting FE in that soup but what happens when its 20 degrees below 0? That is the real question

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

20 below??? 40 above is cold here and thats from me, born near where wayne lives...lol Kevin

2004 silverblue 5 sp.

The picture was taken several km past Summerland, elevation somewhere around 1600 meters, temperature was 1 degree.


Here's a map of the route we took:


The snow was just after the circle that says 97C, and there was some other snow in Manning Park where there's a circle with 3 in it.

2001 Prius Photos       2005 Prius Photos
1992 Mitsubishi Delica Diesel-WVO Hybrid Photos

xcel said: "...what happens when its 20 degrees below 0?"
Wayne, how do I put this? -20F is not cold for Alberta. It gets that cold here (MA) or Chicago..
Some weather stats for Ft. McMurray, Alberta:
Cold -- 24.2 days per year when the min temp is below -30C = -18F
-- Record low temp is -50C = -58F.

WindChill --15.2 days with a wind chill below -40C = -40F
Dark -- 63.8 hours of sunshine in Dec.

I suppose where the tarsands actually are would be colder, which affects the difficulty of getting it out.
Actually I expected it to be colder there; you can see weather like this in Northern New England or New York. I do love this kind of weather.
--Walter

Hi Walter:

___I knew there was a good reason for purchasing all the Mobil1 0W-20 I could find earlier this year. Its pour point is a paltry - 57 degrees C which would be perfect for Ft. McMurray

___At least we all know why those brave souls working the Oil Sands projects make so much $’s …

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net