By JOHN NORTH

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Based on his energy-sector expertise and a quest for maximum efficiency, Asheville entrepreneur Stuart Weidie told the Council of Independent Business Owners on March 2 that the most cost-efficient path — now — is for  businesses and homes to be heated and cooled by natural gas, with solar panels on their rooftops.

He also said that “I think propane is the best source (of fuel) for vehicles.”

Weidie, president and CEO of Blossman Gas Inc., presented his “Energy Sector Report” to CIBO, following his update on the Enka Youth Sports Organization’s baseball and softball facility. (See story on Page A 14 for his sports complex report.)

About 30 CIBO members and guests attended, including N.C. Rep. Brian Turner, R-Buncombe. The meeting was held at UNC Asheville’s Sherrill Center.

 He began his energy talk by noting, “I think everyone here knows and understands that we’ve been experiencing an energy revolution for the last number of years.

“This last month (February), we (the United States) averaged producing over 10 million barrels of oil per day. A decade ago, we were producing 5 million barrels per day.

“As for natural gas, I think that will be” seeing major gains, along with solar. 

He added, “I’m suspicious of wind. I’d love to see everything powered by natural gas, with solar panels on the roofs.” In a reference to Blossman Gas Inc., Weidie noted, “In my business, LPG, we’ve doubled our production....

“So we’ve gone from being an importer of propane ... to be a net exporter at 19 million gallons per year. That’s a big number.

“We’re becoming the biggest energy exporter” in the world, Weidie said. “But whether it’s good or bad, I’m concerned. We’re not exporting oil out of the United States.

“Two years ago, we started exporting natural gas out of the United States. The rest of the world, particularly Asia, is starting to consume vast increases. The United States — we’re flat in terms of our consumption in the energy sector. Our production has to go somewhere.

“So for those of you who are thinking about energy — whether powering a facility or getting a fleet to service your customers or business…. 

“Saudi Arabia — it only costs them $10 to produce a barrel of oil. (That also has a $90/barrel fiscal cost — to cover all social costs.)

“The U.S. is the only country in the world that allows individuals to produce oil, etc.

“The probabilities are, I think, over the next seven years — I think we’ll see oil up a little bit, and that that will have an impact on businesses,” Weidie said in concluding his talk.

During a question-and-answer session that followed, a man asked, “Do you see the automobile or trucking industry getting more involved in natural gas conversion?”

“There’s a lot of talk about the electric vehicle,” Weidie replied. “Young people are taught it’s a zero-emission vehicle. But where does it get its power from?

“An electric vehicle on campus here (at UNCA) is getting its power from a coal-fired plant at Skyland. And its emissions are not that good.

“I think propane is the best source for vehicles.

“Whether you believe in climate change, I think we all need to be good stewards of our environment,” Weidie added.

CIBO’s chief and moderator Buzzy Cannady asked, “What about the supply of natural resources?”

“In the 1970s, we thought we’d reached peak oil,” Weidie answered. “A lot of people thought we were going to run out. Same with natural gas. We thought we’d run out. Now, we’re exporting it to China and Asia.”