Plastics Industry & RE Impacts [RE-wrenches]

[Matt Lafferty]

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All,

As we've all been hearing / seeing, PVC prices have skyrocketed and that's
if you can even get what you need.  The fundamental "cause" of this
situation is being blamed on the hurricanes in the Gulf and the damage to
natural gas supplies (refineries, wells & pipelines).  This condition is
affecting the price and supply of all plastics produced domestically.  Don't
expect to find PE immune, for instance.

It is reported that many of the refiners have enacted their "Act of God"
clauses to get out of contracts, etc.  All big names... Names that we all
know and disrespect, I might add.

Our wire supplies and pricing are being impacted as well.  Copper has been
very volatile for the entire year, mostly in an upward price direction.  It
is being reported that wire manufacturers are starting to "allot" & ration
the jacketing (insulation) materials now, and focus on manufacturing the
most common and high-volume conductor types and gages.  It is projected that
some types of wire, particularly those with "specialty" coatings that are
lower on the foodchain, may or will not be manufactured until the plastic
supply industry recovers.  This means that the specialty wire supply already
in the distribution cycle may be all there is for an unknown period of time.

Can you imagine a day this winter or next spring when you have all the
modules you've ever ordered in your life and can't find the wire to hook
them up?  Forget about PVC... (USE stands for Underground Service Entrance
anyway.  LOL)

Here's an article from the AP, published in the Winston Salem-Journal today.
I suggest that anybody with a minute and an internet connection check it
out.

http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=Common%2FMGArticle%2FPr
intVersion&c=MGArticle&cid=1128768031958&image=wsj80x60.gif&oasDN=journalnow
.com&oasPN=%21business

I'm going to suggest that we, as an entire industry, get our heads together
to look for opportunities to go "collective" in the immediate right-now.
Not some sort of hippie joke, either.  I'm suggesting a Summit, if you will.
Telecon &/or Web-Based.  Is there anybody on this list than can help
facilitate something like this in any way?  I know we are all busy and don't
have time for "that kind of thing"... 

I'm not going to blame hurricanes or Mother Nature, here.  I'm going to
blame our Petro-dependency.  Period.  Yes, I'm sitting here typing on a
plastic keyboard, looking at a 95% plastic monitor, etc.  I'm dependent,
too.  For now.  That hammock and those two palms are looking closer and
better all the time! 

Peace and Sunshine,

Matt Lafferty
mlafferty at universalenergies.com

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