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DoD broadens energy efficiency focus
Suzanne Yohannan, Defense Environment Alert, via Military.com
Pentagon leaders may broaden their efforts to improve energy conservation and efficiency beyond their traditional emphasis on savings at installations to also focus on weapon systems.
At the same time, Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), who is concerned about a long-term decline in oil production and also chairs a House Armed Services Committee panel, is pressing the Defense Department to adopt more energy-efficient Navy vessels, including consideration of an all-nuclear Navy.
…DOD recently began a series of energy seminars, or “conversation[s] about our national [oil] addiction,” aimed at holding a dialogue on what energy conservation measures are achievable, according to an invitation to the next seminar and the DOD source.
“Just as the Defense Department played a critical role in forging the information revolution in past decades, so can the department play a similar critical role in fueling the energy revolution in coming decades,” reads the invitation. DOD’s acquisition and force transformation offices in March began hosting the seminars, with this month’s slated to feature Bartlett speaking on “peak oil.”
But one observer questions the motives behind the Pentagon’s initiatives, noting the push does not make sense from a risk management perspective, given the small amount DOD consumes compared to the rest of the country. Some of the remedies “seem to be a bit of an overreaction,” the source says.
According to a Naval Research Advisory Committee study on which senior DOD officials were briefed last October, the government’s oil use in fiscal year 2003 represented about 2 percent of total U.S. oil consumption, with DOD accounting for about 91 percent of the government’s consumption.
The main consumer within the military is aircraft — which accounts for 73 percent
(19 April 2006)
Interview – SF peak oil resolution (AUDIO)
David Room, Global Public Media
Members of the San Francisco Oil Awareness Group, a group included in Post Carbon Institute’s Relocalization Network, formed a committee last December to lobby the San Francisco board of supervisors to pass a resolution on peak oil. The resolution was passed on Tuesday April 11th, 2006. One of the members of this group responsible for the success of this resolution, Dennis Brumm speaks with correspondent David Room about this tremendous accomplishment.
(18 April 2006)
What is driving oil prices so high?
BBC
Crude oil prices have surged to record levels of over $72 a barrel – a rise of more than 18% in 2006, and a threefold gain over the past three years.
The effect is to heighten fears about inflation in importing countries – and to exacerbate international tensions.
The price of US-traded light, sweet crude hit a record of $72.40 on 19 April, while UK-traded Brent crude from the North Sea has raced to an all-time high of $74.
BBC News looks at the factors that are driving oil prices higher.
The biggest catalyst for oil’s seemingly remorseless rise in recent years has been the simplest economic driver there is: the balance between demand and a supply.
For starters, oil demand is at an all-time high.
…A more controversial concern is the so-called “peak oil” theory: the idea that the world has reached the natural limits of oil exploitation, and that there is little more to be found in the ground whatever the price.
Although many in the business dismiss the concept, energy planners in several countries are nonetheless beginning to take it into account.
(20 April 2006)
Il faut préparer la “fin du pétrole”
Nicolas Hulot et Jean-Marc Jancovici, Le Monde (opinion)
Malgré des déclarations tonitruantes sur l’ère de l’après-pétrole qui aurait déjà commencé, ou le changement climatique qui serait une menace de premier plan, force est de constater que notre quotidien n’en voit pour l’heure pas la trace.
L’humanité n’a jamais consommé autant d’or noir, de gaz et de charbon qu’en 2005 et, en France, l’élévation de la température moyenne planétaire du dernier siècle ne nous a réellement empêchés de dormir que quelques jours durant l’été 2003. Bien sûr, demain sera différent d’aujourd’hui, car c’est la définition même d’un changement, mais comment se persuader que nous sommes mal partis quand tout va bien pour le moment ?
(18 April 2006)
Submitter Segeltamp says the authors of the article:
present the problem of peak oil, although they don’t use the English term. The authors take a long-term approach, but make a very good case. They mention the connection to climate change and point out that we seem to leaving later generations with a climate problem, but without the energy resources to protect themselves.
Like the Swiss article that follows, the French piece mentions that parliamentary groups are looking into these issues (the articles and groups both seem to be inspired by Sweden).
Peak oil in Switzerland
Neue Zürcher Zeitung (Switzerland)
Submitter Segeltamp says:
The Swiss article (pay-to-view) mentions a parliamentary group with the goal of informing all members about peak oil 2006. They suggest reducing Swiss dependence on fossil fuels accordingly to availability. They mention lowering consumption 30% from today until 2035. This could be done with fossil fuel taxation.
Key politicians in Switzerland: Geri Müller, Reto Wehrli, Rudolf Rechsteiner (www.rechsteiner-basel.ch/).
Rudolf Rechsteiner has many publications on energy on his his website (in German).
(22 March 2006)
I wasn’t able to find a URL for this article. -BA
PO interview in Wisconsin
Oil production peak: we may already be there
Bob Hague, WRN (Wisconsin Radio Network)
Are you familiar with the theory of peak oil?
We all know fossil fuels can’t last forever, but Ed Blume with RENEW Wisconsin and the Madison Peak Oil Group says many experts believe we’re a lot closer to the production peak than you might imagine. “The point is, we will get to the peak,” said Blume. “And then we will simply have fewer petroleum products to pull out of the ground and use.”
If the world’s oil producers have indeed reached that peak, Blume says it’s not unreasonable to assume that’s a factor in the price of gas at the pump. Blume was on hand at Wednesday’s “Clean Energy Fair” in Madison, which included a display of efficient vehicles.
(20 April 2006)
See original for audio interview.
