Climate change – Aug 9

Med to lose pull as Earth heats up /
Taller mountains a result of global warming /
Sea-bed plan to store carbon / John Kerry: Time to put climate change on the national agenda /
Britain can still lead the world – on climate change

Why renewable energy matters

Investing a portion of today’s relatively abundant energy resources into technologies that will yield energy later on, when fossil fuels are scarce, will make it a good deal easier to provide that little when it’s most needed, and cushion at least some of the impacts of the Deindustrial Revolution.

US energy policy – Aug 9

Gas prices alter habits of many in US, but far from all / Baltimore Sun: Old thinking on energy / Federal officials look outside their own bureaucracies for alternatives to oil dependence / Dept. of Defense series on “Our National Addiction” – Sept 18 “Outlook for nuclear” / Mexico’s energy problems hurt U.S.

Peak oil – Aug 9

New ASPO-Ireland Newsletter / Chicago Tribune: Oil’s twilight / Malaysia oil fears prompt Petronas to buy into Russian producer /
CERA: oil supply still plentiful

Transport – Aug 9

School district 2/3 the size of Rhode Island deals with soaring gas prices / Airlines may be nearing ceiling on fares / Give up cheap flights, holidaymakers told / Oil prices could short-circuit recovery of commercial aircraft industry / Defense Dept. and industry seek alternatives for air fuel

Prudhoe Bay – Aug 9

Oil prices fall as Alaskan oil replaced /
Prudhoe Bay raises questions about aging oil fields / For BP, a pair of repairs / With Alaskan oil crimped, Californians look for options /
Alaskans speak up /
Leak is latest of Alaska’s pipeline woes /
Prudhoe oil may still flow / That’s some smart pig in the pipeline / NY Times: Lessons From Prudhoe Bay

Economics – Aug 9

Impact of oil on economy limited so far: Bodman /
The Threat From Oil /
‘Dead Zone’ Threat to US Suburban Dream /
US: Housing glut worst in 40 years /
The odds of economic meltdown

Other energy – Aug 9

How power-hungry cities drive projects like NYRI (electric grid) /
A power grid for the hydrogen economy / Energy experts working on oil-shale projects / Russian researchers say “hydrocarbons may take only decades to be formed”

Sun and sea – Aug 8

Energy from the restless sea / How Australia got hot for solar power / India is rapidly developing solar energy

Prudhoe Bay – Aug 8

Alaska joins axis of evil (unreliable oil suppliers) /
Restart of Prudhoe Bay oil field may take months /
Variety of crudes seen filling gap left by Prudhoe Bay outage (problems for West Coast) /
Oil Drum: More thoughts on Prudhoe Bay

The New Frontier

As an unusually long and sweltering heat wave enveloped the traditionally mild San Francisco Bay Area, power outages knocked out air conditioning, and gas prices under $3.00 a gallon seemed like leisure suits or vinyl LPs, relics of a long forgotten era, those who have been warning of the consequences of global warming and the eventual decline of a fossil fuel-based life felt an awkward sense of vindication.