Clinton: not briefed on peak oil

“To the best of my knowledge I never had a security briefing which said what some of these very serious but conservative petroleum geologists say, which is that they think that either now or before the decade is out that we’ll reach peak oil production globally … This needs much more serious debate. It’s almost not discussed at all in the mainstream media.” [Clinton also comments on climate change and how to present the issues.]

Daniel Yergin Day, July 13, 2006

The front-month futures contract climbed past $76 a barrel Thursday for the first time ever on the New York Mercantile Exchange, with August crude touching $76.30 and last trading at $76.21, up $1.26.

Russian energy politics – July 12

More Conflict than Camaraderie Between Moscow and Washington /
U.S. Seeks Ways to Route Natural Gas Around Russia /
The New American Cold War /
Guide to Russia’s key energy clients /
Russian oil exchange hold-ups /
Boeing brains show Russia’s way into WTO /
Oil boom: Russian suicide rate falling

Climate – July 12

Runaway tipping points of no return /
Vast chunk of rock threatens to fall from Mt Eiger /
Global Warming on Discovery Channel /
Global Warming May Shrink Vineyards /
Climate report sees a thirsty future for California /
US Supreme Court finally to ponder climate change

Coal – July 12

Coal gasification /
Why coal-rich US is seeing record imports /
UK Energy Trends, Coal /
Shell in Chinese liquefied coal deal

Nuclear – July 11

Splitting the Atom /
G8: Nuclear = prosperity and climate change solution /
Oxford Research: Nuclear no energy security solution /
UK: Go-ahead for £12bn atomic revival /
UK: Sweetening nuclear pill with green power /
Minister: Renewables alone cannot fill energy gap /
Advisers: Neither can nuclear /
Monbiot: Nuclear safer, but still bad /
U.S. to Negotiate Russian Storage of Atomic Waste /
Nuclear Waste Looms As Challenge in Asia

Biofuels – July 11

US DOE Releases Roadmap for Cellulosic Ethanol /
Biofuels, Petro-fuels = Liquid Fuels (Part One) /
Patzek: The Real Biofuel Cycles /
Ethanol won’t solve energy problems /
USDA Questions Sugar-To-Ethanol Profits

Peak Oil – July 11

Real Oil Crisis (online video) /
Bakhtiari: oil industry hits peak production /
‘Mission Accomplished’ – High oil prices are here to stay /
Trouble South of the border: Mexico’s oil production /
Opec: ‘We do not subscribe to the peak-oil theory’

When fuel is the price of champagne

Good old kerosene and its derivatives remain as the world’s aviation fuel, not just of choice, but of necessity, for the indefinite future. So Peak Oil or no, if mankind is going to fly, it appears that the world is locked into fossil-fuel based technology for the long term.

Energy policy – July 10

Revealed: G8 plan for global nuclear expansion /
Nuclear to power ahead of renewables in UK plan / Germany’s new power (renewables) / A dated carbon approach / EU may introduce carbon tax on airplanes / So we drive on