Letters to the editor: “Planning, policy, strategy and energy”

So am I “worshipping big government?” No, I am writing about issues of national survival, and by implication, issues of personal survival. Without an aggressive process of planning, policy, and strategy-making in the field of energy, the United States is in all likelihood destined to decline into what President Reagan once called, in another context, “the dustbin of history.”

Other energy – Apr 28

Gorbachev Urges G8 to Back Solar Power, Not Oil or Nuclear /
Energy and the airline industry /
Fuel Prices Have U.S. Workers Eyeing Telecommuting /
Computer energy use under scrutiny (Wind-up or solar powered PCs?) /

Politics & economics – Apr 28

Soros is right to be scared of Russian monopolies /
Terrorism and the race for resources /
How America’s foes have us “over a barrel” – of oil /
Second Thoughts in Congress on Oil Tax Breaks

Peak oil – Apr 28

SF peak oil resolution – interviews /
Peak oil series by Joe Duarte /
Do Oil Reserves Tell Us Anything? /
Peak oil panic (libertarian view)

The politics of oil: the discourse must change

The leaders of both political parties are not only headed in the wrong direction with respect to gas prices, but also fundamentally misunderstand the factors behind the current situation at gasoline stations around the US. Governments should be focused on helping us cure our “addiction to oil.” The answer does not lie in lowering gas prices, which will only encourage people to drive more and further waste our valuable resources.

Solutions & sustainability – Apr 27

Shanghai – racing to the future, but preserving its culinary heritage /
What is the value of a tree? /
Evangelical Virginia farmer says a revolution against industrial agriculture is coming (Salatin) /
New “100-Mile Diet” website /
Jane Jacobs, urban activist, is dead at 89 /
New Urbanism’s ten solutions

Other energy – Apr 27

Dark days for energy efficiency (cuts in U.S. funding) /
The building of the Alaskan Oil pipeline /
Why nuclear power cannot be a major energy source /
Popular Mechanics crunches the numbers on alternative fuels

Peak oil – Apr 27

Gas prices: we’re to blame /
A socialist response to the massive rise in fuel prices /
Scientific American blog: An overdose of pessimism /
It ain’t just the oil you use, it’s the way that you use it /
WSJ Iran article supports theory of declining net export capability

Politics & economics – Apr 27

Thai govt vows ‘No oil shortage’ /
Kuwait MPs call for cap on oil production /
With oil skyrocketing, Tokyo may have to make friends with some of Washington’s enemies /
Bush’s proposals viewed as a drop in the oil bucket /

Declaration of energy independence

When in the course of modern events it becomes necessary for one people to assume greater control of their energy needs through indigenous sources provided by the Creator, a decent respect for humanity impels them to explain the rationale for their decision.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all sources of energy are not created equal, that some are endowed with indisputable flaws, most especially fossil fuels.

Shortages Ahead?

Driving down the New Jersey Turnpike last Sunday, I encountered an unmistakable sign that gasoline problems are close. Every service plaza we passed from New York to Delaware had 100 or more cars waiting in line for gas.