Editorial

Lost Energy

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At some point — maybe 10 years from now, maybe 20 — the energy bill currently wending its way through the Senate will be seen as an enormously significant lost opportunity…any politicians who care about the future economic, environmental and political stability of this country should right now be seeking to end the de facto subsidies for the oil and gas industries, aggressively promote research into new forms of ethanol and biofuel, limit automobile fuel consumption, and tax or cap the carbon emissions created by the burning of fossil fuels, which most scientists believe to be an important cause of global warming.

End-Time for U.S.A. Upon Oil Collapse – A scenario for a sustainable future

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The U.S. has been based on an orgy of resource appropriation and waste, as in a party with no tomorrow. …The party known as the U.S. is all but over except in the minds of oblivious revelers already being kicked out of the house (of nature and the world community). However, sober heads will start to prevail as the dawn breaks.

Energy Headlines – 26 June, 2005

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Outcome Grim at Oil War Game – Former Officials Fail to Prevent Recession in Mock Energy Crisis / OilCast#12 – NOPEC, no strike and `no peak oil` / US Energy Secretary – ‘the days of easily accessible oil are coming to a close’ / Is it goodbye to cheap oil forever? / Volcanoes, Oil, and Prophets / Goodbye to oil / The Peak Oil Crisis, Part 8: Has It Started? / Exxon says N. America gas production has peaked / $18bn bid by Chinese for Unocal has US worried –
Congressmen tell Bush deal could have disastrous effect on security / The CPI and inflation explained / Shell CEO outlines plan to increase oil production / Solar derby – Schwarzenegger’s solar-roof plan could get sidelined by partisan squabbling / Early hybrid developer passes on; can we afford to let his ideas do the same? / Other Worlds, Real and Imagined – Conversation with Jamais Cascio / Zero Waste, Perpetual Food / The Kaya Identity and the “Conservation Bomb” – Why efficiency and conservation are key / Standby Britain: How it fuels our energy crisis.

China throws down gauntlet to USA Inc

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If you want to understand the global economy and feel the pulse of capitalism in the early 21st century, look no further than the $19 billion bid by the China National Oil Operating Company – Cnooc – for Unocal of California. Add a large measure of geopolitical tension, and you have probably the single most important corporate event of the young millennium.

Energy Headlines – 25 June, 2005

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Oil war game yields grim results /
Oilcast #12: NOPEC, no strike and `no peak oil` /
US energy secretary Bodman: end of easy oil /
Guardian: goodbye to cheap oil /
Volcanoes, oil and prophets /
Exxon says N. America gas production has peaked /
Chinese bid for Unocal has US worried /
California’s big solar-roof plan in danger /
Hybrid developer passes on; do we let his ideas do the same? /
Conversation and articles by James Cascio of WorldChanging /
Zero waste, perpetual food /
Efficiency is world-changing

Energy Headlines – 24 June, 2005

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The Guardian on PO: Reign of oil must end /
Report on 4th ASPO conference /
NZ Maori Party on PO /
Juggling two realities, am I crazy? /
Boone Pickens /
Le Monde on PO /
Shell to increase oil production /
Bush wants more nuclear plants /
European industry hit by high energy prices /
US Senate defeats greenhouse limits /
London’s environmental advisor: We are killing the planet /
Ecosystem evaluation /
Standby Britain: How it fuels our energy crisis /
UK hopes for home power generation /
Saving the planet, you can play along at home

Exponential Enrons Ahead

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There has been a lot of media focus on the $18 billion in tax incentives contained in the Senate energy bill, but almost nothing about PUHCA repeal, even though the latter is by far the greatest prize: according to Lynn Hargis the value of all regulated utilities exceeds one trillion dollars. [PUHCA = Public Utilities Holding Company Act, a cornerstone New Deal financial reform]

Energy Headlines – 23 June, 2005

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Simmons on the coming Saudi oil crisis /
Treehugger interviews Kunstler /
CERA report – credulity and skepticism /
Trinidad and Tobago on PO /
Permaculture and PO /
NZ Greens not letting up on PO /
China near peak /
Boone Pickens is a believer /
PO for beer-drinkers /
Oilcast: refiners vs producers /
The refinery myth /
Dust off the bike – oil spikes again /
Latest on the energy bill /
Morales: oil contracts in Bolivia are illegal /
Nigeria and Morocco: oil and inter-ethnic tension /
Farmers and solar energy /
EU wants 20 pct cut in energy use by 2020 /
Biomass /
Sun’s output may fall short of demand