Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
Soaring oil prices and demands for energy security are boosting the attractiveness of low-quality sources of petroleum, such as tar sands and coal, at the risk of causing significant environmental damage and increasing emissions of greenhouse gases, according to a new study.
Study: oil transition carries environmental risks
Risks of the oil transition
Nature Magazine special: Energy for a cool planet
Australia: King coal under siege
Coal or happiness: you can’t have both
Can we lock greenhouse gases away in rocks?
The Southern Appalachians – victims of coal
Conclusions of the report: “Barring unforeseen circumstances, availability concerns are not a decision driver in the reduction of DoD fossil-fuel use at present. However, the need to improve logistics requirements and military capabilities, and, secondarily, the need to reduce fuel costs, as well as providing a prudent hedge against a foggy future, especially in the Middle East and South America, argue for a reduction in fuel use, in general.”
It is now official. China is embarking on the world’s largest synthetic fuels program. This has immediate implications for energy planners everywhere, for worldwide finance and capital expenditure, for the global coal markets, for the ecological footprint of Chinese development, for emissions of greenhouse gases…
Dr James Hansen NASA’s lead climate scientist spoke recently to a packed lecture theatre at Bristol University. Chris Vernon gives a detailed account of the presentation and asks Hansen about peak oil.
On Tuesday, climate scientist James Hansen said that the world has less than a decade to take decisive action on global warming or risk tipping the planet towards catastrophe. ..The world may have ten years, but Texas only has six months to stop TXU from turning our climate to toast.”
Can Coal Come Clean?
Union calls for clean coal investment
‘Clean coal’ has detractors
Don’t Grandfather Coal Plants
Pasadena seeks deal on coal-energy ban
In Second Coal Rush, New Mind-Set in the Mines
Bush admin appoints Exxon’s Lee Raymond to solve America’s energy crisis /
U.S. drops bid over royalties from Chevron /
$450 million for coal research /
British Columbians in dark about ‘Enronization’ of energy
Research into energy technologies by both government and industry has not been rising, but rather falling.
(Excerpts. Good summary of energy research and challenges.)
Hunger strike in protest of coal-fired plants /
Thanks for the cheap gas, Mr. Hitler! /
More coal equals more CO2 /
US coal plant boom poses ecological, economic questions
A new electronic reference has launched that needs input from the energy community [including input about Peak Oil]. With the recent public release of the Encyclopedia of Earth, scientists from around the world are joining to create a comprehensive, authoritative source of information about the environments of Earth and their interactions with society.
