Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
In a recent commentary, Prof. Dowlatabati stated that peaking of conventional oil production (Peak Oil) will simply mark another energy crossroads characterized by a seamless transition to non-conventional oil sources. This prediction can be readily refuted by simple “back-of-the-envelope” analyses, and the future reality will be much different.
The entire policy of promoting individualised transport rests on a dubious premise – permanently cheap oil. Can coal liquification come to the rescue?
Silicon supply could limit solar energy boom /
The nuclear wisdom of young Blair /
China bets big on coal-to-oil projects /
Oil shortages hit Iraq with onset of summer heat
David Holmgren on permaculture and oil peak / Julian Darley at the NYC conference / ISN Security Watch: The end of the ‘age of oil’ / PO will not help us in the climate change fight / Peak oil is ‘an opportunity’ / News from here, there…
Quest for energy alternatives heats up / Fill ‘er up with corn and politics / Solving our carbon addiction without choking growth
Use of corn for fuel may push up prices of food /
Author Jeff Goodell on Big Coal /
Coal may be fuel of the future, but industry battles over path / Seven nation group to pursue fusion energy research /
Shale oil and co-products
Military focuses on energy / BBC survey: your electricity choices revealed /
Drilling in troubled waters (hurricanes) / Enough coal on hand to keep US cool? / A new reliance on coal could sap green cred from the ethanol industry
With high gas prices and the coming of Peak Oil, coal is making a big comeback these days. The industry says that it’s not a question of whether we’ll use coal – we’ll need the energy – but how we’ll use coal. Environmentalists disagree. They say that coal is the dirtiest energy source, emitting far more greenhouse gases than natural gas or even oil.
Hamilton, Ontario: the electric city (local planning for peak oil) / Colin Campbell’s latest /
King Coal again raises his sooty scepter /
Peak oil taxonomy: the doombat
I would encourage the New York Times to adopt an editorial policy of stating directly that our burning of fossil fuels is linked to climate change. A critical related matter is the impact of peak oil on the mix of fossil fuels being burned.
Wind power / The oil sands sweepstakes / An ethanol reality check / Columbia U. report: US has low-cost alternatives to oil / Dead cows move trains (India & renewables)
The Future for Petroleum – a prescient view from 1964 / The Oil Drum: Who has to conserve how much? / King Coal (and Mark Jaccard) / Atlanta after the end of oil / I’ve got a little list… of gas-price villains / Summary of Petro Collapse II conference
