Peak oil review – July 28
An executive summary of weekly news from a US peak oil perspective, featuring:
– Production and Prices
– India’s Economy
– China after the Olympics
– TNK-BP
– Energy Briefs
Consumption & Demand
Lifting Drilling Moratoriums–One Important Step to Control Oil Imports
Congressional leaders use the sound bite, “We can’t drill our way out of this oil mess.” Of course; who ever claimed we could? But we can’t conserve our way out either. Reducing demand is a long-term process; “evolution” may be a more accurate term. Tightening CAFE standards will ease demand, but the benefit would be spread over many years. For long-term reduction, we would have to overhaul our daily travel patterns through societal lifestyle changes while we restructure our cities and suburbs. Such fundamental changes will take a human generation or longer. It took decades for the car culture to evolve in the U.S. It will take that long to reverse it.
Review: Plan C by Pat Murphy and Small is Possible by Lyle Estill
Pat Murphy’s Plan C is a rich treasury of practical suggestions for reducing fossil fuel consumption and fostering community cooperation—while Lyle Estill’s Small is Possible is an engrossing portrait of a small Southern town that is already taking these steps
10 Steps in 10 Years to 100 Percent Renewable Power
On July 17th, 2008, Vice President Al Gore challenged the nation to produce 100% of its electricity from renewable sources within 10 years. Post Carbon Institute has responded to Gore’s challenge by putting forward a new plan: “10 Steps in 10 Years for 100 Percent Renewable Power.” The plan shows how we can make Gore’s vision a reality, with a keen understanding of the roles that energy depletion, the vulnerabilities of the supply chain, and the limits of technology all play.
ODAC Newsletter – July 25
A digest of news and commentary from a UK peak oil perspective.
Globalization – July 23
Indian firms hit as China plants shut
Shipping: The greening of the ocean waves
Will soaring transport costs reverse globalization?
United Kingdom – July 23
BAA invented ‘green’ jumbo to help win Heathrow case
Green Streets project reduces carbon footprint and energy bills
A recession will give ecological development a new life
Coal – July 22
Coal carves a place in the future of global energy
Coal’s fundamentals ‘may be stronger than oil’s’
How coal shortages in China will spark more foreign takeovers of U.S. assets
Trash – July 21
Dumpster diving with the freegans: Why pay for food?
City to get 50 MW power from garbage
Rubbish idea that could make driving cheaper
Prices & supplies – July 21
There may be oil offshore, but…
Off-Shore drilling pluses and minuses (podcast)- interview with Robert Kaufman
Offshore drilling safer, but small spills routine
The peak oil crisis: The blackouts spread
Of the 266 distinct nations or entities on the world today, nearly 100 are now reporting continuing energy shortages, mostly in the form of inadequate electricity supply, but in a growing number of cases, shortages of liquid fuels and natural gas.
Get ready for the last oil war
Despite the clear evidence of rising depletion limits on Iranian oil production, Western media continues presenting Iran as having the third or fourth-largest oil reserves in the world. This implies oil export ‘underperformance’, repeating media claim’s of Iraqi oil reserves versus its pumping ‘performance’ in the run-up to invasion in 2003.
As tensions escalate between Iran and the West, Andrew McKillop presents a view on the prospects for conflict.
