Peak oil letter from UK energy minister
UK Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks responded to a letter about peak from PowerSwitch. He dismissed peak before 2030, provided the necessary investments are made.
Energy Policy
Politics & economics – May 8
How Morales took on the oil giants – and won his people back / Africa: the new frontier for imperial oil / As profits surge, oil giants find hurdles abroad / Cheap oil, cheap labor and costly habits / Let’s not play the oil game
The next casualty of the oil depletion age: state universities
Most colleges and universities are treating the situation as a short-term problem, one that should go away within a year or two as energy prices decline to more “normal” levels. Few are anticipating is a permanent or long-term change in the level of oil and natural gas prices.
Science Magazine special on the energy crisis – 1974
More than 30 years ago the prestigious science journal Science published a special edition with 27 articles devoted to the energy crisis. One is struck by the high quality of the analysis, and how the same themes have re-emerged today. Articles are online in PDF.
Politics & economics – May 6
Step forward for Iranian Bourse; analysts skeptical /
Chávez plays oil card in Nicaragua /
Why a gas tax is good for you (energy economist Verleger) /
The fix for high gas prices that Congress won’t touch /
Why you should worry about Big Oil
The day of the Oslo Warning
On 22 June, at 8am, all operators in the oil sector in Norway received the same message from the authorities: “Starting today, Norway will no longer authorise oil exports from its territory.” [Chilling “what-if” scenario.]
MIT steps into the ring
This report describes a response by MIT to the need for new global supplies of affordable,
sustainable energy to power the world. The need for workable energy options is perhaps
the greatest single challenge facing our nation and the world in the 21st century. The
acuteness of the challenge at this point in time results from the “perfect storm” of supply
and demand, security, and environmental concerns. (revised)
The peak oil crisis: a frenzy in Washington
Last week the peak oil phenomenon reached a turning point when official Washington began to realize it has a problem. The problem, however, is currently being framed as high-gas-prices-going-into-the-next-election rather than worldwide oil depletion.
Other energy – May 5
MIT issues call to arms on energy /
Message for the people of the year 12006: Don’t dig here (nuclear waste) /
Shell backs away from oil reserves target / Japan joins the race for uranium amid global expansion of nuclear power
The energy wars
The rise of a new global energy elite means high oil and gas prices are here to stay. … “Welcome to the age of energy insecurity,” says J. Robinson West, a former Reagan administration official… “Worldwide production will peak. The result will be skyrocketing prices, with a huge, sustained economic shock.” (excerpts from this excellent article)
Peak Oil – May 4 (late-breaking)
Outside Magazine does Peak Oil (good article) /
Bartlett on CSPAN last night /
Hirsch et al publish summary of latest study
Readers respond to Planning for Peak Oil series
My recent three-part series of articles on the subject of Planning, Policy, Strategy, and Energy brought out the best in some of you, dear readers. Your many e-mails on the topic are thoughtful and offer great insight.
