Obama tackles the liquid fuels problem

Today I’ll try to explain President Obama’s policy for decreasing oil consumption in the United States. Right now the administration has so many balls in the air that it is impossible to make a definite statement about what the effects of their initiatives will be, but a coherent policy is emerging if you gather all the pieces together.

Energy conservation key to R.I.’s economic future

Contrary to what many now believe, Rhode Island’s relative prospects are excellent. This is because the primary challenge to America’s economic recovery is likely to be the cost of energy. As recovery spurs rising energy consumption, prices will increase, perhaps dramatically. Since energy underpins all economic activity, those regions capable of operating in an energy-constrained environment will have relatively bright futures. Rhode Island, which already uses less energy per person than any other state, is particularly well-suited to meet the challenge.

Commentary: The Great Divide on Energy Policy

At the 2009 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston two weeks ago, the top issues revolved around policy questions more than technology, such as drilling the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and climate change legislation. I saw little in the way of progress, however.