AlexS

Geologist: In Terms of Supply and Demand, the Oil Peak Is Past

I go with the "Oil is concentrated solar energy" comment. For sure. If we leave out coal and nuclear (both of which have problems) and stick to solar and wind, we are telling people that they can have their cake and eat it too. I used to believe that was possible. The later we start to really address how to treat coal and nuclear, the more the chance that we'll find out too late to prevent wide social disruption. But, if the politicians want to tell us that we can have our cake and eat it too, I can see how people would go for that message.

Events in Russia Could Push U.S. Toward a Clearer Energy Policy

It would be nice to have a "futuristic" article about energy that had some numbers with it. For instance, how much solar energy hits the earth, conversion efficiencies, wind power requirements, land requirements, etc. Otherwise you're just talking pie in the sky.

The Vagaries of Gasoline Prices

Premium is relatively more expensive in Toronto because all those Canadians who've gotten rich off the commodities and currency markets can afford to pay more for premium gas for their high-priced sports cars.

Oil Sands: Will the 'Greens' Cause Us to Miss Out?

Congress has already done this. In the 2007 energy bill as passed there is an item that forbids the military from buying fuel made from crude oil that has a CO2 life cycle footprint greater than that from the production of conventional crudes. Since many northern tier refineries use high-CO2-emission syncrude from Canada, this means the military is out their sources of jet fuel from those refineries. The military is fighting it although unfortunately they haven't used any of their heavy stuff on Congress. No nukes, power plants stopped, no Canadian oil sands - this Congressional leadership is the most pathetic I've ever seen. What will become of our country if we have to stop new energy production, except burning our own food, of course?

Bush's New Drilling Proposal: Fixing a Hole

If we should have a high energy tax we should use that to cut the other taxes, lest the citizenry go under from high taxes, externalized or not. Then we should cut taxes some more, as the polls show that people have little respect either for the current President or the current Congress. Why should they get more money?

Even Democrats Should Support Offshore Drilling

Hoping? Why would you hope that someone goes against everything he's said publically, everything he's voted for? Because that's a rational thing to do and you're convinced that Obama has brains and judgement? Why? On what basis? Certainly not from his position on energy. Not from his voting record. Mr. Kingsdale, it sounds to me like you read too many newspapers. I wonder if we could try on the "it won't matter immediately anyway" arguement to other areas. Here's a thought. We don't need to be concerned about elementary education. I mean, it's not going to matter for another 10-20 years anyway. Just like drilling for oil. Why bother? So what would we do if a party would make that assertion, that elementary education doesn't matter? Would we take that seriously?

Bye, Bye Oil Bubble?

As you say, the bubble will be here until governments, including the U.S. government, starts acting in the right direction. Based on the make-up of Congress and the expected Presidential winner, I would put that at about 2012 or later.

An Oil-Driven Paradigm Shift?

No single oil well or drilled area is enough to solve our problems. Never has been and never will be. And groups that use nonsensical reasoning (ANWR will only supply 30 seconds usage assuming 44 earth-like planets in the universe etc.) are only doing a disservice to the discussion. If ANWR is part of the solution, the market (including $100 oil) will determine whether it is worth it to drill there. It's nice that some people have enough to leisurely retire on their mountain top, most often on someone else's money. But some people actually have to travel to work and have to support their families.

An Oil-Driven Paradigm Shift?

Maybe so. I talked to somebody here in truck country. They had been shopping for a car and noticed the huge numbers of used trucks on the lot. Some of the dealers have stopped taking them as trade-ins. One thing I don't necessarily agree with above is the idea that we will drill in the controversial areas. Consider that we still have no nuclear waste depository in Nevada and both candidates for President are against ANWR drilling and are for CO2 reductions via higher costs on everybody. This CO2 reduction thing could be a real problem in that oil shale, oil sands, etc. take more energy to produce and therefore more CO2 emissions. Never underestimate the politicians' ability to ignore the interests of the country in favor of their particular groups. Isn't that the lesson of all the misgoverned countries of the world? It will get worse before it gets better.

Exxon's Hoard

One difference is that for the state owned companies, their oil will always be their oil. For independents like Exxon Mobil, they need to get the oil out or they will lose their lease and someone else will. In that sense the states and the independents are opposites. The problem the independents are having is access, exemplified by the Saudis' decision to keep their oil in the ground. As for the carbon tax, it's not clear to me how a tax somehow provides all of us with an upside. It looks to me that it provides all of us with a tax. It will be an upside to the politicians and the ones on whom they bestow their political favors.

When Will Oil Stop Its Rapid Ascent?

I agree with Brian. The last time oil prices had a sustained downward push was when Reagan decontrolled prices, letting supply loose. Congress doesn't have price controls on crude, but their holding up on exploration in the U.S. has the same effect. As long as the Dems are in charge, the price will remain high and will probably go up. If Obama gets it, look for a sustained rise from here, unless of course he plunges the world into another depression, which is very possible.

An Energy Policy that Makes Cents (and Sense)

I think the simplest solution is a radical carbon tax, to replace a lot of the taxes we already pay. The market will take care of the rest. I don't really agree with some of the specific suggestions (i.e. a tax on a big vehicle), etc. I'd prefer not to micromanage. But politicians love to micromanage, as it permits them to reward their supporters (or potential supporters) at the expense of others. For this reason we'll never get the tax system we need. I agree with peak oil. I don't think we'll really solve it because the solutions are so different from how the politicians/bureaucrat... want to work. We're headed for a crisis, I think.

Emerging Markets' Oil Appetite to Exceed U.S. This Year

Jimmy, I don't mind the Republican Revolution. My big worry is that Obama wins the Presidency and gets to spend the next four years playing with his new power and our resulting crashing economy.

Emerging Markets' Oil Appetite to Exceed U.S. This Year

Our government did that once, back in the 1970s energy crisis. The result was long lines and "station closed" signs. Energy exploration dried up. Some people, many of whom were probably not born back then, would like to try that model again. They can be found in the Obama crowds shouting "hope" and "believe". Unfortunately, they appear not to have been exposed to concepts like "economics".