Saildog

Energy: Government Vs. Market Solutions

I agree governments make useless decisions. However in Europe where "gas" is $10 a gallon they use half or less the fuel used in the US. As a result Europe drives cards that get double the mileage of US cars, they have a better train system (in France a brilliant train system) and they are much less exposed to Peak Oil.

In contrast "the market" in the US has led to the strip mall/exurban model lifestyle that is even now proving the first casualty of Peak Oil.

Oil-Rich Canada Inspires Investor Confidence

Tar sands (it's tar, not oil) use copius quantities of natural gas to "make" the oil in a process that has been described as turning gold (natural gas) into lead (syncrude). natural gas is in declien across North America and it is unlikely that it will continue to be burnt to make oil. That is why operators are talking about nukes to generate the heat needed to crack the tar into shorter chain compounds (oil).

The other unanswered question is environmental. Collosal contamination seems certain. Is there enough water? What about air pollution and the CO2 footprint?

I think the tar sands are a giant red herring built on the back of incorrectly priced natural gas. I wouldn't go near them.