Discussions
Energy Policy Is Critical
Posted by techfun • 2/06/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: elections, energy policy, peak oil, us candidates
For the world as a whole, and the USA in particular, the energy policies of the next US President will play a huge role in shaping the future. For the first time, the CEO of a major energy company has acknowledged the realities of the limit role conventional petroleum will play in the world's future.
Shell CEO Jeroen van der Veer, in the new planning scenario for Shell says "After 2015, easily accessible supplies of oil and gas probably will no longer keep up with demand." That is much sooner than the projected 2025-2040 scenarios that the US Congress has discussed.
In today's Ideas Matter I provide quotes on energy policy from one of the major candidates at blog.techfun.org/energy-ideas-matter - I am curious to know how much thought people have put into this keystone issue that affects climate policy, environmental issues, job creation, food prices, and the economy well beyond the energy sector.
For the full statement from Shell's CEO please visit www.shell.com/home/content/aboutshell-en/our_strategy/shell_global_scenario... on the Shell website.
User Comments
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I'd have to say that this issue is in my top 3 concerns when I go to the polls. I want to know that the candidate I choose is not just saying what I want to hear but has the resolve to make good on their promises.
Personally, I really like Obama's stand on the energy issue and I find him the most believable:
obama.senate.gov/issues/energy/-
That Obama link is a good read. Energy policy has always had an impact that goes well beyond the energy sector, but now more than ever, the ramifications of change occurring too slowly puts so much at risk,
I am thinking about working on an omnibus post on energy policy positions for all the remaining candidates. -
that would be a really valuable post, techfun. -
I'll try putting together a matrix tonight or tomorrow since I only do the ideas Matter posts on M-W-F.
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I started researching that post and found lots of people have already done it so I put together a post of links as well as a few comments on the disappointing positions held by the 18th century candidate, Ron Paul.
It's at blog.techfun.org/candidate-energy-policies
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Agreed offended,
Its all a GAS anyway, right?-
I'm actually hoping we all are forced to become more Amish. I could really get into the whole horse and buggy lifestyle.
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i've always wanted a horse.
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You have me
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We have been talking about installing one of these for a few months now:
www.skystreamenergy.com/skystream/
We live in an area where the wind levels would make the investment well worth it.-
That's awesome!
We've ditched heating with oil and have installed a heating pump + use more wood for heating. -
Very cool! Does your local utility company do buy-backs and pay you for any excess energy you produce? My dairy farming grandpappy had windmill driven water pumps to water the cows and I thought they were awesome. I've always loved the idea of Windmills and I really am at a loss when I hear people call them eyesores.
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Yes, our utility will reward us for using the windpower, but even if they didn't we will still do it. I'm hoping it inspires our neighbors to do the same, because living where we do there really is no valid reason not to do this.
We are in one of the windiest areas of Idaho. We average 15mph wind speeds here, so why not make the most of it! -
Thats great. I'm hoping the tidal generators they are testing at the bottom of the Hudson river pan out. There is a lot of fast moving water out your way that could be harnessed to produce clean power invisibly.
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Yes! There are so many ways we could all help, too. We've talked about trying to get the neighbors in on a windmill co-op since we are already on a community well. If we all pitched in, we could add enough of these windmills to provide more than enough energy and even sell the extra power we generate to our utility co.
Until we all get on board, we won't really see progress. Expecting our president and congress to do it all is very ignorant, and so is leaving it up to big oil companies to "do the right thing".
Gosh I sound like a real environmentalist now, shhh don't tell anyone! Ha!
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/me pastes your comment to the Idaho Militias-R-Us site.
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Nooooo! You just sealed my fate, now I'll never get to go green haha!!
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Uh oh, we don't want no stinkin' eco-terrorists 'round these parts, you hear? Little lady, yous best be getting' back on oil, and start throwin' those Styrofoam packages in the water an'....
Oh never mind, I just can't do it. LOL. -
Scary! You sound just like the guy who runs our local militia!
He dresses like a ninja too, when he is drunk enough haha. -
I've been practicing *ahem*cough*choke*.
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I wrote something about this a while ago, although it is seriously dooms-day stuff. Energy dependence, consequences etc...play a huge part in global politics and economy, and certainly need to be addressed, and changed ASAP in my opinion.
Here is a link to my article, if you're interested:
identitycheck-anok.blogspot.com/2007/11/pardon-me-but-i-think-were-going-to...-
I remember when CNN aired that show. Did you get the issue of National Geographic that featured that topic? If you haven't seen it, you can see Crude Awakening: Peak Oil & The End of Cheap Energy at blog.techfun.org/crude-awakening - its a filmed lecture and talks about that CNN program too. The National Geographic issue has an except at ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0406/feature5/
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I haven't seen it, thanks for the links (I'll look at it after supper though, I'm not at full capacity right now and multitasking aint gonna happen!)
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The video is not centered on the screen but the audio quality is good. So its something you can listen to while doing other things.
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Great video, techfun. Thanks for sharing!
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Glad you liked it offended, there are some GREAT books on the subject but most of them are very math heavy and need a scratch pad to keep track of numbers and percentages. I figured the video would be easier as a primer for people.
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