AutoNation CEO: Gas is too cheap

Mike Jackson, CEO of the nation’s largest auto retailer, tells Fortune’s Carol Loomis that the U.S. needs higher gas taxes, and GM needs to dump its old business model. NEW YORK (Fortune) — For most Americans, Topic A in the auto industry right now is the fate of GM. Mike Jackson, 60, the outspoken CEO […]

Study rules out ancient bursts of seafloor methane emissions

CORVALLIS, Ore. …If only 10 percent of that seafloor methane were to be released in a few years, it could be the equivalent of a 10-fold increase in the level of atmospheric carbon dioxide, the researchers said in their report. And 12,000 years ago, methane levels went up 50 percent in less than 200 years, […]

Near 100 mln bbls oil stored at sea

Oil companies are storing close to 100 million barrels of crude oil at sea, the highest in recent times, Frontline , one of the world’s biggest independent oil tanker owners said on Wednesday. An oil market structure known as contango — when oil for prompt delivery is cheaper than oil for later delivery — has […]

Kjell Aleklett: Energy alarm sounding for the EU

Last Monday (April 13) there were two articles in the Financial Times, either of which would be troubling by itself. However, if one analyses them together there is every reason to sound the alarm. On the first page there was an article on oil, One cannot expect to find large new gas and oil fields […]

How Food Shortages Could Bring Down Civilization

For many years I have studied global agricultural, population, environmental and economic trends and their interactions. The combined effects of those trends and the political tensions they generate point to the breakdown of governments and societies. Yet I, too, have resisted the idea that food shortages could bring down not only individual governments but also […]

Geoengineering could dim lights on solar power

PUMPING aerosol particles into the atmosphere to create a sunshade could take a heavier toll on solar power generation than expected. For every 1 per cent of the sun’s rays deflected into space, the average output of solar systems that rely on direct sunlight would drop by 4 to 5 per cent, says Daniel Murphy […]

Banker sees rocky future for oil (Matt Simmons)

He said prices must rise and stabilize:

Petrobras begins talks on 'strategic oil supply' to Japan: CFO

Tokyo (Platts)–Brazil’s Petrobras has begun talks with state-owned Japan Bank for International Cooperation about “strategic oil supply” to Japan from sources including Brazil’s offshore pre-salt reservoirs, a senior company executive told Platts Thursday. The talks also include discussion of financial support from JBIC for Brazil’s downstream sector throughout the supply chain. “We are discussing different […]

Total e&p and Aspect Energy CEOs to attend NextGen Oil & Gas Summit

Brian Rovelli, President and CEO of Total e&p Research and Technology USA, LLC, and Stephen Lipari, President and CEO AASLAP/EVP Aspect Energy have both confirmed attendance at the Next Generation Oil and Gas Summit in June. The summit, which will begin on June 3rd at The Inverness Hotel in Colorado, has been organised for Oil […]

Further Evidence of the Influence of Energy on the U.S. Economy – Part 2

Last week, Dave Murphy (EROI Guy) explored how increasing energy prices during the run up to 2008’s $147 bbl peak affected purchasing power of consumers and subsequently the solvency of the establishment that relied on that purchasing power. He mentions James Hamilton: Hamilton acknowledges early on in his report that the proportion of income spent […]

Oil Prices Resist the World

In recent months, oil prices plunged as consumers curtailed fuel use around the world, with some analysts predicting that the dire economic situation would cause oil to fall to $20 a barrel or less. But in a twist, oil prices have stabilized at close to $50 a barrel. While prices may have fallen by two-thirds […]

In China, G.M. Remains a Driving Force

SHANGHAI And in discussions about a possible bankruptcy to break G.M. into a

The end is not near

Despite what you This won

Too many

Tim Barnett is no stranger to water woes in the western US, particularly for states that draw on the Colorado River. He Unlike past studies on the river, the two have come up with estimates on the magnitude of shortfalls water managers can expect

A $100-million bet on making fuel from trash

California – As the state moves to reduce the carbon footprint of fuel, an engineer hopes to build a plant in Lancaster that will convert garbage into an alcohol-based mixture. Fuel is a critical front in the battle against global warming. Nearly a quarter of the man-made greenhouse gases that the United States spews into […]

Waste and cost raise doubts about nuclear power

When Barack Obama was campaigning for president, he unveiled an eight-page energy plan with progressive gestures toward renewables and conservation, green jobs and green technologies. Then, on page six, Obama dropped the n-bomb: “Nuclear power represents more than 70 percent of our noncarbon-generated electricity. It is unlikely that we can meet our aggressive climate goals […]

A (Relatively) Steady Breeze Lifts Wind Power Worldwide

From the American heartland to China and Latin America, wind energy is becoming an increasing popular alternative energy source — though questions remain about environmental impacts. But it’s not all peaches and cream for wind power. An editorial in the Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper noted that wind-power generators are useless on days when there is […]

Gut Check: Green jobs

SEATTLE – For Alla Weinstein, the ocean’s not dark blue, it’s green Some people are skeptical that government will be able to lead the drive to create green jobs, even with billions of stimulus dollars at its disposal. Others are afraid there won’t be opportunities to train for the jobs, or that the emerging industry […]

How smart can the grid get?

Utilities and energy companies are flocking to roll out pilot projects for a smarter electric grid, taking advantage of billions of dollars in federal stimulus money. The idea is to deliver energy more efficiently and cut back on fossil-fuel use. Great idea … but just how smart should a power grid get? That’s a question […]

10 technologies on the

Technology helped humans blast off from Earth and circle the moon in the 1968, giving astronauts the chance to make this iconic image of planet Earth. Scientists and environmentalists are now hoping technology will help humans grounded on terra firma find harmony at home. Click the “Next” arrow above to learn about 10 technologies on […]

Obama pushes renewable energy, climate change laws

NEWTON, Iowa (Reuters) – President Barack Obama said on Wednesday the United States must lead the world on renewable energy and pressed Congress to set greenhouse gas limits deemed crucial for the success of global talks on climate change. Obama, who has kept energy reform high on his priority list since taking office in January, […]

Global recession worst since Depression, IMF says

WASHINGTON Even with many countries taking bold steps to turn things around, the global economy will shrink 1.3 percent this year, the IMF predicted in its dour forecast. “We can be fairly confident that in 2010 or even 2011, economies will not be back to normal,” said IMF chief economist Olivier Blanchard. “Which means that […]

Backyard refineries blamed for fires, explosions

EDMONDS, Wash. “You won’t find a rule anywhere that says you can’t cook biodiesel in your garage,” said Bob Benedetti, a flammable-liquids engineer for the National Fire Protection Association in Quincy, Mass. Ferocious fires and explosions blamed on backyard refining operations have been reported in Washington state, Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts and Oregon. No deaths or […]

GM to shut many US plants up to 9 weeks

DETROIT Yahoo

Scottish Power says Britain needs backup for wind

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain, which aims to install about 30 gigawatts of wind turbines by 2020, will need to build almost as much backup power generation for calm weather periods, an executive from Scottish Power said on Wednesday. The government is relying heavily on the growth of wind power to meet tough European Union renewable […]

Montana Biodiesel Company Fails to Pay Farmers

BILLINGS “We plan to work through this in an orderly process that maximizes the value of assets for the benefit of growers. Our first priority is to get producers paid,” Director Ron de Yong of the Montana Department of Agriculture said in a statement Wednesday. A separate process is occurring in North Dakota. The company […]

Students least informed about environmental science are most optimistic

Will problems associated with environmental issues improve in the next two decades? According to an analysis of student performance on PISA 2006–an international assessment of 15-year-olds–students who are the best informed about environmental science and the geosciences are also the most realistic about the environmental challenges facing the world in the next 20 years. Meanwhile, […]

A Platts Data Analysis Shows China's March Oil Demand Almost Flat From Year

HONG KONG, April 22 /PRNewswire/ — Platts — China consumed 31.26 million metric tons of crude oil in March, down a minor 0.25% from the corresponding month of 2008, a Platts analysis of official data showed April 22. However, crude and refined products demand in the world’s second-largest oil consuming nation in the first quarter […]

Earth Day Special: Energy and Food in a World of Limited Natural Resources

The world is running out of oil and the evidence is mounting. The term most commonly used in the discussions surrounding first the ceiling in oil discoveries and now more recently the ceiling of oil production is Peak Oil. Peak Oil since the mid 1950s has been argued as theory but their are more convincing […]

Peak People: The Interrelationship between Population Growth, Energy Resources

Abstract This paper investigates the link between population growth, energy resources and carrying capacity at a global level, to determine if there might be dependencies and if so, how they could be modelled. Different qualities of energy resources may interact differently with population growth. Finally the implications of a peak in energy resource availability on […]

« Previous Page — Next Page »

LATEST NEWS HEADLINES

• Why the IEA is Wrong About Peak Oil Demand
• Did we inadvertently speed global warming?  
• Venezuela’s Oil Monopoly Eases
• Why Germany is Choosing Natural Gas Over Nuclear Power
• U.S. coal-fired electricity generation decreased in 2022 and 2023

• America Cracks Down on Methane Emissions from Oil and Gas Facilities
• Meet America’s Newest Oil Trader Extraordinaire: Joe Biden
• Is It Time To Refill America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve?
• Oil prices set to end year 10% lower as demand concerns snap winning streak
• What’s Driving America’s New Oil and Gas Boom?
• China’s peak oil demand bombshell eviscerates Danielle Smith’s energy strategy