[Graeme]

Dead industries walking

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')t has not been a good year so far for King Coal, Big Oil, and whatever nickname we give to the nuclear energy industry.

Two weeks ago, TIME reported that nuclear plants in the southeastern U.S. may be forced to cut power production or temporarily shut down later this year because the year-long drought has left too little water to cool the reactors.

There already has been one drought-related shutdown in Alabama. And while officials aren't yet predicting brownouts, utilities will be forced to buy expensive replacement power from other places, leading to "shockingly high electric bills for millions of southerners."

What does all this bad news mean? For those who have the courage to look, the end of the era of finite fuels is in sight. The end always was inevitable, of course. That's what finite is all about. But I believe that oil, coal, natural gas, and nuclear energy -- let's call them the Finite Four -- are entering their end game.

Like prisoners on the way to the gallows, they're bargaining desperately for a reprieve. Van der Veer recommends more effort to harvest unconventional oil from tar sands and more environmentally sensitive and harder-to-reach places. But tar sands, oil shale, liquid fuels from coal, and other unconventional fossil fuels promise nothing but more problems. They are filthy. They accelerate global warming. They use a lot of energy and water.

The Finite Four have entered Stage 3. Perhaps when they progress to State 5 -- acceptance -- they will grasp the new reality the world faces today: If they want life, they must end their own addiction to finite resources and join in a transition to sustainable, renewable energy.

[EnergyUnlimited]

Graeme,
You are turning to be a doomer .
First you have noticed farming difficulties, now you are referring to troubles of power plants.

[Tanada]

That is just dumb faith in the accuracy of a TIME reporter, a spotty thing at best to base one's opinion on!

[wisconsin_cur]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'L')AKE NORMAN, N.C. - Nuclear reactors across the Southeast could be forced to throttle back or temporarily shut down later this year because drought is drying up the rivers and lakes that supply power plants with the awesome amounts of cooling water they need to operate.

Utility officials say such shutdowns probably wouldn’t result in blackouts. But they could lead to shockingly higher electric bills for millions of Southerners, because the region’s utilities could be forced to buy expensive replacement power from other energy companies.

[Tanada]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('wisconsin_cur', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'L')AKE NORMAN, N.C. - Nuclear reactors across the Southeast could be forced to throttle back or temporarily shut down later this year because drought is drying up the rivers and lakes that supply power plants with the awesome amounts of cooling water they need to operate.

Utility officials say such shutdowns probably wouldn’t result in blackouts. But they could lead to shockingly higher electric bills for millions of Southerners, because the region’s utilities could be forced to buy expensive replacement power from other energy companies.

[wisconsin_cur]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')ere any plants actually shut down for an extended period of time?

[lawnchair]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tanada', '
')Were any plants actually shut down for an extended period of time? Why were Nuclear plants effected but not coal plants?

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('wisconsin_cur', '[')b]
So when can you get to work retrofitting those power plants in the South East? When will it be done and how much will it cost?

[Starvid]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('wisconsin_cur', '[')b]
So when can you get to work retrofitting those power plants in the South East? When will it be done and how much will it cost?

[efarmer]

There is the clean and sustainable world of renewable energy that
so many of us long for into the future, there are petroleum supply
issues right now, and then there is making a buck or getting a
desired result by selling fear. This site is focused like a laser on
peak petroleum and as we all know, the actual time line is getting
clearer, but is in fact still a fuzzy image. I think that with knowledge
there comes a bit of responsibility to use it wisely, to shrink a
decades or perhaps century long fossil fuels trend lines into a
"maybe right now" article is simply an invitation to reject it out of
hand as rubbish for many people, (which is in fact incorrect) ,
and at the same time is a trade of fear, and premature panic for
the price of a magazine. I think that is a bad deal. Compressing
the time line and amplifying the effects are both prime factors for
peak resources issue proponents being ridiculed, ignored, and
often obtaining self inflicted marginalization. Part of the truth is
telling what you are convinced of and what is in fact uncertain to
you and that you have rationalized to form a coherent position.
Be afraid, be very afraid, always leaves me asking, "why, what
possible good is it going to do for anyone?"

[Graeme]

Big oil stokes the fires for the planet to burn

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')here is a parallel universe in operation out there. Politicians try to negotiate a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, while business executives lay plans to expand their carbon footprint.

Russia, Venezuela and other developing countries are pushing the big multinationals about and seizing their assets. At present, Van der Veer and Hayward are more worried about that than pleasing public opinion in the west.

But in the longer term they are digging their companies' graves. When proper carbon pricing does eventually kick in, these businesses will find themselves with heavy liabilities round their necks. Like the tobacco companies, oil executives could one day find themselves in court. But for now, they seem willing to stoke the fires for the planet to burn.