Bush Orders Federal Agencies to Slash Energy Consumption

President George W. Bush Wednesday issued an executive order requiring federal agencies to cut their energy consumption, shift federal fleets to alternative fuel and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and expand procurement programs for environmentally friendly products.

The Long Road to Energy Independence

Last year, the United States imported 60 percent of the oil it consumed. If, as Mr. Bush proposes, we cut gasoline consumption 20 percent by 2017 — about 2.1 million barrels a day — then the share of oil imported will fall only by 4 or 5 percentage points.

China vs Japan: FTAs, Oil and Taiwan

The growing competition for oil particularly in East Asia between China and Japan is dragging Taiwan leading to saber-rattling by both countries. The role of Taiwan in this equation adds heat into this growing rivalry that also has military implications.

Facts and impact of oil on Sudanese domestic and International relations

Since its independence of Britain and separation from Egypt in 1956, Sudan has enjoyed only 11 years of relative stability and peace. The oil discoveries in Sudan, in the late 1970’s have additionally aggravated the political and economic situation in Sudan. The oil discoveries played a pivotal role in igniting the second civil war in 1983 and complicated the possibilities for peace between the south and north as it became the central objective for the fighting parties.

With Apologies, Nuclear Power Gets a Second Look

At a time when industrialized countries are wrestling with how to curb carbon dioxide emissions, nuclear energy has one indisputable advantage: unlike coal, oil, natural gas, or even biological fuels, it emits no carbon dioxide. That virtue, in the view of advocates, is enough to offset its well-documented shortcomings.

Blair Backs Nuclear Power

The U.K. needs nuclear power to meet its twin challenges of securing energy supplies and reducing emissions of gases that cause global warming, Prime Minister Tony Blair said.

Ukraine plans to raise uranium output to lower energy cost

Ukraine plans to increase its annual uranium production to 1,400 tons within a period of three years, up 75 percent from the current 800 tons, Energy Minister Yuriy Boiko announced on Friday.

The increase is part of a 10-year plan to lower the cost of nuclear power generation, the minister said.

The search for our oil and gas

The biggest offshore oil and gas drilling effort New Zealand has seen is about to begin.

UN's vast report will end the scientific argument. Now will the world act?

Three year study by panel of experts published this week will kick off tortuous negotiations on new emissions treaty to replace Kyoto agreement in 2012.

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett: Energy resources and our future

Introducing the “Cash-Back Plug-In” Concept

Even more compelling is what he calls PHEVs: “The Cash-Back Plug-In Car.” He shows annual fuel costs: $1,200 for a conventional car, $720 for a hybrid, $495 for a PHEV. Next come the important new numbers. After paying for fuel, CAR OWNERS GET $425 NET ANNUAL PAYMENTS for a Cash-Back Plug-In Car that provides “spinning reserves” to utilities (relieving them of having to maintain plants ready to kick in for unexpected demand). And CAR OWNERS NET $2,790 by providing both spinning reserves and “regulation services” (helping utilities maintain the system voltage within narrow ranges. (Not calculated are revenues for providing peak power!)

The heat beneath

Wrestling with how to best heat and cool an expansion to the company's 4,500-square feet of office space, Mark Bancroft, company president, eventually settled on digging a 10-foot hole in the ground.

China admits to climate failings

With a fifth of the world's population, China consumes only 4% of the world's daily oil output, importing about three million barrels a day. But its unrelenting economic growth will continue to fuel a voracious appetite for energy. Current plans call for the opening of a new power station every week, most of them coal-fired.

Unlearning Helplessness

We can empower ourselves to be less helpless. Get rid of debts that make you paranoid about job loss, illness or injury. Learn to live on a smaller salary (the average low six-figure income earner would be in financial crisis within a month if that income suddenly ceased). Become less dependent on the electrical grid and on heavily-subsidized oil and food prices. Take charge of your own health so you're not dependent on your doctor for every little thing that happens (and so that fewer little things do happen). Build up your critical technical and social and thinking skills (see the mindmap above), and build reciprocal relationships with handy friends and neighbours, so you don't have to run to the yellow pages or the store every time something breaks down, wears out or falls apart. Buy fewer and more durable things, so they don't break down as often. Learn to 'make your own'. Have fewer possessions that need huge amounts of space and maintenance. In general, make yourself more self-sufficient and resilient and less dependent on others and on infrastructure that can break or break down.

Expensive, wasteful ethanol can't solve our problems

According to the president, ethanol is the magical elixir that will solve virtually every economic, environmental and foreign policy problem on the horizon. In reality, it's enormously expensive and wasteful.

Kudos for Seeing the Problem. Now Do Something.

Ethanol euphoria is out of place

It is clear that if we do not pay for ethanol at the pump, we will pay for it at the supermarket. Farmers I have spoken to are enjoying the high prices but are worried about the long-term impact on agriculture. Particularly, farmers wonder what will happen if cellulose can be converted into fuel. They fear soil depletion when they do not have corn stalks and other waste to plow back into the fields.

The greatest challenge

Although global warming and sustainability have become increasingly common in sermons, not many have included peak oil.

Local lawmaker between coal and a hard place in power plant battle

Protests are planned, lawsuits are pending and the debate continues to rage over one of the hottest issues currently facing Texas: the state’s increasing appetite for electricity and a proliferation of coal-fired power plants proposed to meet that demand.

My Turn: Bush's reign of terror

When Vice President Dick Cheney convened a secret meeting of energy industry executives and government officials in early 2001, it's quite likely that the problem of peak oil was at the top of the agenda. To deal with the problem he apparently only seriously considered one alternative strategy -- taking control of the Middle Eastern supply of oil. His challenge lay in finding a politically correct way to present the idea to the American people and our allies. The 9/11 attacks provided the perfect solution. By placing all of the blame for 9/11 on Muslim fanatics and trading heavily on Americans' fear of terrorism, Team Bush paved the way for a global war with Islam -- a war against Islamofascists. The real target was not Muslims, but rather their oil.

Korean Air overbidding for S-Oil stake

Korean Air and its affiliate Hanjin Shipping Co. have jointly sought a stake in the nation's third largest refinery amid rising oil prices.

Energy crisis as power cuts loom

SCOTLAND is on the brink of a power crisis after an accident at one of the country's biggest electricity plants massively reduced supplies to the national grid.

Emergency legislation will be rushed through the Scottish Parliament early this week to allow Longannet power station, Fife, to burn gas as well as coal in a bid to stave off potential blackouts.

Why life after oil will be better

EXPERTS are predicting that in as little as 12 months' time our global supplies of oil will start to diminish. Demand will exceed supply, prices will rise, and suddenly all of the things we take for granted like commuting from Swansea to Cardiff, buying roses in February and holidaying abroad will be out of the question.

Having achieved a global economy which is dependent on mass production and the mobility of its work force, the change could render us back to a relative dark age where people live and work in small, self-sufficient communities.

A doomsday scenario? Not according to Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association, which opened its annual conference in Cardiff yesterday.

Iraqis: Oil law won't favor Americans

Iraqi officials say a hotly debated proposed oil law will not favor Americans but acknowledge that foreign companies will be allowed to take their profits out of the country — an incentive to draw foreign investment.

Bolivia state oil company leader resigns

At a news conference late Friday, Ortiz said he had sent his letter of resignation to Morales, a leftist who has pledged to increase the state's role in the economy.

Blair highlights chasm between global intent and action

Prime Minister Tony Blair warned of "a yawning gap" between an understanding of global challenges like climate change and the capacity to deal with them.

Bush's Climate Remarks Weighed for Policy Shift

It was just a couple of dozen words out of more than 5,000, uttered so fast that many in the audience missed them at first. But President Bush's commitment to fight global warming in his State of the Union address this week has echoed around the world and provoked debate about whether he is shifting his view of climate change.

Solar home in Va. getting high marks

State Sen. Frank Wagner is staying warm at his temporary address, even in below-freezing weather and without a traditional power supply or fireplace.

The Virginia Beach Republican, a proponent of alternative energy sources, is living for a week outside the Science Museum of Virginia in a solar-powered house designed and built by Virginia Tech students. He moved in Wednesday.