Nuclear doubts spread in wake of Niigata

Global competition for energy resources and tougher controls on greenhouse gas emissions have made Japan reliant on nuclear power. While the government and regional power utilities are quick to associate the word "safety" with atomic energy, several fatalities, accidents, coverups and earthquake threats have damaged the industry's image.

This is the first in a series asking whether, in the wake of July's massive quake just 9 km from the world's largest nuclear plant, it still makes sense for such a seismically active country to rely so much on the power of the atom.

Barrasso visits UW

University of Wyoming students in the College of Engineering covered the concepts of peak oil and renewable energy with Wyoming’s junior senator in a classroom discussion Friday.

Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., sat in on a classroom discussion with engineering and multidisciplinary design students. The discussion was based on topics from the book “Beyond Oil,” by Kenneth Deffeyes.

The Tao of Transit

Confession: After sixteen years and many efforts, I’ve yet to really connect with mass transit in this town. That’s odd, considering that I grew up on mass transit in New York City’s melting pot and generally like the communal experience — a daily, egalitarian reminder that we are indeed all in this together. But taking mass transit around Baltimore? It reminds me why I hate to exercise: Feels good, but I can’t stick with it. Every once in a while, something — guilt, perhaps, or moths in my wallet — drives me toward the fare box. Then the reality sets in. Half-mile walk to the Metro? Too far. Light Rail to Camden Yards? A dog sled would be quicker down Howard Street.

Electoral Politics Cancel Out Brave Calls to Raise Gas Tax

Here's hoping that members of Congress got some rest on their summer vacation, that they will return to Washington refreshed and wiser and ready to come up with a national energy policy that makes sense.

But here's betting that those hopes are in vain.

Gas Guzzler

The project will be the first ever LNG receiving and regasification terminal on the West Coast of North America. That it is in Mexico, not the U.S., comes by dint of California's rejection of all LNG proposals on environmental and security grounds. But northern Mexico, desperate for reliable gas supplies to fuel its thriving manufacturing sector, couldn't afford to be so absolutist.

Pakistan: Pumps to close CNG dispensers from today

Owners of private petrol filling stations will continue their strike on Saturday against a cut of 39 paisas in their commission on the sale of a litre gasoline (petrol).

Fuel shortage will get more severe in the country as the petroleum dealers, who are also running Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) filling-stations, have decided to discontinue the sale of CNG from Saturday.

Fortune at stake as Indian government weighs gas prices

Global oil majors such as Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron Corp are ready to pour billions of dollars into India's energy sector - but only if the government stops meddling and allows private firms to sell gas at market prices.

Russia: EU's protection of energy sector 'nearly hysterical'

Russia has reacted with anger at EU plans to prevent foreign companies from uncontrolled access to the European energy sector, warning that any discriminative measure will be legally challenged.

China takes "urgent" energy challenge to masses

China's leaders have called on ordinary people to help tackle the "urgent" problem of booming energy demand and massive pollution, which they warn threatens growth, launching a huge propaganda campaign on Saturday.

Regulated gas still cheaper in New Brunswick

Gas regulation has come under fire again from the provincial Liberals, who want to know why Nova Scotians had to pay 11 cents more per litre yesterday than New Brunswickers.

City Dwellers Live Longer, Save More by Driving Less

New York City, long seen as a mecca of hedonism and self-destructive indulgence, has witnessed a startling transformation over the past few years: life expectancy has increased dramatically to 78.6 years, nine months longer than the life expectancy in the rest of the US. Even more surprisingly, New York City's life expectancy is increasing at a faster rate than in other parts of the country; in 2004 alone, New Yorkers gained five months of life on average, far outpacing the national average increase of a month or two a year.

Citrus Waste To Ethanol Gains Momentum

An FPL Group subsidiary announced plans to develop a first-of-its-kind commercial plant to convert orange and grapefruit waste into ethanol that will be sold to Florida motorists at gasoline pumps.

UK oil production continues decline

The year-on-year decline in oil and gas production in the UK sector of the North Sea continued in June, dropping by a further combined 12.9 per cent, according to the latest monthly report by the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Oil production was down 6.1 percent on the month to 1,263,382 barrels per day and down 11.4 percent compared with June 2006. UK natural gas production fell more sharply by 20.3 percent compared to May and by 14.7 percent on the year.

OPEC Cuts Have Buoyed Price, But At A Cost

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries crude oil output cuts have succeeded in stabilizing prices, but likely haven't cut deeply enough into global stockpiles to sanction a production increase at the group's Sept. 11 meeting.

Caspian storm growing

Kazakhstan wants hefty compensation for cost overruns and delays at the giant Kashagan oil field and favours replacing Italy's Eni with a local company as operator, its deputy finance minister was quoted as saying.

First Things First: Let’s Mine the Coal

We can talk about windmills, solar panels and biomass, and they undoubtedly are in our future. But those energy sources cannot meet the nation's growing energy demands now or in the foreseeable future. Nuclear energy may take on an expanded role, but not everyone will welcome it.

Our leaders must step up and tell the nation the truth: We need coal. It must remain a major source for electricity, and it certainly could and should be a source for motor fuels.

Oil-producing nations will have to control gas flaring

"According to satellite data, in 2006, oil producing countries and companies burned about 170 billion cubic metres (BCM) of natural gas worldwide or nearly five trillion cubic feet," said a latest World Bank report released yesterday, a copy of which was obtained by Gulf News.

"That is equivalent to 27 per cent of total US natural gas consumption and 5.5 per cent of total global production of natural gas for the year. If the gas had been sold in the US instead of being flared, the total US market value would have been about $40 billion. Gas flaring also emits some 400 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions."

Talks on climate change impact in Africa

Climate change could worsen Africa's struggle to feed itself, but simple steps — a cistern to catch rainwater, a solar panel, or hardier seeds for crops — could help the continent's subsistence farms, specialists and activists said Friday.

Global warming – who pays and when?

Maybe scientists can afford to debate the pace and extent of climate change, but the evidence of potential harm is clear enough that economic decisions must be made soon. Those economic choices mean weighing several questions:

Should countries emphasize cutting their greenhouse-gas emissions or adapting to a warmer world? Should they spend on developing new technologies or capping emissions? What's the trade-off between the economic costs and benefits of aggressive action?

Yet another important consideration: How to accommodate the needs of developing countries, many of which may face the worst effects of warming but have the fewest resources to battle it.

Industrial nations agree step to new climate pact

Industrial nations agreed on Friday to consider stiff 2020 goals for cutting greenhouse gases in a small step towards a new long-term pact to fight climate change.

More people, more concrete, and lots more heat in Phoenix

An 'urban heat island' effect, fed by the city's growth, is trapping heat and making temperatures soar.

Spinning atoms

Like it or not, our future is nuclear. You don't remember the debate? That's the power of good PR.

Power Blowing In The Wind

For advocates of environmentally friendly energy, it seems like it has taken forever for ordinary consumers to buy into the idea of renewable power sources. As a society, many people believe we're basically giving the planet a black lung. But it seems that while we know what to do to fix it, we don't. Why?

Demand Outstrips Supply for Clean Energy Deals

Despite keen interest and deep pockets, demand for clean energy-related investments is so high that cleantech investors around the world are having a hard time spending all the cash they have at their fingertips, according to a report by research group New Energy Finance.

Oilsands project hit by delays, higher costs

CALGARY - Construction of the Long Lake oilsands project is about 90% complete, but labour struggles, including a failure this summer to find enough pipe fitters, has led to a delay of between six months and a year and to a fourth cost bump in two years.

Nexen Inc. and OPTI Canada Inc. now say Long Lake's first phase will cost as much as $6-billion to build, a 10%-to-15% hike from April when the 50-50 partners revealed an increase to $5.3-billion from $4.6-billion.

The development was expected to cost $3.4-billion and be producing synthetic crude early next year when it was sanctioned in 2004.

PetroChina, Sinopec cut gasoline exports

PetroChina and Sinopec, China's two biggest oil companies, may continue to cut gasoline exports in September following a huge reduction in August, the China Securities Journal reported on Friday.

The two oil giants may even halt gasoline exports next month, the newspaper cited an anonymous market source as saying.

Gas prices may rise into September

Gasoline prices rose again at the pump Friday, extending a trend that analysts believe will continue until mid-September because of an end-of-season shortage of summer blend gasoline.

New cars seen raising gas mileage levels

New vehicles are expected to set records for average gas mileage in 2007, driven by improved technology and demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, the government reported.

Greece, Bulgaria turn down Russia’s demands about Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline

Greece and Bulgaria refused to sell their shares in the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline project to Russia.

Peak Oil Passnotes: Where Do We Go From Here?

As we normally take a look at factors hustling the oil market, like storms, war, debt and fiscal madness, it is time we stopped. Let us have a quick look at where the oil market actually stands at the moment.

In general the market is in backwardation; that is crude oil at around $74 per barrel for WTI is higher than the market expects it to be in the coming months. But the curve, the line of the graph, is in fact very flat. In other words this says two things about where traders and institutions think the oil price is going to go.

Life During Wartime

The sudden fall of the Berlin Wall showed that power structures collapse when the multitude swarms against them. Unfortunately, without advanced planning, such opportunities do not lead to positive outcomes. If we are approaching a similar breakthrough in the West, we require an alternative vision and practical systems that support a shift to a healthier way of life. Some stirrings in this direction include movements like Transition Town in the UK, where local communities are preparing themselves for the effects of peak oil and climate change.

In Colorado, Real Estate Occupies Two Different Universes

...Others are less optimistic. Courtney White, an opinion writer for Headwaters News, joins the chorus of skeptics who believe rising energy costs will spell doom for the mountain resort boom. It’s an idea gaining currency among peak oil adherents who worry the days of cheap oil are dwindling and with them, the boom economy fueled by cheap travel and cheaper imports.

“Think about the two-hour one-way daily commute into Los Angeles for work, or the costs associated in reaching that second home in the woods, or just driving to the grocery store,” he writes. “And it’s not just about driving – fossil fuel permeates nearly every aspect of suburban development and maintenance. When costs rise, we may reconsider our behavior. We may have to.”

OPEC exports 'to jump to 580,000 bpd'

OPEC oil exports, excluding Angola, will jump 580,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the four weeks to September 15, mostly on Western oil demand, an analyst who estimates future shipments said on Thursday.

Roy Mason of consultancy Oil Movements estimated OPEC 11 seaborne exports would rise to 24.21 million bpd, compared with 23.63 million bpd in the four weeks to August 18.

"US stocks are still high, but they are going down fast. They (refiners) need long-haul oil for the peak fourth quarter demand period," Mason said of the rise.