tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714525334674455742010-01-24T19:10:18.504-07:00Energy Literacy Advocates (ELA) is a non-partisan, non-profit, public education and advocacy group dedicated to improving the energy literacy of all sectors of our democracy in order to empower a comprehensive national energy policy that is responsible and sustainable. Stay tuned for updated energy news!Troy Dunnnoreply@blogger.comBlogger322125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-53538498344834605392010-01-05T10:48:00.002-07:002010-01-05T10:54:31.306-07:00

Obviously with oil resources becoming geologically more difficult and financially more costly to extract the level of exploration and production has a significant impact on future oil supplies. With major oil companies decreasing their capital expenditure budgets (and the little guys having trouble even getting credit so that they can drill) the future of oil supplies does not look good -

Jamie Langhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00524544150729293922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-30618150402351997472010-01-04T14:25:00.002-07:002010-01-04T14:34:12.110-07:00

The Peak Oil story sure has evolved over the last several years. From "who are those nutty people who talk about oil running out" to a better understanding by many that total worldwide production capacity may not increase much beyond today, no matter what the cause. This excerpt from a recent ASPO-USA "Peak Oil Review" highlights this progression:During 2009 the most significant story about

Jamie Langhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00524544150729293922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-27527589581441968172009-12-21T13:22:00.003-07:002009-12-21T13:24:36.472-07:00

For more on this ad, click here.

Amanda Vosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16772546776421826718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-38169462831443376682009-12-16T21:32:00.002-07:002009-12-16T21:41:06.081-07:00

The Western Governors Association has long been on the front end of energy related issues. Perhaps no surprise given that most U.S. oil and gas production takes place in the 19 states that comprise the organization, not to mention a good portion of renewable energy production as well.At their winter meeting the WGA is considering how to plan for the infrastructure requirements of electric

Jamie Langhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00524544150729293922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-82520817891564244732009-12-10T12:55:00.002-07:002009-12-10T13:07:04.118-07:00

As oil creeps below $70, realize that we are experiencing a respite - a bit of a breather in a market constrained by booming demand, restricted supply and unforseeable price shifts. While we should rejoice at the lowered price of oil, the last thing we should do is take advantage of it, for it will be on the move again.To date, Congress has appropriated $70 billion in incentives toward clean

Amanda Vosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16772546776421826718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-43290186370650945522009-12-09T14:45:00.003-07:002009-12-09T14:52:45.330-07:00

As seen from history, reactionary policy is clearly bad. So is the strategy of putting all policy eggs into one basket. What then should the US do, in the realm of domestic policy, to prepare itself for the new energy future?In a word - diversification. The worst things US policymakers can do is bet on one strategy - like hybrid cars or corn ethanol - and place at a disadvantage other and

Amanda Vosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16772546776421826718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-63747973393603148762009-12-08T09:36:00.003-07:002009-12-08T09:44:58.344-07:00

If we set aside the debate on global warming and look instead at our reliance on oil, we realize that failure to act and anticipate could be disastrous. Ninety-six percent of our cars rely on oil, and daily we consume 25% of the world's oil production total. New demands from China and India are placing increased pressure on a finite resource that we, by and large, import from other

Amanda Vosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16772546776421826718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-43510462048630814992009-12-07T19:45:00.002-07:002009-12-07T20:05:13.968-07:00

Ok, so the title alone grabbed your attention but let's follow where that statement leads. With the controversy surrounding alleged scientific collusion on global warming data, energy issues have potentially fallen into a public relations nightmare, appearing dressed as purely reactionary tactics, based upon emotion (not a good combination).But let's not get distracted. Set aside global warming

Amanda Vosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16772546776421826718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-55867821977837480902009-12-01T14:00:00.003-07:002009-12-01T14:18:04.445-07:00

In one of the more high profile articles yet (it gained worldwide attention) the UK's Guardian covered a story about the International Energy Agency (IEA) and their World Energy Outlook 2009. At odds is the track record of the IEA in projecting oil supply and demand, and therefore prices, and the possibility of political manipulation of these otherwise data and model driven reports. The IEA is

Jamie Langhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00524544150729293922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-70481607656638805542009-11-19T16:12:00.001-07:002009-11-19T16:13:47.726-07:00

Below is a good article about how car makers are approaching the range issue with electric vehicles. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the end.Where can I juice up my ride? Nov 17, 2009Washington PostPeter WhoriskeyAs their manufacturers see it, the electric cars entering U.S. showrooms as early as next year will be engineering marvels: stylish, battery-operated, zero-emission

Jamie Langhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00524544150729293922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-45727708395977506922009-11-18T15:08:00.006-07:002009-11-18T15:20:09.356-07:00

As we continue evaluating adding a new tax on gasoline, today we'll take a snapshot look at the pros - are there any positives to such a tax?Adding a new tax on gasoline raises the overall price at the pump. This leads to decreased demand for gasoline, and thereby reduces the amount of fuel we consume (and pollution we put out) overall. Additionally, if a static gas tax is set, raising the

Amanda Vosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16772546776421826718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-83528890194834175202009-11-18T15:08:00.005-07:002009-11-18T15:17:48.891-07:00

Tapping into shale for natural gas deposits is not something new in the US. However there has been much talk of somewhat recent drilling technology and how much NG just might be available using new techniques. This discussion has been going on for some time, and it seems very similar to the oil discussion to me. We are likely nowhere near running out of either resource, but that is not the

Jamie Langhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00524544150729293922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-84467818544244321512009-11-17T19:19:00.002-07:002009-11-17T19:37:08.299-07:00

So what does a tax on gasoline, specifically on fuel, look like?Traditionally, any revenues collected from the tax go either to transportation specific funds or go to general government revenue. Those that go to transportation specifically can be considered as a user tax. In the past few years, several countries in Europe - Italy, the United Kingdom and France - have created an extra tax on

Amanda Vosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16772546776421826718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-61171368139763039322009-11-16T20:15:00.002-07:002009-11-16T20:39:56.602-07:00

The first week of November witnessed an unusual sight - automotive executives lining up behind environmentalists and conservationists to call for a tax on gasoline. But what really are the pros and cons of a gas tax, from both a policy and everyday perspective?My blogs this week will take a brief look at some of the points in this issue.First of all, be under no illusion - Americans already pay

Amanda Vosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16772546776421826718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-66292200783448617732009-11-11T14:24:00.002-07:002009-11-11T14:35:45.663-07:00

The International Energy Agency has released its 2009 Energy Outlook report, and along with its findings had harsh words for those clinging to a fossil fuel paradigm. The IEA unveiled its own solution steps toward reducing carbon emissions and changing the energy landscape. With an estimated $10.5 trillion investment, the Agency called for greatly expanded renewables, biofuels and nuclear energy

Amanda Vosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16772546776421826718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-17948665546255882172009-11-10T15:30:00.004-07:002009-11-10T15:37:33.733-07:00

The following is an op-ed article by Colorado Senator Mark Udall and T. Boone Pickens (of oil fame) touting natural gas as an option for fueling our transportation fleet. It is certainly one option to bridge the gap (which could be many years) from oil to an alternative fuel source. For those interested you can learn more at http://www.pickensplan.com/.Natural gas should be the vehicle fuel of

Jamie Langhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00524544150729293922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-65073916589477495192009-11-09T16:53:00.002-07:002009-11-09T17:05:18.153-07:00

British Energy and Climate Change Minister Ed Miliband announced a possible 10 new nuclear sites today, as part of the United Kingdom's low carbon transition plan.This announcement came along with plans to speed up approval for both nuclear and big wind energy plants.This most recent decision, driven by the need to cut greenhouse gases, highlights the controversial use of nuclear power. While

Amanda Vosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16772546776421826718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-58803335815633213042009-11-06T16:02:00.002-07:002009-11-06T16:11:03.057-07:00

Chrysler Fiat unveiled vehicle plans from 2010 to 2014, revealing a strategy that emphasizes fuel efficiency over new technology, and includes new micro-class vehicles.The company plans to increase the percentage of four cylinder and six cylinder engines currently in the fleet, while decreasing gas guzzling eight cylinder engines. Additionally, the share of diesel vehicles will increase from 9%

Amanda Vosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16772546776421826718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-55921386965307724452009-11-05T14:36:00.002-07:002009-11-05T14:46:51.689-07:00

At the Reuters Autos Summit in Detriot today, automotive executives joined the call for a gas tax in America.The reasoning behind car execs joining the ranks of enviromentalists, etc? Rather than using $25 billion in stimulus for alternative fuel projects, car companies cite that a gas tax which raises gas to a constant price level would drive more consumers toward efficient cars, and thus

Amanda Vosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16772546776421826718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-81750234841666389362009-11-04T13:41:00.002-07:002009-11-04T13:53:12.852-07:00

Drawing surprise from forecasters, the price of oil continued to rise today. Much of that price jump came from news that US stockpiles of crude oil were down. The price of oil and fuel continue to rise, despite declining demand and demand that's down from the same time last year.Adding to the run up in price is the run down in the US dollar, the form of currency used in oil transactions.What

Amanda Vosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16772546776421826718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-40012068122360418392009-11-04T09:34:00.003-07:002009-11-04T09:49:25.475-07:00

The following article discusses whether or not taxpayer money should be used to promote the manufacture of electric cars and the proliferation of charging stations. I agree that the government has a poor track record of picking "winners" when it comes to technological advances. However, our 40+ year love affair with oil is a public policy nightmare that will only get substantially worse as

Jamie Langhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00524544150729293922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-89206425637218065832009-11-03T14:13:00.002-07:002009-11-03T14:37:58.331-07:00

For those who wonder what oil industry insiders are thinking about the future of oil prices we bring you a second installment of commentary from the Oil & Money Conference from our friends at ASPO-USA. The commentary speaks for itself, and clearly there is reason for concern about the future of oil prices. (See our first post on the Oil & Money Conference Here).Commentary: Oil & Money

Jamie Langhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00524544150729293922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-37207858630446941792009-11-03T14:01:00.002-07:002009-11-03T14:21:05.758-07:00

Looking for some hope and resolution in combating our dependence on oil? For a bit of optimism, check out the Model 44 Coupe.The Coupe, produced by Woods Motor Vehicle Company in 1916 (yes that date is correct), is a hybrid very reminiscent of the Prius. The vehicle boasted a 4 cylinder gasoline engine alongside an electric motor. The Woods company produced both these hybrid vehicles and

Amanda Vosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16772546776421826718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-39528520534534006762009-11-02T14:18:00.002-07:002009-11-02T14:22:10.647-07:00

Honolulu, Hawaii received $3.8 million today in their effort to decrease energy consumption. The funds specifically target projects to reduce fuel consumption and increase efficiency, as well as those that create green jobs.Hawaii and Alaska represent petri dishes for America's shift to a green economy. Thanks to their outlying positions, any escalation in fuel and energy prices is much greater

Amanda Vosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16772546776421826718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71452533467445574.post-62670228910021163572009-11-02T11:08:00.003-07:002009-11-02T12:59:34.404-07:00

The following article has a discussion about whether or not the Cash for Clunkers program actually increased car sales, or just moved them forward. While ELA could take a side or at least comment on the contents of this article, we will not. Why? Because as we stated multiple times (see our previous posts on the Cash for Clunkers program) that any meaningful program should permanently shift

Jamie Langhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00524544150729293922noreply@blogger.com0