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G8 to fight oil prices with efficiency, tech

JOSEPH COLEMAN

Associated Press

Latest comment posted at 4:37 PM EST 09/06/08

Faced with record-high oil prices, energy ministers urge producers to boost output, pledge investment in green technology ...Read the full article

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  1. Hendrick Larose from Canada writes: Energy experts say most producers have little ability to expand output. The exception is Saudi Arabia, which is producing about 9.4 million barrels a day and has the ability to increase by about 2 million barrels a day, but has not done so.

    Yes and I could be a movie star but choose not to do so.
  2. David Simon from Canada writes: Why not have G8 nations increase their own output of fuels? The US could open up their Atlantic coast and ANWR and end their moratorium on new drillling on the Pacific coast. Canada could end its moratorium on drilling in our Pacific coast. The Northeast (US and Canada) could stop heating thie homes with oil and switch to natural gas.

    All this would create jobs and increase the supply of oil, without costing governments anything
  3. Michel Frechette from Kapuskasing, Canada writes: Efficiency is a frontier that may have been neglected for much too long. Who thinks for a minute that the current profits from higher energy prices are being invested to improve efficiency? Yet again the consumer will be expected to foot the higher cost of financing infrastructure to support both profit streams. Can consumers count of a leadership that is asleep at the switch to act in our collective best interest. I see our further enslavement to the status quo. Use less and we'll charge you more for it.
  4. bill k from Canada writes: The price of oil has everything to do with printing paper money out of thin air and nothing else. They can jaw bone all they like but unless hyperinflation Ben stops the maddness with the never ending printing of worthless USD in the trillions then OIL will go UP and UP and UP.
  5. Colin Campbell from Canada writes: Why don't these countries just make more drilling platforms, more upgraders, more reinferies. We can dig up the Alberta Tar sands quicker, we can dig up the Venuzela Oil sands as well. We are able to do all this, just get rid of the environmentalists. There is plenty of oil for us to use. Just look deep in the mantle it all resides there.
  6. byron rottweiler from Canada writes: David Simon - please read this overview. You will no doubt realize that wishful thinking and bandaid solutions are not going to make this problem go away.

    Supply and demand is going to continue to make energy prices high. That's a safe bet.

    http://tiny.cc/lxsHn

    Hendrick Larose - exactly. According to the EIA, ' Saudi Arabia's highest oil production was in 1980, when it produced 9.9 million barrels a day'

    It's last peak was 2005 at 9.6 million.

    Even if SA increased it's production another 500,000 bpd, it would barely match what it was producing 28 years ago - with older, less sophisticated technology!!

    The writing is clearly on the wall, for those who know how to read...
  7. byron rottweiler from Canada writes: Colin Campbell - I assume we're supposed to be laughing with you. Very funny.
  8. byron rottweiler from Canada writes: bill k - our financial system hasn't changed much in the last while, but oil prices weren't skyrocketing until recently.

    There is no cause and effect you can demonstrate.

    Supply and demand trumps conspiracy theories every time.
  9. Steve Church from Canada writes: Bill K - That's a chunk of it. Another chunk is producing more oil when there's no refinery capacity to process it (ships sitting waiting syndrome). Shortage of oil ... where? Show me the empty gas stations or the rationing of other fuel. There's no incentive to produce more oil - it'll just lower prices artificially. Save it and sell tomorrow at the next record-level price, right?
  10. Tal Moody from Canada writes: Empthy blather... yah yah... supply/demand... sure... and santa can't fly his touy shipments due to supply/demand... etc...

    The price of the gooey gunk has been pushed very largely by the shady speculators operating in the unregulated commodities market places.

    That the prices could go up so steeply on the mere rumours that the EU bank rate might increase is the clear indicator that we are looking at the same bunch of capitalist vultures that led the world into the ABCP debacle.

    A 1929's style crash is imminent.
  11. byron rottweiler from Canada writes: Steve Church - You're missing half the picture of oil supply: higher prices are the flip side of rationing/shortages. In NA, we don't use rationing, so we allow the price to be set by the market. Today in countries which artifically cap gas prices, there are shortages, lots of them. The higher price reduces consumption - just look at the 20% drop in sales of large trucks and SUV's in NA for proof. Ridership on public transit is also way up, in some areas double that of one year ago.
  12. Neil Garret from Canada writes: It is time to let gas prices go up. $3 per litre sounds like the only way we will stop driving and start thinkng.
    Even ifprices of crude come down - the Government shold increase taxes so Gas at the pump does not come down. Its time to stop enriching the despots of the Middle East and Latin America.
  13. Opinion in Toronto from Toronto, Canada writes: Not much will happen until North Americans face up to the challenge, drive less, in small cars, fewer times. There is no quick technological fix: it all depends on people's behaviour and that's not changing fast enough to make much of a difference.
  14. Alberta Green from Canada writes: Steve Church from Canada writes: Bill K - That's a chunk of it. Another chunk is producing more oil when there's no refinery capacity to process it (ships sitting waiting syndrome). Shortage of oil ... where? Show me the empty gas stations or the rationing of other fuel. There's no incentive to produce more oil - it'll just lower prices artificially. Save it and sell tomorrow at the next record-level price, right?

    And what do you think the world should do, wait until we do have a major shortage. I think the fact that we are now staring to take issues like shrinking oil supplies and greenhouse gases seriously is a first step. I hope that world leaders start to look at conserving oil and reducing carbon emissions as the number one issue we have to attack.
  15. Fred Forest from London, Ontario, Canada writes: How about making public transit free and running the buses on natural gas? Alternatively, Gary Lunn will do us proud amidst all those other ministers, unless he tries to fire one! Let's see what he said at the meeting and how long it takes to get back to the local press.
  16. Social Conscience from Canada writes: Simply lowering speed limits of federal Hwys in the USA and Canada to 100kph (60mph in the USA) and limiting transport trucks to 95kph (55mph in the USA) would have an immediate effect on lower consumption and therefore the price at the pump. In Europe all transport trucks are limited to 95kph. The 1974 Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act brought the 55mph speed limit to America and it's time to do it again.

    Germany has the most installed solar capacity in the world. Berlin is located at 52.5D north latitude, Paris is 48.8D. Toronto is located at 43.7D north latitude, Vancouver is at 49.2D, Calgary is 51D, and Montreal is at 45.5D. The majority of Canada's population resides further south than Paris or even Munich at 48.1D, while the vast majority are further south than Berlin.

    The most cost efficient PV solar panels run at $5/6 per watt. Solar hot water systems run at about $2/watt. A typical home with a gas furnace will require about $200/month for gas and electricity costs, or about $2400/year. On the Prairies wind is very feasible as well and it runs about about 2-$3 watt.Today a $30-$40000 grid tied solar electric and hot water space heating system will provide enough electric power and heat for the average home, so a $30K investment will give a 6-8% return on the money invested! Try getting that from your bank savings account! Even today Solar is cost effective, and would provide a good return on money invested. All new homes should be required to install solar electric/heating systems, as it would actually lower the effective cost of the home by reducing the monthly costs, and make the home more affordable. Low interest loans and a private/public partnership program to standardize solar installations and bring in the economics of mass production would make retrofitting an older home very economical.
  17. Comments closed, censored, deleted or made to disappear from Mini Bushland, Canada writes: With 50% of the problem, at least, being due to speculation, and in view of the continued devaluation of the US $ that petrol gets paid with, it is clear that there is nothing much to hope for, following that meeting of "minds"... least of all from their commitment to "green".
  18. byron rottweiler from Canada writes: Fred Forest - Yah, I was recently in Yosemite park, and they have free buses - but even better - diesel Hybrids!

    Not only were they amazingly quiet compared to regular buses, but when they pulled away, no clouds of noxious soot! (I guess they're the new ultra-clean versions) I ride a bike a lot, and I hate having to inhale the crap that belches out of diesel trucks and buses..

    Very impressive. Too bad we don't use them in Vancouver.
  19. TIM BURTON from Canada writes: Simple, Canada as a net exporter of oil should do what Venezuela has done. Subsidize domestic oil consumption while charging foriegn nations the International price. It's our oil why should we have to pay these crazy prices, so China and India can drive they're cars. I'd rather keep Canadians working than the Chinese or East Indians.
  20. Alberta Green from Canada writes: A great article on diesel hybrids.

    http://www.hybridcenter.org/hybrid-transit-buses.html
  21. byron rottweiler from Canada writes: Comments closed, censored, deleted or made to disappear from Mini Bushland - dude, Europeans have recently been paying the equivalent of up to $8 per gallon, and generally far more than NA has for years.

    A lot of knowledgeable industry types have commented that oil has been ridiculously cheap, and this was going to change. Now it has, exactly as it should.

    Finite resource, 6 billion consumers, price is going to go up. How far is the only question worth asking.
  22. byron rottweiler from Canada writes: TIM BURTON - If you agree that we need to conserve energy here in Canada, you'll realize that subsidizing the price will counter that goal.

    I'd rather see taxpayer's money go towards rebates and incentives for those who switch to lower energy-consumption alternatives - not higher-consumption lifestyles.
  23. Alberta Green from Canada writes: TIM BURTON from Canada writes: Simple, Canada as a net exporter of oil should do what Venezuela has done. Subsidize domestic oil consumption while charging foriegn nations the International price. It's our oil why should we have to pay these crazy prices, so China and India can drive they're cars. I'd rather keep Canadians working than the Chinese or East Indians.

    The Americans would close the border faster than you could say NAFTA. Also I believe you might have a small problem selling that to the oil companies. Canada tried this years ago with NEB, Alberta turned off the taps.
  24. Roop Misir from Toronto, Canada writes: Does the consuming public have to await forever to get alternative "Green" technology and possibly energy security?

    When will that be--when the last iota of fossil fuel is used up?
  25. True North from Canada writes: Gary Lunn is so short. Love the pictures of Lunn and Flaherty at these G8 things.
  26. byron rottweiler from Canada writes: Roop writes 'When will that be--when the last iota of fossil fuel is used up?' - answer: no, the day before.
  27. J Law from Canada writes: Alberta Green from Canada

    I think it was the oil companies that turned off the taps, Alberta Green. I live near the highway south of Lethbridge at that time and we lost count of the rigs heading south back in the early 80's
  28. Proud Thirdworlder from Concord, Canada writes: They calculated at $ 40 dollar a barrel and the price of oil has now shot up to more than $140 a barrel. Who is making money? Who is losing? Lo and behold ..The federal government is almost at the verge of running deficit… where is extra $100 dollars/barrel? Not to mention the high tax income for the federal government &8230;. Does anyone have the gut to ask that question in Canada? How typical third world!
  29. Philip McRae from Vancouver, Canada writes:
    Total World Oil Production (2005) 82,532,000 barrels/day
    Total World Petroleum Consumption (2005) 83,607,000 barrels/day

    Nuff said.
  30. steve allan from Welland, Ontario, Canada writes: Let's do this, let's do that, let's give this a try, or maybe that. hahahaha

    I absolutely love it. The world is in panic mode and I'm sitting back enjoying this spectacle -- the greatest show we've seen in our lifetime!!!

    Why am I so smug? Very simple....I've warned people for years that our society and culture were sick, we were all a bunch of American gluttons living well beyond our means with our mindless consumerism and waste. Sort of the like the loud, obnoxious party at the restaurant that over eats and drinks forgetting that no one has the money to pay the bill at the end of the night.

    You people have to learn to relax and sit back, have a coffee and enjoy the sordid spectacle of our miserable decline. It's going to be a lot of fun.
  31. Alberta Green from Canada writes: Philip McRae from Vancouver, Canada writes:
    Total World Oil Production (2005) 82,532,000 barrels/day
    Total World Petroleum Consumption (2005) 83,607,000 barrels/day

    Just goes to show that maybe hard choices like reducing oil consumption is far more important than finding new sources. As we have seen in Canada this week with the closing of the GM truck plant that maybe high oil prices hitting people pocket book is the only way that we will change our choices of transport. Even airlines have started to ground old airplane that have become to expensive to fly.
    I love watching the expression of a guy filling his huge SUV as I fill my Honda civic.
  32. Mahatma Gandhi from Calgary, Canada writes: While that technology is still in its infancy, proponents say it could eventually allow the expanded exploitation of the world's abundant supply of cheap coal without polluting the environment and speeding global warming.

    Still in its infancy? It hasn't been born. It's only a glint in coal producers' eyes. Like the horrendously costly nuclear power plants some people want to build, and trying to persuade governments to subsidize them with our tax money, and ignore all the safety issues at the same time.
  33. small c capitalist from way out west, Canada writes: Social Conscience from Canada writes: Simply lowering speed limits of federal Hwys in the USA and Canada to 100kph (60mph in the USA) and limiting transport trucks to 95kph (55mph in the USA) would have an immediate effect on lower consumption and therefore the price at the pump.

    Interesting. Then again, high transport costs might actually help (some) domestic manufacturers. Hope they can hang in there.... I'd slow down if everyone else did.

    And soooo now we have an oil price bubble; after that a bit of a financial hangover, I expect.

    I'm not sure if an undiversified, concentrated (oily) economy is the best way to long-term prosperity; some diversification seems prudent. (Yet, don't trade agreements encourage specialization?)
  34. Polar Bear from Floating Iceberg, Canada writes: G8 is full of hot air! Fight with "technology and efficiency." Which technology? The one that does not exist! And efficiency? Are you going to shut down GM?

    These leaders have so far shown no vision. They just meet for a nice lunch and fancy dinner.
  35. Philip McRae from Vancouver, Canada writes: Alberta Green, I too notice the faces grimacing as I ride by on my bike.
  36. The Skipper from Canada writes: Press Release from G8 Conference says -"Blah,Blah,Blah,Blah "
  37. Stephen R from Canada writes: Who didn't see this 10 yrs ago....oh the politicians. I have most of my electronic devices on power bars so I can turn them off before I go to bed, turning off the standby power made a huge dent in my electric bill. I added up the supposed usage by the devices and then tried to correlate that with my power bill and I couldn't, as my power saving was about 4 times what it should have been in Kw hours. I know, not very scientific but worth mentioning.
  38. L.B. MURRAY from !! from Canada writes: - Just one word of advice: DO NOT go to Venezuela! If you do, you shall feel absolutely disgusted, outraged, stabbed in the back... Canada is an oil producing country and so is Venezuela. However, the folks in Venezuela were paying about 35 cents a liter while most Canadians were paying at least 1.10 or more.....and this week, it keeps climbing and climbing.... Any person with the smallest brain, travelling in Venezuela, would wonder and start asking questions about WHY, WHY AND WHY are Canadians paying such a huge price for gas and heating oil.... Do not ever forget the huge cost of HEATING OIL going up, up, up and further up. Not one drop of Alberta oil is coming through any pipeline to Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes.... Thinking that our gas and heating oil comes from Alberta is another fairy tale... So... Keep going to Florida, the Bahamas, Cuba, wherever.... but don't go to Venezuela unless you have no idea what's going on and are clueless, absolutely clueless... Enjoy your vacations in Venezuela and your margaritas and don't ask questions about the price of gas at the pump.... LOL -.....35 cents a liter last december vs ....... in Canada...... Highest I've seen in the US last week was 4.52 a US gallon... can't remember if this was in Virginia, Delaware or Maryland... I was looking at some people driving huve Humvees who didn't seem to care.... -
  39. Alberta Green from Canada writes: L.B. MURRAY from !! from Canada writes: - Just one word of advice: DO NOT go to Venezuela!

    Is there a point to this rant. We happen to live in a democratic free market system. The people of Venezuela do not. Which system would you rather live under?
  40. Gerry Dunnhaupt from Toronto, Canada writes: As far as I am aware, the group of the seven largest economies is still known as G-7, not G-8. Putin's Russia was merely brought in as "observer" by his personal friend, German former chancellor Mr. Schröder, even though it is not one of the largest economies but still counts as a "developing nation".
  41. L.B. MURRAY from !! from Canada writes: -
    Good afternoon Alberta Green who writes : ....Is there a point to this rant. We happen to live in a democratic free market system.
    __________________________________

    With all due respect, Alberta Green, the people of Venezuela have a duly elected President and Venezuela sells its oil to the highest bidders, under the same democratic free market systems as Alberta, Saudi Arabia, and the rest of the oil producing world.... (countries, emirates, canadian provinces, whatever...)

    Good day.

    -P.S. Before you call me a Communist, just google and you shall see that I voted Conservative in the last couple of elections... Mulroney, Harper....

    -
  42. Badges? We don't need no stinking badges from Canada writes: Gas is 12 cents a gallon in Venezuela today. I guess it's OK for a nation to share it's wealth with it's Citizens in some parts of the world.
  43. bill k from Canada writes: .B. MURRAY from !! from Canada writes: - Just one word of advice: DO NOT go to Venezuela! If you do, you shall feel absolutely disgusted, outraged, stabbed in the back...

    You may have trouble educating the brainwashed sheep in NA who believe the corporate media's propaganda that Venezuela is BAD and that we are so free in this democracy and free market. It's to bad Bush was "elected" and free markets = BAIL OUT to the tunes of TENS and HUNDREDS of BILLIONS of dollars to the financials BUT Venezuela is BAD.
  44. Alberta Green from Canada writes: To L.B. MURRAY

    So does Zimbabwe under President Robert Mugabe.
  45. Social Conscience from Canada writes:
    For the cost of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Canada and the USA could have provided a 4kw PV solar system to every single family dwelling (~50 million) in North America, which would have a peak hourly generation of 200,000 megawatts, or about 40% of hourly consumption, at current demand levels, for about 6 hours a day, or about 10% of total consumption. With mass efficiency campaigns, PV solar could be providing 15 to 20% of North America's electrical power right now.

    The technology is here, NOW, to solve the global energy crisis. We just have to make the investment in mass producing it. Countries like China and India are ideally placed to allow PV solar to provide most of their energy needs. PV is an available technology whose time has come, but we just need the political will to introduce it on a mass scale.
  46. Matthew K from Halifax, Canada writes: The first thing Canada should invest in is a pair of high heels for Minister Lund and the finance minister Jimbo... It's starting to look like the shire dear Bildo...
  47. P cheng from ottawa, Canada writes: Social Conscience from Canada writes:
    ============>
    Why we need the government invoked in the investment? It never works. As long as they set up Canada only Carbon trade system. It will have the investment.
  48. Social Conscience from Canada writes: I'm not implying direct government involvement, but I wanted to give some perspectives on the costs involved. However government would probably need to provide some start up capital or incentives to get the project going on a large scale.
  49. Back to the Future Past History from Calgary, Canada writes: HI EVERYONE, Please consider the following:1) Peak Oil, That is cheap Peak oil is a fact. 2) Expensive more environmentally costly oil will drive up the costs of food because some food will will be used for transportation fuel instead of food and it will become uneconomical to ship a head of lettuce 1000 miles. 3) This will cause famine and illness, particularly in third world countries 4) even the environmentalists do not want to starve or freeze 5) as the new order unfolds ( famine) the population and demand will drop. 6) End of problem. Mother Nature fixes itself ....Its just that humans might not be the winners. What is the solution? In the short run we must all use less. In the middle run we must develop alternatives. In the long run we must reduce population growth. We can blame Government, Big Business, God, The Devil, your Neighbour, your Mother and Mankind Caused Global Warming. Take your pick, but we all must adapt. High Oil prices might just be the best thing that ever happened if it forces all of us to adapt. Do not worry that the Rich will not have to share our pain.. we outnumber them, so unless they are all going to hide in Galt's gulch, all will be forced to adapt.
  50. Right Said Fred from Canada writes: Could it be?!

    http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/06/08/iraq.iran/index.html

    All this posturing by these countries, USA, Israel, and Iran, come on people!

    Ok time to get rid of the 15% Iran Fear mongering premium on oil now.
  51. Paul Jay from Canada writes: We could have democratically enacted policy 20-30 years ago mandating fuel efficient cars and dense cities served by public transport. Instead we handed off decision making power to the car companies, oil industry and suburban developers. Now we are screwed, especially you conservative types with two SUV garages out in the far sprawl.
  52. Kidder Frugal from Kingston, Canada writes: We need to reduce the mount of energy we use to do EVERYTHING we do, especially carbon-based energy. And sooner is better than later. Using energy to heat our houses and hot water is insane, and driving heavy vehicles for which less than one percent of the energy input actually goes to moving the person is insaner.(is this a word?)

    Are we waiting for some lucky sod to gobble up the last drop?
  53. Trent River from The Great Have-Not Province, Canada writes:

    Buzz and Dalt,

    Faced with record-high oil prices, the world's leading economies and oil consumers Sunday pledged greater investment in energy efficiency and green technologies

    ------------

    This is where the Working Families Coalition placed Ontario behind the 8 ball. Dalton threw good money after bad by supporting the CAW's quest to protect jobs at factories which are making products that no one wants to buy. McGuinty should have invested heavily in the green technologies in order to keep pace with Japan and others who understood what a carbon tax would do to the gas guzzling industry. There is always a down side to a Faustian deal, and Dalt is just beginning to understand this.
  54. Tim Cares from Canada writes: Hendrick Larose from Canada writes: Energy experts say most producers have little ability to expand output. The exception is Saudi Arabia, which is producing about 9.4 million barrels a day and has the ability to increase by about 2 million barrels a day, but has not done so.

    Yes and I could be a movie star but choose not to do so....

    The US could reduce its oil consumption by 2 million barrels a day but chooses not to. So why should Saudi Arabia produce more if people in the US don't seem to want to pull their weight?
  55. Tim Cares from Canada writes: TIM BURTON from Canada writes: Simple, Canada as a net exporter of oil should do what Venezuela has done. Subsidize domestic oil consumption while charging foriegn nations the International price. It's our oil why should we have to pay these crazy prices, so China and India can drive they're cars. I'd rather keep Canadians working than the Chinese or East Indians....

    Canada gets a lot of its oil from abroad.
  56. Bell Curve from Canada writes: "G8 to fight oil prices with efficiency, tech..." and our tax dollars.

    Time to get off the grid!
  57. Michael Jones from Canada writes: OPEC is evil.
  58. Troubled Youth from Everywhere, Canada writes: the government should give me
    *the rich should give me
    *12 years of the government of entitlement has really sunk into the popular mindset.

    those questioning how Venezuela can give it people cheap gas needs to look at the bigger picture. cheap gas is all they have and while not today, tomorrow the bill will come due.

    ain't noth'n free.

    just like 12 years under the government of entitlement and the bill has come due. thank goodness Paul Martin was there to keep the country from totally collapsing under the liberals greedy hands.
  59. Hendrick Larose from Canada writes: Tim Cares from Canada writes:

    The US could reduce its oil consumption by 2 million barrels a day but chooses not to. So why should Saudi Arabia produce more if people in the US don't seem to want to pull their weight?

    The point for clarification is that Saudi Arabia is lying. They do not have the spare capacity. If they did they would be pulling out all the stops with oil price so high. Saudi Arabia does not care about US conservation failures. In fact they are benefitting from those failures and maintain the illusion of control by saying they could produce more. They cannot and that means the situation is likely to get worse before it gets better.
  60. Alberta Green from Canada writes: I wonder how different a country Canada would be if we decided to nationalize industries like oil thirty years ago. There seems to be a group of people who seems to think that they are owed cheap gasoline by the government. What would have happened if foreign investment left Canada, could we have developed our own resources like the tar sands. Do you think the US car and parts industry which dollar wise is much larger and employees more people than oil would have opened plants in Canada.
    Alberta's resources are owned by the province of Alberta and not by the federal government. Many Albertans saw what happened when the NEB tried to control the price of oil. The rigs left Alberta by the hundreds.
    Venezuela's output falls every year as it struggles to maintain output without foreign money and foreign expertise. Black market smuggling has become the a major industry as a tank load or boat load of gas smuggled into bordering countries makes for a profitable living.
  61. Bob Fox from Calgary, Canada writes: Hey folks, we're talking governments here, not like they can ever do anything except create their own particular type of gas.

    Free enterprise and the market will provide all the necessary improvements in energy efficiency that consumers demand.
  62. Terry M from Houston, United States writes:
    L.B. MURRAY from !! from Canada writes: - Just one word of advice: DO NOT go to Venezuela! If you do, you shall feel absolutely disgusted, outraged, stabbed in the back... Canada is an oil producing country and so is Venezuela. However, the folks in Venezuela were paying about 35 cents a liter while most Canadians were paying at least 1.10 or more.....and this week, it keeps climbing and climbing.... Any person with the smallest brain, travelling in Venezuela, would wonder and start asking questions about WHY, WHY AND WHY are Canadians paying such a huge price for gas and heating oil....

    ..

    L.B. – Natural resources are provincial jurisdiction, to answer your question why isn’t oil subsidized in Canada, because Albertans are the owners and they choose not subsidize it. Why would they, even if they could, they can’t as per NAFTA. Alberta already shares its wealth with the rest of Canada to the highest percapita percentage.

    .
  63. green grass from weedville, Canada writes:
    please read : biofuels-ngm.com
    also check out : GreenFuels Technologies, Cambridge- Massachusetts

    ALGAE - ALGAE - ALGAE-ALGAE !!!!!!!

    why don't you all smarten-up!!! ALGAE is THE fuel
    of the future.
    believe me; READ UP ON IT!!!!!

    It is staring you right in the face!!!!!!!

    ALGAE - ALGAE !!!!!!!!!

    jeez, whats with you guys!!!

    Have a green day!!!!!
  64. Free Spirit from Halifax, Canada writes: "The IEA estimated the world would have to construct 32 new nuclear power plants each year from now until 2050."

    That's over 1300 new nuclear power plants. Mmmm... Is there even enough uranium in the earth's crust to provide fuel for that many nuclear power plants ? There is already a uranium fuel crisis with the worlds existing 444 reactors. Some are starved for fuel (google "peak uranium").

    We are running out of oil because we decided to consume a non-renewable resource. But uranium is also non-renewable.

    So are we merely postponing the inevitable ? Peak Oil now and Peak Uranium in the future ?

    The world needs to transition to a completely sustainable economy and a sustainable population. Otherwise the future will be a never ending series of crisis as our population outstrips the food supply and non-renewable resources are deplete one by one. We need to get smart like the cockroaches, which do not consume any non-renewable resources, and thus have been here for over 250 million years. ;-)
  65. Terry M from Houston, United States writes:

    All the people who say ride a bike, take the bus, buy fluorescent lights, drive less – this is not the answer and never will be. For every light you turn off, someone adds or turns a light on somewhere else in the world. For every bike ride u take, someone else in the world buys a car. Chinas net new cars is 250,000 per month added to the streets of the world.

    If you want to conserve to save money, then that’s your choice and it would be a smart one.

    The answer is technology into alternative fuels and energy sources, luckily for Albertans they and industry are spending over 50 billion in the short turn advancing these technologies. Not only will Albertans hold the key to conventional energy they will also lead in the new fuels of the world. So be nice to them and stop talking down to them as they are just as much Canadian as someone in Ontario. Plus they hold all the cards.

    .
  66. Montgomery C. Burns from Springfield, Canada writes: Rather than fight oil prices, the G8 should get creative to finding solutions to reducing dependency on oil. Governments need to invest more in fuel alternatives, create subsidies on alternative energies, reduce pricing on solar, wind, etc., encourage more sustainable housing, etc.
  67. Free Spirit from Halifax, Canada writes: "Saudi Arabia, which is producing about 9.4 million barrels a day and has the ability to increase by about 2 million barrels a day".

    Well, if they have 2 million barrels a day of unused capacity why are they are not using it ? That represents a potential revenue stream of $278 million a day. Saudi Arabia is not rich. They have the worlds fastest growing population (6 children per female).

    Perhaps they are lying ? Perhaps they have no spare capacity. But if they came right out and said so, then it would be obvious to the world that we have reached peak oil. And that might cause a market panic. So as long as they keep lying about their hypothetical spare capacity, we are spared the gut wrenching news that we are running out of oil. The truth can't be obscured forever though. Once world oil production starts to go down in a year or two, then the situation will become obvious. Then there will be a panic.

    The Oil Drum has a presentation which shows that oil production has peaked and will soon decline. We are running out of oil.

    http://tinyurl.com/4kdhxe

    (thanks to bbyron rottweiler for the link)
  68. Alberta Green from Canada writes: A concept that has been around since Jimmy Carter time is a import tax imposed on oil. The tax much like a carbon tax would be tax neutral and would reduce federal taxes. Many have thought that the tax in the long run would end up being paid by the oil exporting countries as people reduced oil usage with increases in oil prices. It also has the added benefit of countries developing there own resources without having to pay the import tax.
  69. Unknown User! from Canada writes: i just cant help but feel that this whole "high oil prices" thing is PURE scandal, curruption, greed and totally aritificial. Have you seen the last quarter's profit numbers of major oil companies? No? Find out and see how you feel. A lot of people are getting very rich, very fast. Thats gonna change as soon as the world economy is going to hit rock bottom...and it will.
  70. Unknown User! from Canada writes: Also, the more ideas theyre gonna come up with the lower prices, the more curruption we're gonna see.
  71. Alberta Green from Canada writes: Free Spirit from Halifax, Canada writes: "Saudi Arabia, which is producing about 9.4 million barrels a day and has the ability to increase by about 2 million barrels a day".

    Right now the Saudi's controls OPEC. If OPEC nations knew that the Saudi's had no extra capacity Saudi Arabia would lose much of it's power in OPEC.
  72. George S from Toronto, Canada writes: I wish Canada would invest heavily in rail to combat our dependence on fossil fuels. Rail is what helpled build and unite the country in ther first place so we should start to reinvest in this more environmentally friendly technology. All urban areas should have many at least some form of commuter rail- from heavy rail inter-city commuter rail, subways and the like for larger urban areas that could support it, LRT and Skytrain-like rail and even streetcars. A lot of these rail projects could be powered by electricity further distancing ourselves from being dependent on oil and gas and polluting the atmosphere.
  73. Vern McPherson from writes:
    You pikers from alberta think you are making money now ?????????????

    Wait a while until the oracle privatizes sickness and sells Canada's health care to the Insurance companies ...........

    You ain't seen nutin yet ...............
  74. Kidder Frugal from Kingston, Canada writes: To "Montgomery C. Burns from Springfield, Canada writes: Rather than fight oil prices, the G8 should get creative to finding solutions to reducing dependency on oil."

    I couldn't agree more. I was brought up with the resource industries in N. Ontario, only to watch the wood-based ones sink in to oblivion. Nobody living there had the foresight to get in to anything else, and the owners took their cash elsewhere. While there are still some bright spots, it is nothing like it was in the 70's. We could avert similar fate for the rest of Ontario if we could wake up in time. I have a lot of respect for what's going on in Alberta, oluuting oil sands notwithstanding. They truly are on the cutting edge of renewable energy in Canada.
  75. Kidder Frugal from Kingston, Canada writes: To Free Spirit from Halifax, Canada. Of even more interest than the concept of peak-oi, which continues to be a moving target, the idea of "minimum cost per barrel" is a more stable measure. This is a measure of the amount of energy is consumed to extract a given amount of energy in the form of oil. The higher the number, the worse it is. This was at a minimum in the early 1960's, and has only risen since. Like the difference between sticking a hole in the ground and getting sprayed in the face with oil (think Beverly Hillbillies) and needing a nuclear power plant to get the stuff (think tar sands).
  76. Bilbo Bloggins from Middle Earth, Canada writes: I was out at a discount mall today where a middle aged woman with a towel on her head was doing psychic predictions for $10.

    I was going to ask her about the future price of oil because I figure that she knows about as much about it as the G8 energy ministers.

    All that I know for sure is that oil production has reached a plateau, and that demand has risen, consequently prices have risen and will continue to rise unless something changes. Since I don't believe that the world can increase production for a sustainable period, I guess that we will have to make a concerted effort to reduce demand.

    P.S. – The ten-bucks stayed in my pocket until I needed it to fill-up my scooter on the way home.
  77. Kidder Frugal from Kingston, Canada writes: Another place to look is earthship.org. Think houses that are so incredibly efficient that they are off the grid, use no water supply or sewer, and need to heating or cooling system all year. Brilliant design. My girlfriend and I are planning to build one in a couple of years. I'll need to modify the design to fit a garage for our bikes and skis. No utility bills for the rest of our lives!
  78. Kidder Frugal from Kingston, Canada writes: Bilbo: You shoulda ridden a REAL bike! Then you could've paid the ten bucks then passed along the soothsayer's wisdom to us!
  79. - Coyote from Canada writes: Free Spirit: It seems to be a case of optimistic propaganda. Can't let the natives get restless, now can we.....

    Because the Saudis do not allow outsiders to examine their industry, we can never know the truth. It does appear that they are pumping at maximum. Most news reports like to cheer us up with that extra 2 million barrel failsafe, but there is an important fact that they conveniently drop.

    That extra 2 million barrels will not come online until AFTER $4 BILLION of investment is completed in about 2.5 years. And there is some concern that Saudi fields may have been damaged by poor management practices and over-pumping.

    There is no magical tap that can be twisted and “presto!!!” supply exceeds demand. Sorry folks. The Age of Cheap Energy is over. The age of Energy Scarcity begins.
  80. Paul Wallnutz from Middle Earth, Canada writes: Kidder Frugal from Kingston: Another way to look at the "of "minimum cost per barrel" is the Energy Returned on Energy Invested (EROEI).

    Some studies say that the EROEI for synthetic crude (from butimen or Tar Sands) are as high as about 3:1 or as low as about 1:1. Compare this to the sweet crude that was bubbling out of the ground 50yrs ago with values like 150:1, or a license to print money.
  81. - Coyote from Canada writes: "The IEA estimated the world would have to construct 32 new nuclear power plants each year from now until 2050."

    The problem with that report is that it excludes SOLAR. Solar has the potential to meet a large portion of the needs in the western world. The IEA report was a pro-nuclear propaganda piece.
  82. Kidder Frugal from Kingston, Canada writes: So the consensus seems to be that we have dug ourselves in to a hole of dependency, much like a "junkie" in East Vancouver, and we haven't gotten ourselves back out yet. Is there an oil-dependency equivalent of a methadone clinic?

    Sr. Wallnutz: Thanks for the reminder of the acronym. I wish I had some of that 150:1 stuff in my back yard. My retirement fund needs topping up.
  83. Ken Hass from Canada writes: Start imposing trade sanctions against nations with large population increases. Control world population and you control demand.
    Every evil in the world is related to too many people.
    Too many people chasing too little oil, too little space, too little food.
    Sooner or later some of you dim people just have to get it.
    It is is not complicated.
  84. - Coyote from Canada writes: Lets keep the oil for petrochemicals and focus upon electricity instead for ENERGY. Let the age of electricity begin. Instead of corporate electricity, each community could localize power generation that best suits its area. Solar and micro-wind on each building. Plasma conversion of garbage, sewage and farm wastes into power. Tide-power.

    A couple hundred acres of solar in US deserts could supply most of American needs plus export. A new DC backbone needs to be built. Excess solar capacity could be used to generate hydrogen.

    Major investments are needed to broaden our electrical base and lighten demand for non-renewables.
  85. Hendrick Larose from Canada writes: Ken Haas,

    Should we start with the dim people or the people who call others "dim people". Ken sounds like you had a brief spell of elitism.
  86. - Coyote from Canada writes: Terry M from Houston, United States writes: “All the people who say ride a bike, take the bus, buy fluorescent lights, drive less – this is not the answer and never will be. For every light you turn off, someone adds or turns a light on somewhere else in the world. For every bike ride u take, someone else in the world buys a car.”

    *
    So. conservation does not work, cause someone in the third world will get your power and burn it up anyway........Is this what you are saying? That, why should you do anything, when you can point to someone else who isn't doing anything either? Sounds like the George Bush argument against Koyoto, doesn't it.

    The problem is that when used to discredit CONSERVATION, your argument becomes one of GREED. Of Me me me, or mine mine mine. What is wrong with that attitude?

    That's how the price of oil keeps rising. Production is flattening, demand is increasing. Therefore he who pays the highest price gets the oil. The Chinese citizen is out-bidding you, son. Get it?
  87. Terry M from Houston, United States writes:

    Coyote,

    If you are going to quote me, please do it in context. I said the answer is Alternative energy. Yes is wise to consume less to save money, but conservation is not the answer you are seeking to stop high energy prices and global warming.

    Never mind George Bush, if you are looking for direction, look towards Alberta and see what new alternative energy technologies they are developing. Over 50 billion right now is committed by government and Alberta industry.

    .
  88. - Coyote from Canada writes: The twentieth century belonged to America and the American dream: That of innovation, of cheap energy and of excessive consumption to raise up a powerhouse economy. That Dream was exported to the world; the Soviets chocked on it and Communist China converted. The World Bank forced everyone to comply and just when it looked like the entire world got addicted to this Dream.....................we woke up. The American Dream is over. It is dead. Therefore we need to stop acting like we are still in dreamland. Look around: what do you see? Our entire planet polluted to the extent that not a single American water sample returns pollution free. All blood samples taken across North America indicate industrial pollutants in our bodies and the bodies of our children. Virgin arctic snow is polluted. Huge areas of oceans are dead zones, both from pollution and dragnets. Huge floating plastic islands in our oceans. Seafood and lake fish contaminated with mercury. Cont...
  89. - Coyote from Canada writes: The twentieth century belonged to America and the American dream: That of innovation, of cheap energy and of excessive consumption to raise up a powerhouse economy. That Dream was exported to the world; the Soviets chocked on it and Communist China converted. The World Bank forced everyone to comply and just when it looked like the entire world got addicted to this Dream.....................we woke up.


    The American Dream is over. It is dead. Therefore we need to stop acting like we are still in dreamland. Look around: what do you see? Our entire planet polluted to the extent that not a single American water sample returns pollution free. All blood samples taken across North America indicate industrial pollutants in our bodies and the bodies of our children. Virgin arctic snow is polluted.


    Huge areas of oceans are dead zones, both from pollution and dragnets. Huge floating plastic islands in our oceans. Seafood and lake fish contaminated with mercury.

    Cont...
  90. - Coyote from Canada writes: Part2:
    Energy Scarcity. Climate Change. Overpopulation. A third world clamoring and demanding the same as what we take for granted. China expected to overtake the US as the world's largest consumer in 2009.


    No matter what the issue, the solutions all point to the same place. Excessive consumption as promoted by the American Dream needs to end. Basing our economic health upon never-ending growth needs to change. Economic growth and economic health based upon cheap consumer junk needs to end.


    American and Canadian CONSERVATION needs to be mandated, while we need to stop buying cheap Chinese junk. Economic brakes need to be firmly slammed to the floor while the world's economies enter a race to create a New Energy Economy. In fact make it a race, with 100 one-million dollar prizes given out each year to the best new ideas. Not a Nobel Peace Prize, but a World Economic Challenge over the next ten years.
  91. Terry M from Houston, United States writes:

    Coyote,

    I’m not here to debate you, I’m just trying to help you out and educate you on what is being done to combat this energy crises. There is only one answer and that is alternative energy sources, ones which have less reliance on oil and natural gas.

    Alberta is leading the way, so if you are looking for inspiration or the ‘answer’ just investigate what is being done in Alberta to resolve or limit this issue.

    .
  92. stevie is a great negative critic can he do anything positive ? from Canada writes:
    harper bush chaney allowed diesel fuel to increase 20 to 30 cents / litre relative to more refined gasoline . Please don't hold your breath for these stupid cons to do anything execpt declare victory .

    Obama's common sense November can't come fast enough .
  93. - Coyote from Canada writes: Terry M:
    S