This past week I posted the following graphic on my Twitter account (@RRapier) showing the explosive growth of renewable electricity, particularly over the past decade: The first response to this graphic was “But…INTERMITTENT!”
Did Global Oil Consumption Slow in 2012?
I hate the phrase “Innocent until proven guilty.” When serial killer Ted Bundy killed his first victim, he wasn’t innocent just because a court had yet to convict him. The correct phrasing — which practically […]
Oil Industry Declares War on E15
(RR edit: Some of you need to turn on your sarcasm detectors). I just finished reading a story that made my blood boil. It was about how the oil industry is using dirty tricks to […]
About Those Plunging Oil Prices
Over the past three weeks, there have been numerous headlines insinuating that a freefall in oil prices is underway. Last week I read that the various causes were a slowdown in China’s economy, OPEC’s decision […]
Who Loses from Rising Natural Gas Prices?
Chemicals and Fertilizer Industries In last week’s post Who Wins from Rising Natural Gas Prices?, I discussed the sectors that would benefit from rising natural gas prices. This week, let’s talk about the potential losers. […]
Who Wins from Rising Natural Gas Prices?
Over the past two years the spot price of natural gas fell from nearly $5 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) in June 2011 to less than $2 per MMBtu in April 2012, before beginning […]
Estimate for Williston Basin Oil Resources is Doubled
Last week the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provided an update of oil and gas resources in the Bakken region. This was their first update since a 2008 report that estimated mean undiscovered volumes of 3.65 […]
The Key to Running the World on Solar and Wind Power
Perhaps the biggest shortcoming of solar and wind power is their intermittency. In locations like Hawaii, where I live, wind and solar power are already competitive on price. My fossil-fuel supplied electricity typically costs above […]
Test Your International Oil IQ
In last week’s column, we examined some oil production trivia involving US states. This week, we look at some international oil trivia covering the 5-year period 2007-2011, as well as some individual trivia from 2012. […]
Test Your Oil IQ
As a result of the hydraulic fracturing (fracking) revolution, US oil and natural gas production have been rising for several years. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), US oil production has risen by 27% […]