Forbes on Peak Oil

2 As and a B · Post by **2 As and a B** » 26 Jul 2009, 10:06

Yes, when things start to get really rocky, we can always revert back to running everything on whale oil.

BTW, is that handsome fella you, RGR?

RGR · Post by **RGR** » 26 Jul 2009, 16:03

[quote="foodinistar"]

ziggy12345 · Post by **ziggy12345** » 26 Jul 2009, 17:29

It seems quite a lot of people on this site don't "get it"

2 As and a B · Post by **2 As and a B** » 26 Jul 2009, 20:23

RGR wrote:
foodinistar wrote:Yes, when things start to get really rocky, we can always revert back to running everything on whale oil.

Lovins certainly did not advocate running everything on whale oil, his point is completely reasonable and based on not much more than efficiencies really.

Hmm. You say that but what efficiencies are you talking about? It seems that those shy and scarce whales have already started offering themselves up to us.

Whale wedged on cruise ship bow

RGR · Post by **RGR** » 27 Jul 2009, 00:20

[quote="ziggy12345"]

Catweazle · Post by **Catweazle** » 27 Jul 2009, 10:25

That report was 5 years ago, and yet America is still importing oil at $68 a barrel.

The report looks like yet another propaganda story to me.

" Hey, we don't need your steenkin' oil, so you better keep it cheap or we'll use sometheeng else "

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 27 Jul 2009, 11:10

Meanwhile, in the real world, US demand for distillates, (diesel, heating oil, jet fuel) has fallen 25% in two years, whilst demand for petrol (primarily personal transport) is unchanged .

http://img197.imageshack.us/i/jfplusdis ... suppl.png/

Distillate consumption is directly linked to economic and business activity, whilst petrol consumption is where the easiest cuts through efficiency and alternative fuels are to be made.

And in the developing world demand for oil grows apace. On the spot market (land locked) WTI is the cheapest blend. It used to be a premium price. China and India are still buying tens of millions of new cars and SUVs every year.

So, this wonderful US free market has lead to a massive economic recession in the US with virtually zero adaptation to low or alternative energy solutions, whilst the developing world continues economic expansion and ties up ever more the the resource base as we face steadily rising energy costs.

I've always said we could adapt Western society to a low energy future, but that we wouldn't.

We aren't and we won't.

Party on dude.

Papillon · Post by **Papillon** » 29 Jul 2009, 02:43

RalphW wrote:
I've always said we could adapt Western society to a low energy future, but that we wouldn't.

We aren't and we won't.

Party on dude.

I agree, sadly