U.S. Energy Scenarios for the 21st Century

The Pew Center on Global Climate Change

http://www.pewclimate.org/global_warming_in_depth/all_reports/energy_scenarios/index.cfm

from the Forward:

"The question of how U.S. energy supply and use—which account for over 80 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions—will evolve over the next several decades is critical to developing sound U.S. climate policy. To answer this question, the Pew Center convened two workshops, including members of its Business Environmental Leadership Council and independent experts, to envision and analyze future energy scenarios for the United States, and to assess the implications of these scenarios for U.S. carbon emissions. The scenarios are:

- Awash in Oil and Gas, in which oil and gas are cheap, abundant, and reliably available;

- Technology Triumphs, in which the commercialization of climate-friendly energy technologies is accelerated through a combination of state policy, technological breakthroughs, public and private investment, and consumer interest; and

- Turbulent World, in which supply disruptions and energy security concerns lead to aggressive federal energy policy promoting domestic, low-risk resources."

(snip)

"This report explores what might happen to U.S. energy supply and use in the future; the Pew Center plans to turn next to an exploration of what ought to happen. We will use these scenarios to test policy and technology options and identify those that are robust across a broad range of plausible futures. We hope that readers will join us in developing a shared national vision of policies, strategies, and investments that will reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and promote U.S. energy security while maintaining economic growth."

- much, much more . . .

http://www.pewclimate.org/global_warming_in_depth/all_reports/energy_scenarios/index.cfm

(downloadable in .pdf format . . .)

Richard Heinberg. Extremely readable and very thought provoking about the end of the era of cheap oil.

Imagine the possibilities if instead of spending $4 billion a month on having soldiers in Iraq we spent that instead on renewable energy sources. Think of the possibilities that would exist if we had a president stand up in a prime time Sunday night speech asking for $70 billion for hydrogen fusion research and development.

How do you stop Islamic terrorism? Why you stop their funding.
How do you stop the funding? Why you stop buy their goods and services.
What are the goods and services that we purchase? Why it’s oil.
How do we stop buying oil from them? Why you develop alternative fuels.
How do you develop alternative fuels? Why you spend money on it. Of course in addition to spending money on it you also have to remove the influence that the oil industry currently exerts over the government policy.


http://www.politicalposts.com/news/index.asp?id=187036

next you'll propose that we could save money on health care by encourageing walking, bicycling and improved public transit.

That's what those Commie French people do and look how thin and beautiful they are and how much more fun they have haveing sex and...the good food they eat and

*sigh*

America needs to slow down and smell the roses, while there still are some...