Comments on: I Sense a Tipping Point on Energy http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/2006/10/30/i-sense-a-tipping-point-on-energy/ A Future Look at Today Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:38:37 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: david http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/2006/10/30/i-sense-a-tipping-point-on-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-545 david Mon, 30 Oct 2006 20:33:09 +0000 http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/2006/10/30/i-sense-a-tipping-point-on-energy/#comment-545 Great comments all. The information on cars has come from a variety of media outlets that discuss increased sales of small vehicles, demand for hybrids, and the difficulty that dealers are having in moving SUV off their lots. William - I am of the firm opinion also that we are moving through Peak Oil. I currently accept the 2040-50 time frame for oil depletion, at least from the point of view of economically viable extraction. I do believe that 2006 will be looked upon as the year that the shift actually took root and the direction was changed. Great comments all. The information on cars has come from a variety of media outlets that discuss increased sales of small vehicles, demand for hybrids, and the difficulty that dealers are having in moving SUV off their lots.

William – I am of the firm opinion also that we are moving through Peak Oil. I currently accept the 2040-50 time frame for oil depletion, at least from the point of view of economically viable extraction.

I do believe that 2006 will be looked upon as the year that the shift actually took root and the direction was changed.

]]> By: William Wolski http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/2006/10/30/i-sense-a-tipping-point-on-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-544 William Wolski Mon, 30 Oct 2006 17:34:54 +0000 http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/2006/10/30/i-sense-a-tipping-point-on-energy/#comment-544 We agree with your thesis but for different reasons. We've actually seen a mindset tipping point too but through DOE financing initiatives on all forms of energy, entrepreneurship in Ethanol and Biodiesel, political posturing, AND consumer realization that cheap energy is not going to return. The balance point is now in favor of alternative fuels, flex fuel vehicles, hybrids as well as conservation. (Daimler Chrysler will be adding FFVs in March on all models not just Fleet sales. Hydrogren Fueled vehicles from both GM and Ford are under test on both coasts for 2008 deployment.And there are other signs.) According to Department of Energy data presented by Jim Woolsey, Former CIA head, at the Renewable Fuels Conference two weeks ago, the world's energy consumption vs production capability (including known and predicted reserves) peaked last year and the World's energy supply will never exceed consumption again. That is indeed a tipping point. We agree with your thesis but for different reasons. We’ve actually seen a mindset tipping point too but through DOE financing initiatives on all forms of energy, entrepreneurship in Ethanol and Biodiesel, political posturing, AND consumer realization that cheap energy is not going to return. The balance point is now in favor of alternative fuels, flex fuel vehicles, hybrids as well as conservation. (Daimler Chrysler will be adding FFVs in March on all models not just Fleet sales. Hydrogren Fueled vehicles from both GM and Ford are under test on both coasts for 2008 deployment.And there are other signs.)
According to Department of Energy data presented by Jim Woolsey, Former CIA head, at the Renewable Fuels Conference two weeks ago, the world’s energy consumption vs production capability (including known and predicted reserves) peaked last year and the World’s energy supply will never exceed consumption again. That is indeed a tipping point.

]]> By: Tod Brilliant http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/2006/10/30/i-sense-a-tipping-point-on-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-543 Tod Brilliant Mon, 30 Oct 2006 16:59:00 +0000 http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/2006/10/30/i-sense-a-tipping-point-on-energy/#comment-543 I can only hope you're right. Have you checked any numbers on bank loans/funding to renewable energy projects? Is there a corresponding decrease in oil-industry backing by the banks? THIS is where the truth is to be found. Auto purchases only signal a topical interest in saving $$, not saving the planet, as the car culture is hugely damaging, irrespective of the type of vehicle. Thanks for the hopeful post! I can only hope you’re right. Have you checked any numbers on bank loans/funding to renewable energy projects? Is there a corresponding decrease in oil-industry backing by the banks? THIS is where the truth is to be found. Auto purchases only signal a topical interest in saving $$, not saving the planet, as the car culture is hugely damaging, irrespective of the type of vehicle. Thanks for the hopeful post!

]]> By: Motts McGregor http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/2006/10/30/i-sense-a-tipping-point-on-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-542 Motts McGregor Mon, 30 Oct 2006 15:38:00 +0000 http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/2006/10/30/i-sense-a-tipping-point-on-energy/#comment-542 This is feel-good stuff, and I hope that you're right. What evidence do you have that the 20%+ percent drop in oil prices hasn't affected the level of interest in hybrids (or by contrast, in SUVs)? I'm a little less optimistic. -Motts This is feel-good stuff, and I hope that you’re right. What evidence do you have that the 20%+ percent drop in oil prices hasn’t affected the level of interest in hybrids (or by contrast, in SUVs)? I’m a little less optimistic.

-Motts

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