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Energy Discussion

sevenhelmet said:
Don’t forget replacement parts and whole units every so often. It’s not a one-and-done forever type of thing.

Alternative energy just relocates the carbon footprint. It’s very difficult to eliminate entirely.
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As taxi already points out, the claim that you just 'relocate the carbon footprint' grossly understates the biggest advantages of renewable energy like solar that don't require a constant supply of literal fuel to keep them running and instead usually rely on stuff like the sun or water that don't have to go through some distant strait to get here.
 
How do you math whizzes account for the energy cost of mining, since many of these power sources rely on virgin materials?

I'm not disputing the advantages of using wind or solar for some applications, I'm merely pointing out that you're trading one supply chain frustration for potentially several more- rare earths, plastics, copper, lithium, and the manufacturing to turn them all into high-end products. Solar panels and wind turbines still have to be repaired and replaced eventually, and widespread use guarantees need for more materials (unless we can close the loop with a good recycling program, but I haven't seen that yet.) There is an environmental cost, and that is routinely whitewashed by proponents of "renewables".

I think alternative energy has its place in a basket of solutions that includes (gasp!) nuclear and petroleum based energy, at least until/unless we get some kind of commercially viable fusion power. While it would be amazing, I'm not holding my breath on the latter. In the meantime, wind and solar have their place, but they aren't a panacea for energy production. Far better to have several solutions, and match each use case with the best energy source for efficiency and best use of raw materials.

Final point: this latest oil supply frustration was entirely self-induced by POTUS. Poor leadership is going to cause problems, no matter what power source you pick. Yeah, the middle east sucks, but it sucks more when you have an egotistical moron in the White House.
 
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sevenhelmet said:
Solar panels and wind turbines still have to be repaired and replaced eventually, and widespread use guarantees need for more materials (unless we can close the loop with a good recycling program, but I haven't seen that yet.) There is an environmental cost, and that is routinely whitewashed by proponents of "renewables".

I think alternative energy has its place in a basket of solutions that includes (gasp!) nuclear and petroleum based energy, at least until/unless we get some kind of commercially viable fusion power. While it would be amazing, I'm not holding my breath on the latter. In the meantime, wind and solar have their place, but they aren't a panacea for energy production.
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I am not saying renewables are a panacea, but I don't have to fill up a solar panel every week to drive to and from work.

No matter how skillful politicians may be oil is much more vulnerable to shorter and longer term disruption than most other energy sources.
 
Randy Daytona said:
Saudi-Pakistan mutual defense pact?

www.brookings.edu

The signal and substance of the new Saudi-Pakistan defense pact | Brookings

Countries across the region may rightly view the Saudi-Pakistan defense pact as a hedge against over-dependence on great powers, and may well seek to do the same.
www.brookings.edu www.brookings.edu
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Looks like Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan in a defense pact.

On August 7, 2026, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey officially signed a landmark trilateral defense agreement known as the Mecca Agreement. The pact establishes a collective deterrence framework, declaring an armed attack on one member as an attack on all.

geopoliticalfutures.com

The Broader Impact of a New Alliance in the Middle East - Geopolitical Futures

Last week, my colleague Kamran Bokhari predicted the emergence of a new Middle Eastern geopolitical order. He noted that that order would be built around
geopoliticalfutures.com geopoliticalfutures.com
 
A somewhat different take:

www.climatechangenews.com

China's coal power rebounds as record clean energy goes to waste

Long-term contracts guarantee coal plants buyers regardless of demand, crowding out renewables, report finds
www.climatechangenews.com www.climatechangenews.com

The world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter brought 30 gigawatts (GW) of new coal power capacity into operation in the six months to June and coal-fired generation rose 3%

A further 274 GW of coal capacity - equivalent to roughly a fifth of China's existing coal fleet - is already either under construction or has permits to be built, meaning much of the sector's expansion is locked in for years, the report says.
 
Randy Daytona said:
The world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter brought 30 gigawatts (GW) of new coal power capacity into operation in the six months to June and coal-fired generation rose 3%

A further 274 GW of coal capacity - equivalent to roughly a fifth of China's existing coal fleet - is already either under construction or has permits to be built, meaning much of the sector's expansion is locked in for years, the report says.
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China is increasing its electricity generation from all sources, with coal making up less and less as time goes on since the Chinese isn't stupid and knows that coal is not an inexhaustible resource.

By 2030, China also wants to add over 300 gigawatts (GW) of renewable peaking capacity, or renewables that can be dispatched when demand spikes.
 
An all of the above strategy is a solid idea.

Meanwhile, very interesting news from Venezuela:

U.S. In Talks To Take Direct Ownership Of Venezuelan Oil Fields​

According to senior U.S. officials cited by Axios, the talks involve equity stakes in a select group of high-yield fields containing approximately 90 billion barrels of proven crude—a transaction that would significantly alter Washington’s foreign energy policy framework and expand U.S.-controlled global reserves.

The assets in question were previously operated by Venezuelan state interests, joint-venture partners, and Chinese state-backed entities.

If finalized, the arrangement would mark a structural evolution in the White House’s "Energy Dominance" paradigm.

oilprice.com

U.S. In Talks To Take Direct Ownership Of Venezuelan Oil Fields | OilPrice.com

Trump is reportedly seeking direct U.S. stakes in Venezuelan oilfields holding 90 billion barrels, potentially taking his “Energy Dominance” strategy to a new level.
oilprice.com oilprice.com
 
Randy Daytona said:
Meanwhile, very interesting news from Venezuela:

U.S. In Talks To Take Direct Ownership Of Venezuelan Oil Fields​

According to senior U.S. officials cited by Axios, the talks involve equity stakes in a select group of high-yield fields containing approximately 90 billion barrels of proven crude—a transaction that would significantly alter Washington’s foreign energy policy framework and expand U.S.-controlled global reserves.

The assets in question were previously operated by Venezuelan state interests, joint-venture partners, and Chinese state-backed entities.

If finalized, the arrangement would mark a structural evolution in the White House’s "Energy Dominance" paradigm.

oilprice.com

U.S. In Talks To Take Direct Ownership Of Venezuelan Oil Fields | OilPrice.com

Trump is reportedly seeking direct U.S. stakes in Venezuelan oilfields holding 90 billion barrels, potentially taking his “Energy Dominance” strategy to a new level.
oilprice.com oilprice.com
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How is this a good idea at all? Since when did the US government get directly involved on such a large scale in foreign business ownership, or business ownership period? Isn't this socialism, a bogeyman of the right, or is it some sort of imperialism? Why not both?*

The irony is that this is exactly what a lot of folks claimed our invasion of Iraq was really about, that we wanted to take over the oil fields.

*®Old El Paso.
 
Flash said:
How is this a good idea at all? Since when did the US government get directly involved on such a large scale in foreign business ownership, or business ownership period? Isn't this socialism, a bogeyman of the right, or is it some sort of imperialism? Why not both?*

The irony is that this is exactly what a lot of folks claimed our invasion of Iraq was really about, that we wanted to take over the oil fields.

*®Old El Paso.
Click to expand...

At this point, is anyone really surprised?
 
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