I have rooftop solar panels and an EV. My panels amortize to 7 cents / kilowatt hour over the 30-year life of the panels. I’ve more than recouped my investments already. You burn if you wish. I’m happy having made the transition.
Appreciate the analysis and description of hidden oil subsidies. Very important to make the point now that moving to renewables is better (and cheaper!) energy security. I could do without the analogy to sex workers being abused by pimps. This is: 1) a horrendous thing, and should not be treated as a side comment, 2) it distracts from your argument by being very "jarring." Is there a better consumer analogy that everyone could relate to?, and 3) it seems like a 'miss' on the part of the author as far as appropriateness. Thanks for considering for next time. Abuse of women is a real, every day thing, many of your readers (and supporters!) may be women who have been affected by physical abuse. Submitted respectfully. Not looking for an argument or defensive replies. I am a regular reader of your blog and usually enjoy it. THANKS!
One of these days, one of these oil wars will have the ironic effect of accelerating the transition to renewables. One of these days. One of these oil wars.
Actually, i5 is happening right now with the EU after Trump conned them into lng. Maybe, they'll get it from the USA now but at higher prices. Trump da pimp of da pimps.
Typo in the article "But there’s another hidden subsidty ...". "T" in subsidy. Not the end of the world, but I thought I'd point it out for future releases and such. Very insightful article, thank you!
The current turbulence in oil and gas supply isn’t the world’s first rodeo. It is a very cyclical occurrence. Some countries handle it better than others. In the US, some presidents shout "drill, baby, drill," while others claim oil is the enemy and yet they still support drilling because the price at the pump makes or breaks election chances. It is a masterclass in hypocrisy. Complaining that oil is expensive while continuing to buy larger, less efficient vehicles is the opposite of progress. Failing to close the loopholes that allow this to be the norm only exposes the lack of true leadership.
As for solutions: after the oil shocks of the 1970s, France effectively purged fossil fuels from its electricity production. It took only about 15 years and yielded plenty of co-benefits. If we combine that approach with the modern heat pumps and EV/PHEV batteries we have today, decarbonization is just a step away. It puts the efforts of most other nations to shame. Why not to mention this in post like that? Is “N” word forbidden?
"In the US, some presidents shout 'drill, baby, drill,' while others claim oil is the enemy and yet they still support drilling because the price at the pump makes or breaks election chances. It is a masterclass in hypocrisy."
What others? Biden was mindful enough of politics that he, and bare Democratic majorities in both Legislative houses, enacted the "Inflation Reduction Act" in 2022. VP Harris broke the tie in the Senate. Not a single Republican member of either house voted yea. The IRA contained modest but real incentives for renewable energy development and consumer electrification: gotta start somewhere. The current Kakistocrat-in-Chief gleefully put a stop to all that, and ran roughshod over US environmental protection in general, after winning office by 1.5% of the popular vote on kitchen-table issues; well less than he lost by the last time. It just goes to show you can fool at least half the people, almost all the time!
Meanwhile, the percentage of US voters "alarmed" or "concerned" about climate change now exceeds 50%. It won't take many more broken extreme weather records to turn things around in the next election! Well, that and summary executions of lawful protestors by Presidential myrmidons on camera, or launching wars of his choice, or ...
Andrew, the bad news is the regional war in the Middle East may soon remove 25% of the world's hydrocarbon industry; the good news is the regional war in the Middle East may soon remove 25% of the world's hydrocarbon industry. Could we be witnessing the unfolding of the beginnings of Degrowth, not orderly but chaotic because we didn't plan otherwise?
Replacing one mass-produced industrial product reliant upon massive hydrocarbon inputs with another mass-produced industrial product reliant upon massive hydrocarbon inputs not only does nothing to reduce reliance upon hydrocarbons but exacerbates our ecological overshoot predicament and all of its symptom predicaments.
There are major differences. For one, renewable energy infrastructure structure once installed will produce for decades. As we see again now, not so for fossil fuels. It must be replenished every day.
If the intent is to address impacts upon our environment and its ecological systems then a massive buildout of non-renewable, renewable energy-harvesting technologies is a non-starter. It is an attempt to sustain the unsustainable, not protect our biosphere.
Logged in to say exactly this. Happy to see you already covered it. Sadly too many are 'material blind' and do not see that renewables are just adding to the energy stack, not replacing it, and the blind race to do it is likely to accelerate our ecological issues due to the massive (mostly diesel powered) resource extraction required when ore grades are already in decline.
Wind and solar can power a society, just not this one.
"A missile strike on Iranian oil infrastructure has zero [little !] effect on the cost of generating electricity from a solar panel in Texas or a wind turbine in Iowa" ... but it will increase the value of each kWh to cusomers and the price of electricity, thus support investment.
It is not "zero effect" because higher energy prices will also make steel and other supplies more expensive, and may lead to higher interest rates.
Hello everyone, I also have solar panels (both photo - and heating water tubes), 2 EV and heating pump. Glad to make the change, hope many others will see "the light". Thanks for article, know about fossil fuels subsidies, but not in this scale. Keep informing us, is really need it!
And the current war tally for US human cost is at least 6 lives lost and an unreported number of injuries. Forbes reported on march 3 that the estimated cost as of that date ranged from 2 -3 billion depending on the source they quoted and with estimates of up to 90 billion for the entire operation if the estimates of the Trump administration of 4-5 weeks is actually adhered to.
I have rooftop solar panels and an EV. My panels amortize to 7 cents / kilowatt hour over the 30-year life of the panels. I’ve more than recouped my investments already. You burn if you wish. I’m happy having made the transition.
Appreciate the analysis and description of hidden oil subsidies. Very important to make the point now that moving to renewables is better (and cheaper!) energy security. I could do without the analogy to sex workers being abused by pimps. This is: 1) a horrendous thing, and should not be treated as a side comment, 2) it distracts from your argument by being very "jarring." Is there a better consumer analogy that everyone could relate to?, and 3) it seems like a 'miss' on the part of the author as far as appropriateness. Thanks for considering for next time. Abuse of women is a real, every day thing, many of your readers (and supporters!) may be women who have been affected by physical abuse. Submitted respectfully. Not looking for an argument or defensive replies. I am a regular reader of your blog and usually enjoy it. THANKS!
One of these days, one of these oil wars will have the ironic effect of accelerating the transition to renewables. One of these days. One of these oil wars.
I agree. We just need to make sure that people connect the dots between wars and fossil fuels.
Actually, i5 is happening right now with the EU after Trump conned them into lng. Maybe, they'll get it from the USA now but at higher prices. Trump da pimp of da pimps.
Some goodish news: The Trump Administration just had its first oil&gas lease sale by the Bureau of Land Management and got NO takers.
Former oilman Mr. Global (Matt Randolph) explains why:
"Another Failed Oil Lease Sale in Alaska For Trump"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmJA_di67I0
Spot on Andrew!
And Trump wants to make our country and trading partner countries dependent on our lng and other fossils.
Make America a GHG Armageddon the maghgots shout out.
We all lose with this stupid view that oil is gold. It's worse than fool's gold.
Typo in the article "But there’s another hidden subsidty ...". "T" in subsidy. Not the end of the world, but I thought I'd point it out for future releases and such. Very insightful article, thank you!
The current turbulence in oil and gas supply isn’t the world’s first rodeo. It is a very cyclical occurrence. Some countries handle it better than others. In the US, some presidents shout "drill, baby, drill," while others claim oil is the enemy and yet they still support drilling because the price at the pump makes or breaks election chances. It is a masterclass in hypocrisy. Complaining that oil is expensive while continuing to buy larger, less efficient vehicles is the opposite of progress. Failing to close the loopholes that allow this to be the norm only exposes the lack of true leadership.
As for solutions: after the oil shocks of the 1970s, France effectively purged fossil fuels from its electricity production. It took only about 15 years and yielded plenty of co-benefits. If we combine that approach with the modern heat pumps and EV/PHEV batteries we have today, decarbonization is just a step away. It puts the efforts of most other nations to shame. Why not to mention this in post like that? Is “N” word forbidden?
"In the US, some presidents shout 'drill, baby, drill,' while others claim oil is the enemy and yet they still support drilling because the price at the pump makes or breaks election chances. It is a masterclass in hypocrisy."
What others? Biden was mindful enough of politics that he, and bare Democratic majorities in both Legislative houses, enacted the "Inflation Reduction Act" in 2022. VP Harris broke the tie in the Senate. Not a single Republican member of either house voted yea. The IRA contained modest but real incentives for renewable energy development and consumer electrification: gotta start somewhere. The current Kakistocrat-in-Chief gleefully put a stop to all that, and ran roughshod over US environmental protection in general, after winning office by 1.5% of the popular vote on kitchen-table issues; well less than he lost by the last time. It just goes to show you can fool at least half the people, almost all the time!
Meanwhile, the percentage of US voters "alarmed" or "concerned" about climate change now exceeds 50%. It won't take many more broken extreme weather records to turn things around in the next election! Well, that and summary executions of lawful protestors by Presidential myrmidons on camera, or launching wars of his choice, or ...
Andrew, the bad news is the regional war in the Middle East may soon remove 25% of the world's hydrocarbon industry; the good news is the regional war in the Middle East may soon remove 25% of the world's hydrocarbon industry. Could we be witnessing the unfolding of the beginnings of Degrowth, not orderly but chaotic because we didn't plan otherwise?
Replacing one mass-produced industrial product reliant upon massive hydrocarbon inputs with another mass-produced industrial product reliant upon massive hydrocarbon inputs not only does nothing to reduce reliance upon hydrocarbons but exacerbates our ecological overshoot predicament and all of its symptom predicaments.
There are major differences. For one, renewable energy infrastructure structure once installed will produce for decades. As we see again now, not so for fossil fuels. It must be replenished every day.
If the intent is to address impacts upon our environment and its ecological systems then a massive buildout of non-renewable, renewable energy-harvesting technologies is a non-starter. It is an attempt to sustain the unsustainable, not protect our biosphere.
Fossil fuel fluffer boi is not going to look good on your resume.
Please show me where I have supported hydrocarbons...in any of my writing, anywhere.
I know we clashed previously, Mr. Baldwin, but I liked that comment 8^).
Logged in to say exactly this. Happy to see you already covered it. Sadly too many are 'material blind' and do not see that renewables are just adding to the energy stack, not replacing it, and the blind race to do it is likely to accelerate our ecological issues due to the massive (mostly diesel powered) resource extraction required when ore grades are already in decline.
Wind and solar can power a society, just not this one.
In the future, renewable energy infrastructure can and will be produced and installed with less and less hydrocarbon combustion.
That’s hopeful thinking that ignores present reality and perhaps more importantly the scale of what is being proposed.
"A missile strike on Iranian oil infrastructure has zero [little !] effect on the cost of generating electricity from a solar panel in Texas or a wind turbine in Iowa" ... but it will increase the value of each kWh to cusomers and the price of electricity, thus support investment.
It is not "zero effect" because higher energy prices will also make steel and other supplies more expensive, and may lead to higher interest rates.
Russia's war in Ukraine is also funded with fassil oil and gas receipts.
Iran funds its nuclear program and terrorist groups like Hisbollah and Hamas with oil income.
the dependency on a system that should be phased out has never been more obvious. question is - which countries act first?
Solar and wind will replace fossil.
Thanks Andrew for bumping up these so-called “indirect” fossil fuel subsidies. The more awareness people have of this, the better.
Hello everyone, I also have solar panels (both photo - and heating water tubes), 2 EV and heating pump. Glad to make the change, hope many others will see "the light". Thanks for article, know about fossil fuels subsidies, but not in this scale. Keep informing us, is really need it!
And the current war tally for US human cost is at least 6 lives lost and an unreported number of injuries. Forbes reported on march 3 that the estimated cost as of that date ranged from 2 -3 billion depending on the source they quoted and with estimates of up to 90 billion for the entire operation if the estimates of the Trump administration of 4-5 weeks is actually adhered to.