Energy Investment - Energy Return

Peak Moment 136: In his presentation at the ASPO-USA 2008 conference, independent financial consultant Jim Hansen runs every investment through the peak oil test. He explores traditional energy investments; opportunities in renewables, rail, and electrifying the transportation system; areas to avoid like airlines and trucking; and what to watch, like electric cars and the unwinding of globalization.

In this interview, ecologist and professor Charlie Hall looks at energy return on the energy invested. Whether it's a cheetah chasing antelopes, or humans making ethanol -- the energy we get back has to exceed the energy we put in, or the story is over. He compares oil's energy return in the 1930's (1 calorie invested returned 100 calories of energy) with now (1:12) and declining. (Corn ethanol, by the way, is about 1:1).

Presenters respond to the final question in the Q&A session at the close of ASPO-USA's 2008 conference: how do we better harness the intellect, energy and commitment at this conference, and what one thing would you suggest that people do?
http://www.aspo-usa.com

DVDs of the entire conference can be ordered through ASPO-USA at http://www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=662327

This is the seventh Peak Moment Conversation videotaped at ASPO-USA 2008. Earlier programs are with energy investment banker Matthew Simmons on "Oil and Gas - The Next Meltdown?"; "Making Financial Sense of the Coming Energy Crisis" with Jim Puplava of Financial Sense Newshour; James Howard Kunstler, author of The Long Emergency, and Julian Darley, founder of Post Carbon Institute; Megan Quinn Bachman of Community Solutions, and Bryn Davidson of Dynamic Cities Project; energy analyst Robert Hirsch (lead author of the so-called "Hirsch Report" for the Dept. of Energy), and Kyle Saunders, "Professor Goose" of the Oil Drum website.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• peak
• oil
• energy
• economy
• investment

[888zzz]

Good show, but needs to cover more topics because it gets super repetitious. We're running out of oil. Yeah, no kidding.

[peakmoment]

It's pretty astounding how few people know that we're running out of oil! Or want to even hear it. After all, life isn't going to be anywhere near the same after oil.

[SpeedyMarie]

Am I the only one totally distracted by that music?

[prieten49]

Unfortunately, the ASPO message has been totally lost now that the world economy has gone into a complete meltdown. I think Peak Moment TV has been warning us through these excellent "conversations" that we are a train going full speed into a brick wall. Now, the train has derailed before we hit that wall. Instead of coming to our senses, and implementing necessary changes to our way of life, everyone is trying to put the train back on the tracks! If we are lucky, it can't be fixed.

[KrunchyJD]

Maybe the answer lies in what is going on behind him. When he mentions corn ethanol.

[KrunchyJD]

Whats wrong with bicycles? Why dont any of these shows suggest more people riding bikes? They do in Europe.

[thealex12345]

it makes no sense...I mean the private sector can either turn the page or let India and China turn the page for us...All they have to do is turn electric companies into the "oil". Demand will always be there and you go green. Make the people happy and get paid. It's that simple growth increases at 7% a year... and doubles every 10. SO Wake Up private sector nothing's free you know shit just copy Warren Buffet and you get paid. haha

[notanumber6]

Both speakers are very illuminating - and NOT repetitious. Thanks!!

[scarmenl]

Sorry that should be Larson Radax Engine. Look at non food plant made alcohol for fuel. We are being badly misled as to the return numbers for the cost of fuel.  Also there is the matter of things like the radax engine that the major corporation make darn sure don't get out on the market.

[scarmenl]

I have my doubts about the oil shortage as well as global warming. I worked in the oil field when younger and am aware of the hundreds of thousands of capped wells that are drilled and sitting there with not one drop of oil having ever been pumped out of them. Global warming? If it is true then why to the numbers keep being exposed as false. Inspite of that, don't want to fight about those things. What we need to look at is getting out from under big oil anyway. Look at the larson radas en