World Energy Transitions
James Hayes-Bohanan, Ph.D.
Considerations
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Kinds of energy
Patterns of energy use
Sources of energy
The future of energy
No “magic bullets” for sale here!
Kinds of energy
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Perpetual
Renewable
Non-renewable
Conservation
Historic energy use in U.S.
Cutter and Renwick, 1999.
Major commercial sources of
energy
• Fossil Fuels
– Coal
– Oil
– Natural Gas
• Nuclear
• Hydroelectric
Major Coal Reserves
Major Oil Reserves
Gulf Petroleum Exports
Energy Policy Considerations in the Aftermath of September 11
Philip K. Verleger, Jr.
http://www.ase.org/stars/pdf/pverleger.pdf
Petroleum dependence
Analysis from Forbes
What is at stake in Saudi Arabia:
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2001/1112/064_print.html
Ten-dollar gasoline?:
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2001/10/2201022oilcosts_print.html
Patterns of trade:
http://www.forbes.com/static_html/oil/oil.shtml
Nuclear
Cycles
Note dfferences
between current
and “future”
pathways.
U.S. Vehicle Fuel Efficiency
Energy Policy Considerations in the Aftermath of September 11
Philip K. Verleger, Jr. http://www.ase.org/stars/pdf/pverleger.pdf
U.S. Car/Truck Mix
Energy Policy Considerations in the Aftermath of September 11
Philip K. Verleger, Jr. http://www.ase.org/stars/pdf/pverleger.pdf
The future of energy
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Global
National
State and regional
Institutional
Individual
Global scale
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Resource limitations
Climate change
Other environmental harm
Geopolitics
National scale - imported oil
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Slow rate of overall economic growth
Increase taxes on imported oil
Encourage conservation
Promote domestic alternatives
Region-specific incentives
Strategic petroleum reserves
Energy Policy Considerations in the Aftermath of September 11
Philip K. Verleger, Jr. http://www.ase.org/stars/pdf/pverleger.pdf
National scale - longer term
• The previous list simply “buys time” while
alternatives are found.
• According to Verleger, “after 2015, the
United States and other major consumers
may have to admit that the resource base
outside the Middle East is insufficient.”
• Therefore, the policies focused on “energy
independence” are not useful long-term:
Post-petroleum policies are needed.
Post-petroleum technologies
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Wind
Solar
Tides
Fuel Cells
State and regional scale
• Electricity deregulation
– Price
– Air-quality
– Promoting alternatives
• Government as consumer
• Mass-transit and highway decisions
Institutional scale
• Energy Bear!
• Information systems
• ROI: Return on Investment
Individual scale
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Motivation
Consumption choices
Geographic choices
Technology choices: ROI
Reduce, reuse, recycle, repair
Utility facts
Under energy
deregulation,
consumers may
have greater
control over the
energy choices
made on their
behalf
Further information
• Environmental Geography web site at
http://webhost.bridgew.edu/jhayesboh
• Energy education page (choose “Energy”
from drop-down menu)
• Includes this presentation and citations