Transport in many forms will require liquid fuels for a long time to come, and coal-to-liquids processes are inevitable. They were commercialised by Fischer-Tropsch in 1926, Germany fought World War II with them, and there are large coal resources around the world.

According to basic laws of thermodynamics (Stefan-Boltzmann, Max Planck et al.) anthropogenic carbon dioxide cannot be the principal cause of global warming. Besides, without carbon dioxide, agriculture, horticulture or trees cannot exist.

Fuethermore, about 85% of greenhouse gas effects are due to water vapour. As The Wall Street Journal's Bret Stephens wrote recently, "Global warming good for those with sick souls - Climate fears sre a mass neurosis".

Posted by Walter Cohn | July 16, 2008 1:08 PM

The real solution is all of the above. I think the big lesson learned here from the "oil crisis" is that we should no longer depend on one source of energy to remain stable. It's like any type of normal investment. The more you diversify (aka - don't put all your eggs in one basket) the better off you will be in the long-run. We need to do all of the above, INCLUDING reducing our energy consumption at the same time.

Posted by KC | July 24, 2008 9:15 AM

if we were serious about this energy problem...
but we aren't, are we.
during WWII the speed limits were 35 mph-and fuel was rationed. everyone walked, used mass transit,or hitched a ride rather than use a car. even bikes were in limited use to conserve rubber.
every resource was recycled, and everyone was expected to pitch in.
we were bound together by a commom goal.
propoganda made waste unpatriotic.
we are in much more trouble now,but want to keep profits up, and our world is all about consumption, not conservation...we need to evolve and grow into a new awareness-oh, sorry, that's just crazy. this is america, and we are brainwashed into thinking we can use anything and everything in the world for as long as we want to. in spite of the gas $ shocks, my commute on the highways at 55 mph is dangerously slow-everyone around me is still roaring along at 85. 55mph is for the streets, even the school zones are dangerously fast.
but, hey,thats america, get outta my way. the air conditioner is set at 68, the SUV at 85 mph, and its washed 3 times a week if needed (MY fresh water, paid for. screw them drought cursed 3rd worlders)
well. seems our chickens are coming home to roost...

Posted by lou | August 25, 2008 11:40 AM

50 % additional electricity capacity is readily achievable simply by promoting efficiency. An example of new efficiency technology is the Airborne Process (http://www.airbornepollutioncontrol.com/process.html). Switching to this new SOx / NOx emission control, will allow conventional coal plants to achieve much greater energy efficiency (>70 %) while coproducing granular fertilizer! This will in turn reduce the massive energy costs and GHG emissions associated with producing fertilizer!

Efficiency in power production and conversion has more to do with smart economics than it does climate change. Furthermore, deployment of cogeneration facilities is much faster than building new facilities.

Posted by Joseph Fournier | September 7, 2008 1:28 PM

Letter to the Editor,
While it seems everyone has something to say about our energy crisis. Some say use our own oil, it will be cheaper for Americans and we keep the money in our own country. Why should we make the Arabs rich? Oh yea, I remember now! They can buy bigger and better weapons to use against us.
Others proclaim that we whould use natural gas, no only is it cheaper, it burns cleaner, and we have a gazillion tons of it, right here in America.
Last, but not least, are those who say lets conserve. If it was poissible to get Americans to conserve 1% per household, you would be declared a miracle worker. Our government can't agree on a solution, and you expect the whole country to agree!
I know when we will use less. It will be two ways, either we can't afford to pay for it or we run out of energy products. Now there's a solution.

Posted by Angela Duncan | November 23, 2008 1:57 PM