$100 oil celebration

[trebuchet03]

I must admit, I wasn't entirely sad that oil broke $100...

http://www.time.com/time/business/ar...rss-topstories


The next "milestone" so to speak is just shy of $103 - the highest inflation adjusted price for oil...


Was anyone else quietly celebrating a victory for future efficiency?

[SVOboy]

Originally Posted by trebuchet03

I must admit, I wasn't entirely sad that oil broke $100...

http://www.time.com/time/business/ar...rss-topstories


The next "milestone" so to speak is just shy of $103 - the highest inflation adjusted price for oil...


Was anyone else quietly celebrating a victory for future efficiency?

Indeed, I have a kind of "oh well, " feeling about it.

[bestmapman]

This is one of those Good and Bad situations.

The Good:

Higher price means greater research for new energy products.
...means people will get smaller cars and pollute less.
...means use of less energy and less dependence on foreign oil.
...means electric cars will become a realality.

The Bad:

Higher price means all prices will go up, thus inflation.
...means job losses as businesses cut back to stay competitive.
...means possible recession as businesses stop spending.
...means we further transfer wealth to the Middle East.

So is it a celebration?

I'ts more like getting a root canal. You don't want to go through it, but you know it has to be done. Because, The alternatives are not good.

When it is all over it is great. But, nobody wants to through it.

[SVOboy]

I figure the bad is mostly found in people's willingness to pay stay stuck on the oil economy rather than making a transition to something sustainable...If we could make that transition before we have some fool's crisis, then we'd prolly end up better off. Especially if we bring the industry into our own country rather than somewhere centered around pumping oil.

*shrug*

[MetroMPG]

I have to admit I was not sad. However...

Originally Posted by bestmapman

I'ts more like getting a root canal. You don't want to go through it, but you know it has to be done. Because, The alternatives are not good.

That, is a good sentiment, mapman. Nicely put.

[cfg83]

Hello -

I don't mind (yet, ). I can't tell, are we paying a price at the pump that reflects $100/barrel? Anyway, it just makes this mainstream article all the more relevant :

A Solar Grand Plan - Scientific American Magazine - January, 2008
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=a-solar-grand-plan

KEY CONCEPTS

* A massive switch from coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power plants to solar power plants could supply 69 percent of the U.S.’s electricity and 35 percent of its total energy by 2050.

* A vast area of photovoltaic cells would have to be erected in the Southwest. Excess daytime energy would be stored as compressed air in underground caverns to be tapped during nighttime hours.

* Large solar concentrator power plants would be built as well.

* A new direct-current power transmission backbone would deliver solar electricity across the country.

* But $420 billion in subsidies from 2011 to 2050 would be required to fund the infrastructure and make it cost-competitive.

I've been screaming "go solar" forever, so why not us(a)?

CarloSW2

[trebuchet03]

Originally Posted by cfg83

I don't mind (yet, ). I can't tell, are we paying a price at the pump that reflects $100/barrel? Anyway, it just makes this mainstream article all the more relevant :

No, we're currently trading for February prices

Originally Posted by bestmapman:
I'ts more like getting a root canal. You don't want to go through it, but you know it has to be done. Because, The alternatives are not good.


That, is a good sentiment, mapman. Nicely put.

I second