Articles by David Roberts

WSJ on Canadian tar-sands oil

The Wall Street Journal is running a magisterial survey of the Canadian tar-sands issue. Sadly, I don't have time to say anything about it, and you can't read it (unless you're a subscriber).

But at least throwing this link up relieves some of the bloggy guilt.

More on the case of the lost oil-drilling royalties

Over on Daily Grist, we've given pretty extensive coverage to the story of how oil companies will manage to dodge some $7 billion worth of royalty payments over the next five years (up to $35 billion, depending on the outcome of a court challenge). What with Bush Scandal Fatigue, the story didn't get the attention it should have. Oh, another $7 billion out of taxpayer pockets to subsidize the world's wealthiest industry? Ho hum.

Anyway, there's a fantastic piece in today's New York Times that provides much-needed context.

Originally, the incentive program to persuade oil companies to drill in the Gulf of Mexico was supposed to cost taxpayers nothing. Then, you know, one thing led to another. Now it's gonna run them $7 billion. How'd that happen?

Checking in with the Kossacks

I've known in a vague way that a person with the nom de blog "Jerome a Paris" does a lot of eco-blogging over on Daily Kos, but I must confess I don't have the fortitude to wade into that site very often.

However, via an Oil Drum open thread I stumbled on Jerome's "Countdown to $100 oil" series, which is very cool. Here's the latest entry, about the recent sharp rise in oil-futures prices -- it also has links to all 24 (!) previous entries in the series.

He's also involved in the dKos' community's "Energize America" plan -- of which you can read the fourth draft here.

Speechifying.

Hmm ... New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is writing editorials for the Manchester Union-Leader? Whatever interest could the governor have in New Hampshire?

The piece itself verges on parody, it is such a generic recitation of Democratic talking points on energy. "Foreign oil," check. "Apollo-like project," check. "Can't drill our way out of the problem," check. "Big oil companies with record profits," check.

Of course, I think it's all to the good that this has so quickly become conventional wisdom. It's all true. But Richardson has always struck me as a bit smarmy and unimaginative. This piece of writing, which may as well have come from the Democratic Central Computer's Energy Phrase Generator, only reinforces that impression.