Energy companies

After many months of Ed Milliband putting himself out there as a Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change that actually gets climate change, finally his big Plan, the UK Low Carbon Transition Plan was unveiled on Wednesday, in a speech in the House of Commons that namechecked Transition Towns and which is the boldest national vision for a low carbon society yet seen. Many others have since pitched in with their thoughts, I thought it might be useful here to offer an analysis from a Transition perspective.

Quite apart from the long-shot chance that the venture could actually succeed, Exxon benefits from being able to brandish an environmental pin on its lapel, and its association with an authentic biofuels rock star. As Deutsche Bank's Paul Sankey told me in an email, "I think it's part R&D, part PR." Venter himself needed the cash injection, and could earn $300 million from Exxon if he meets certain unspecified project milestones probably associated with the economics of the algae.

Introducing The Citizen’s Guide to Climate Policy
The Bill
Big Oil/Lundberg Survey Scare Tactics Against Climate Legislation

In Mother Russia, She's 1st Lady of Gardening
Why Jimmy Carter's Malaise Speech Is More Relevant than Ever
The Film Big Coal Does Not Want You to See

Chat with a peak oil screenwriter
Two pop thinkers and their fight about zero
Former oil analyst Lundberg on Exxon's continuing to fund climate skeptics

Thirty contestants, only one winner in the Iraqi oil licence gameshow
Eager to Tap Iraq's Vast Oil Reserves, Industry Execs Suggested Invasion
The unemployment timebomb is quietly ticking
Interview: Hungary—“Where we went wrong”

A weekly review including:
- Production and Prices
- The Iraqi auction – success or failure?
- Briefs

A weekly review from a UK perspective - "The first round in the great Iraqi oil sale was an interesting affair if not a very conclusive one. In the live TV auction which took place on Tuesday, only one deal was reached as international oil companies refused to meet the terms demanded...

Just a year and a half after a breakthrough Solar Grand Plan study was published in the January 2008 Scientific American, the U.S. government has begun plans to implement major elements of such a Plan.

A weekly round-up including:
- Prices and production
- The auction