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Actually, I think we'll see all three factors play a role:--lower rate of growth in demand due to escalating prices in the short and midterm, "finding more oil", and new technologies.

We will see 1) in the longer term, some of the emerging technologies will eventually be successful, 2) in the short/medium term,existing energy sources being exploited more aggressively--note plans for new nuclear plants, continuing efforts with hybrid, electric and "cleaner diesel" just as  examples, 3) in the short term, more drilling for oil, note new drilling in the gulf, I believe between US and Cuba, financed by Russia, 4)also in the short term, previously unprofitable oil sites opened and producing, plus previous sources such as oil shale seem to be opening now, and 5) rising prices will both lower demand and move demand gradually away from oil,,,,and it would be nice if public policy supported that.  And probably a number of other factors i don't have a clue about.

There is no single "silver bullet" here, imho, but we'll get something from each of the above factors.

I don't know energy well enough to really invest in it, but Uranium mining stocks have done very well, such as Cameco and Pinetree Capitol, the former up eight fold in less than five years, and the latter up four fold this year.  I made some small investments in these and did well.  I'm letting those investments ride for a while, but watching somewhat carefully.  But I don't know the energy field well enough to to make any serious investments in it, so I can't really answer you.

by wchurchill on Tue Dec 19th, 2006 at 01:44:11 AM EST
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"rising prices will both lower demand..." should have read "lower the rate of increase in demand for energy".
by wchurchill on Tue Dec 19th, 2006 at 01:47:16 AM EST
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My favourite is Exelon.

Not due to peak oil actually, but due to North American peak gas.

Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.

by Starvid (arvid.hallen at gmail.com) on Tue Dec 19th, 2006 at 07:51:08 AM EST
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And the core of Exelon's business is this:

Exelon Nuclear is headquartered in Warrenville, Ill., and is a business unit of Exelon Corporation.  It operates the largest nuclear fleet in the nation and the third largest fleet in the world.  Exelon's ten stations - with 17 reactors - represent approximately 20 percent of the U.S. nuclear industry's power capacity.  Chris Crane is president and chief nuclear officer Exelon Nuclear and senior vice president, Exelon Corporation.

Exelon Nuclear's 17 generating units produced a total of 130.2 million net megawatt-hours of electricity in 2005.  The fleet also achieved an average capacity factor of 93.5 percent, the fifth year in a row the capacity factor was more than 92 percent.



Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.
by Starvid (arvid.hallen at gmail.com) on Tue Dec 19th, 2006 at 07:58:25 AM EST
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RE-NEW-ABLE.

Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. -Charu Saxena.
by metavision on Tue Dec 19th, 2006 at 11:38:03 AM EST
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I take your point that uranium is not renewable, but it seems to be available in abundance, and as technology goes forward, I would expect productivity increases in the use of uranium, so the same amount produces more energy.  So it seems to me the renewable aspect of uranium is not really an issue, do you agree?  I realize there are other issues with uranium, however.
by wchurchill on Tue Dec 19th, 2006 at 02:57:32 PM EST
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