Lots of the recent investment (ethanol, tar sands, etc.) is based upon the long term expectation of high oil prices. If prices drop to $50 many of these projects become uneconomical.

It will be interesting to see who has the most political power in the upcoming tug of war. Uneconomic technologies can compete if governments give them tax incentives and/or raise taxes on fossil fuels (even indirectly).

Policies not Politics
---- Daily Landscape