[ralfy]

I think you have an overinflated notion of what discussion here can accomplish. None of us are in a position to move the needle on things at a macro level. It's just a bunch of personal ideology clashes and competing predictions for the sport of it. Anything beyond that would be delusions of grandeur.

There's really no real "point" in any of this discussion and all the information that flows through here is easily gleaned by following the news or doing a few google searches.

I think the point of these discussions is to show that nothing will "move the needle on things at a macro level," i.e., the needle moving towards availability of more energy and resources. Any argument that claims otherwise is part of "delusions of grandeur."

[ennui2]

"the needle moving towards availability of more energy and resources."

False. Renewables moves the needle. It just doesn't move it far enough. There is also the oft-forgotten "negawatt"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negawatt_power

[ralfy]

"the needle moving towards availability of more energy and resources."

False. Renewables moves the needle. It just doesn't move it far enough. There is also the oft-forgotten "negawatt"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negawatt_power

Not far enough = not enough energy and resources available.

[ROCKMAN]

ralfy - As far as "needle moving" it seems obvious that higher oil prices helped move the needle towards more fossil fuel production. OTOH the higher energy costs for the consumer helped move the needle upwards for the alts by increasing their financial viability. But now with lower oil prices the both needles should be falling back: neither oil exploration nor alt development are as attractive as they were when we were bouncing around $100/bbl.

[ralfy]

The problem is that the needle might not move as fast due to higher energy costs. Meanwhile, higher prices also weakens the global economy plus requires higher levels of financial speculation. The latter also puts pressure on alternatives which have low energy returns.