On April 16, 11:30-12:30, the local chapter of the U.S. Association for Energy Economics is sponsoring a presentation by a representative of the Energy Information Administration of their "Energy Outlook 2009" report at the Convention Center. This is the report referenced in the article below that stated non-OPEC oil production peaked five years ago. In the attached announcement, the presentation is described as follows:

Key aspects of results from the Energy Information Administration’s "Annual Energy Outlook 2009" (released December 2008) will be presented. Particular focus will be on issues that indicate how America’s energy future is changing, with an emphasis on electricity generation. 

Note the RSVP request in the announcement (pdf).

Sssh...nobody tell Build the Bridges Coalition...

Barack Obama says:

But we need action – and action now. That is why I have asked my economic team to develop an economic recovery plan for both Wall Street and Main Street that will help save or create at least two and a half million jobs, while rebuilding our infrastructure, improving our schools, reducing our dependence on oil, and saving billions of dollars.

...

Second, we will create millions of jobs by making the single largest new investment in our national infrastructure since the creation of the federal highway system in the 1950s. We’ll invest your precious tax dollars in new and smarter ways, and we’ll set a simple rule – use it or lose it. If a state doesn’t act quickly to invest in roads and bridges in their communities, they’ll lose the money.

With no matching comment on freight rail or transit. If Obama wants to reduce our depenence on oil and save billions of dollars, he doesn't have to look that hard. Freight Rail and Transit are the answer. Roads are nice, but they don't meet the criterion that he lays out.

...Full text below the fold...

The C-J runs a background piece on hydroelectric power in Kentucky, with the focus on CART board member David Coyte's dam.

The Oil Drum has an article detailing where the US gets it's oil from. We always hear that Canada and Mexico are the primary sources, but since the US is host to so many refineries that take that product and ship it back to our neighbors, that's actually not accurate, at least with Mexico. The graph shows the net petroleum imports to the US:

The burn rate on road construction has exceeded the collection rate for gas taxes for some time now. This month the savings built up in the past are running out, and the Feds are cutting smaller, pro-rated checks, with a promise to pay back the difference "in the future". This will mean many states without savings of their own - which I suspect includes Kentucky, but not Indiana - will have to curtail road construction.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/06/us/06highway.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

“We still have a third-world grid,” Mr. [NM Governor Bill] Richardson said, repeating a comment he has made several times. “With the federal government not investing, not setting good regulatory mechanisms, and basically taking a back seat on everything except drilling and fossil fuels, the grid has not been modernized, especially for wind energy.”

Big Oil Earned $236 Per American Driver In The Last Year - over $150 Billion in profits (yeah, that's a B, that's $150,000,000,000)  http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/2008/per_driver.html

Do More, Talk Less: Bruce Lunsford’s 8 Point Plan For Energy Independence

Text of the proposal is in black, my comments are in green. - Dave

As Kentuckians feel the pain at the pump from Carter County to Calloway County, Bruce Lunsford is committed to lowering gas prices, reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil, strengthening our national security, and boosting Kentucky’s economy. Instead of arguing over divisive proposals that get nothing done, Bruce Lunsford’s 8 Point Plan offers real leadership to help solve Kentucky’s energy needs. The 8 Point Plan is comprehensive, providing both short-term relief, and long-term solutions to ease the burden that high energy prices are putting on working Kentucky families.

Via the Courier-Journal: Gas costs take bigger slice of incomes in Ky., Ind.

Tuesday, July 22nd at 7pm at The Village 8 Theater.

View the trailer.

From www.gasholemovie.com:

"GasHole" is a new documentary film about the history of Oil prices and the future of alternative fuels.