Richard Fineberg: Local Energy Policy Analyst of Note
4 August 2008
Image via WikipediaIn my humble opinion, one of the finest energy policy analysts in the state, perhaps THE finest, is Richard Fineberg. During the 1980s he was senior advisor to the Governor of Alaska on oil and gas policy, and since then he has been an intrepid independent analyst with an excellent reputation. In his own words…
At this web site [www.finebergresearch.com] you will find fact-based information about economic and environmental aspects of oil industry operations in Alaska, with special emphasis on the North Slope oil fields and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS), which provides about one million barrels of oil per day (five percent of the nation’s total consumption) to the West Coast. Due to the oil industry’s power, political clout and media skills, much of the information you will find here is not widely reported or readily available elsewhere.
The current article on his website was written just last month, and is entitled “Drill Worshippers Take Note: Domestic Oil Use, Imports On Declining Trend for First Time in 25 Years.” The central thesis, presented below, is well grounded in publicly available facts, but contrarian nevertheless…
Fact: For the first time in the last quarter century, since 2005 net petroleum imports - the figure that the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) uses to measure dependence on foreign oil - have exhibited a decreasing trend. Today, both net petroleum imports and total domestic consumption are slightly lower than they were in 2004….
While the decrease in domestic consumption and imports is slight, the break from the historical trend is striking. Even more important: Looking forward, the EIA foresees a pronounced decline in the percentage of net petroleum imports in coming decades.
These developments, largely unnoticed in the national energy debate, have momentous consequences. In the last three years reductions in domestic petroleum consumption and early implementation of alternative technologies have led to significant reductions in projected oil imports that dwarf the production potential of the Arctic Refuge. When national trends reported by EIA are extended out to the year 2050, this nation is already on track to achieve a reduction in imports of more than 100 billion barrels of oil through conservation and alternative technologies. By comparison, potential production from the Arctic Refuge Coastal Plain region during the same period is estimated to be far less than 10 billion barrels of oil.
The rest of Fineberg’s website contains a profusion of enlightening news, analysis, and commentary on subjects that have typically received too little notice from government agencies, the press, and other policy analysts. Don’t be shy–take a look. I am certain you will find it a rewarding experience.
