Energy-Related Educational Resources

Covers such issues as oil shortages, "peak oil", ethanol, and alternatives

  1. Approximately 10 to 15 page analyses of current topics, prepared by Gail Tverberg. All include several references as well as discussion questions. Assumes college-level understanding of issues. Can be used out of order. Free.
    • Oil Quiz - html / pdf – The answers tell some of the reasons why people are now concerned about peak oil.
    • What Are Our Alternatives, If Fossil Fuels are a Problem? - html | pdf – Provides an overview of alternatives to oil and natural gas, plus answers some FAQs.
    • Our World Is Finite: Is This a Problem? - html | pdf – Provides an overview of what may lie ahead.
    • Corn-Based Ethanol: Is This a Solution? - html | pdf – Looks at the ecological and economic impacts of increasing production of ethanol from corn.
  2. Resources available free from other sites:
    • Oil Study Guide - From WorldWithoutOil.com, which was funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Four-pages of question and answers, at a more basic level than "Oil Quiz". PDF only.
    • Community Solution "New Solution" Reports - Approximately 12-page reports on specific topics, such as "The Energy Impact of Buildings". PDF's free; printed copies available for $2
    • Peak oil primer on Wikipedia - Html only
    • Also note that the Html versions of the Items in "A" above include links to a number of supplementary resources, appropriate to the particular topic.
  3. Magazine articles written by Gail Tverberg on finite world issues. While these are aimed at audiences of insurance executives or actuaries, the articles may be of interest to others also. PDF only.
    • Oil Shortages: The Next Katrina? – Describes why people are concerned about oil shortages, and what the impact may be on the insurance industry. Target audience is insurance executives. Published by the Tillinghast business of Towers Perrin in "Emphasis" magazine, 2006/2.
    • Our Finite World - Implications for Actuaries – Introduces actuaries to the fact that oil, natural gas, and water shortages are likely to have an impact on actuarial assumptions, and what this impact may be. Discusses fact that many economic assumptions may not hold in the future because the world is finite, and urges actuaries to play a more active role in questioning the assumptions of economic theory. Published by the American Academy of Actuaries in "Contingency Magazine", May/June 2007 issue.