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Patterns of Change Energy's Inevitable Game Change Easy access to relatively inexpensive and abundant sources of easily transportable and versatile hydrocarbon fuels has created a massive hydrocarbon-based inertia within the industrialized world. SRI research scientists Hew Crane and Ed Kinderman maintain that the industrialized world has reached an inflection point at which a significant revaluation of hydrocarbons as energy sources is necessary for the future stability of global political, corporate, and financial structures. They believe that the industrialized world’s current appetite for energy, combined with ambitious growth plans by the developing world, has significant market implications. As hydrocarbons’ abundance decreases, their inherent versatility, transportability, and high energy per unit of mass will eventually make them an even more treasured energy source. A significant revaluation in the marketplace is inevitable. Whether that revaluation takes place gradually and constructively in the next 10 to 20 years or occurs catastrophically in a short time at some undetermined point in the future depends on how proactively governments, corporations, and the public approach the situation. Shifting the huge inertia of the hydrocarbon-based global energy economy will take significant time, effort, and money, but maintaining the global economy’s current energy course is risky in the long run. Page 2. Items Worth Noting Barnes & Noble University Barnesandnoble.com intends to offer free educational content (in conjunction with notHarvard.com) through its online Barnes & Noble University. Page 8. Electricity Gridlock The infrastructure for providing electrical power is showing its age as power utilities throughout the world try to cope with increasing demand, deregulation, and environmental concerns on the part of the public. Page 8. Digital Signatures Portable smart identification devices and cards may soon be as ubiquitous as ATM cards following the signing into law in the United States of legislation recognizing digital signatures as legally binding. Page 8. |
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