January 15, 2007

Dept. of Energy Demonstrates Viability of New Technology for U.S. Energy Independence

From UPI:

A U.S. Department of Energy project has demonstrated the viability of a new technology that might unlock the nation's largest potential source of oil.

Government scientists say the United States holds more than three-fourths of the world's estimated 2.6 trillion barrels of oil-in-place of oil shale, with 1.1 trillion barrels of oil equivalent believed recoverable in the richest single deposit -- the Green River formation of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming -- a volume nearly 50 percent greater than the conventional oil reserves of the entire Middle East.

...[The new] technology could slash recovery costs by half or more while minimizing disturbance of the land, researchers said.

Chavez Seeks Authority to Rule Venezuela by Decree

Per an op-ed piece in the LA Times by Alexandra Starr, Hugo Chavez is:

• Nationalizing the country's telecom and electric utilities ( "to the astonishment of international investors" ).
• Demanding congressional authority to rule by decree for one year.
• Seeking to amend Venezuela's constitution to enable him to stay in office indefinitely.

Per Starr:

Given his tight grip on all branches of the government, his wish is likely to be granted.