Comments on: Why Big Oil Misses the Big Picture

By: Felix

Felix — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:47:05 +0000

@Shane: you are absolutely right, and this would suggest that we DO need subsidies (combined with an aggressive lobby to push alternatives to oil) to create the right incentive structure.
No matter how monumental a challenge, I would love to figure out how to convince oil companies to be more creative when looking at their collective future. Ideas anyone?
@ter: Let’s hope so!

By: Shane Petersen

Shane Petersen — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:57:43 +0000

The oil companies wont stop producing oil until it is gone. The only way they would walk away from their massive investments is if the demand for oil becomes so low that the profit margin isnt there anymore. For this to happen we as consumers need to reduce our use of gasoline, plastics and other petrol based products. In turn the government needs to continue to raise fuel efficiency requirements for automobiles encouraging efficiency and alternative fuel development.

By: ter

ter — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:00:36 +0000

If the mass unite and demand change, it will happen. unfortunately people don’t change until the brink of their existence is threaten. I feel that brink is coming soon.

By: Felix

Felix — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:21:34 +0000

Thanks Jen :)

By: Felix

Felix — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:44:42 +0000

@Saul: I hear you, but I think that’s the point: being “realistic” totally depends on where you sit. For an oil exec, re-purposing unused oil infrastructure doesn’t make sense based on oil’s short time line. Extend the time line, however, and the drivers for innovation and alternative growth channels will shift as well.
@Editon: Definitely made me laugh! Having said that, it would be more accurate if we lived in a world where beef was a finite commodity. Then how would the absurdity of the proposition change? I totally agree that subsidies are a big problem, but maybe a necessary evil (if administered correctly).

By: Editon

Editon — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:52:02 +0000

To quote Jeff Siegel's post here: "Can you imagine if you owned steakhouse, and the government had the audacity to come along and ask you how much you have invested in vegetarian restaurants? It's absurd." I think both of these posts have valid points, but at the end of the day we need to stop the damn subsidies of these guys. then competitors will come in and change the picture, or maybe these guys will change.

By: Saul Crayson

Saul Crayson — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:54:00 +0000

Excellent post, but let’s be realistic – what’s the path toward accomplishing what you propose in the last paragraph? I mean, I totally agree, but imagine that you’re an oil exec, how in the world would you get there? That’s not to excuse these guys from being total jerks, but one definitely has to think about how insanely complicated and expensive it would be. Plus there are a lot of shareholders who would riot if the company took the losses needed to start the process… it’s a tough job!

By: Jen Boynton

Jen Boynton — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:15:25 +0000

way to go Woodward!