The document discusses the history of energy use and climate change. It summarizes that: 1) Past energy resources like whale oil were eventually depleted and replaced by other sources as consumption increased and technologies advanced. 2) Measurement of carbon dioxide levels in Hawaii provided clear evidence of increasing atmospheric CO2 from human activities. 3) Electric grids transitioned from small local systems to large interconnected networks powered initially by coal and later natural gas and renewable energy.

1. “It is change, continuing change, inevitable change,
that is the dominant factor in society today. No
sensible decision can be made any longer without
taking into account not only the world as it is, but
the world as it will be....” Isaac Asimov
Seth Kaplan
Vice President for Policy and Climate Advocacy Conservation Law Foundation
Beacon Hill Seminars
February 12, 2012
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2. Energy Resources Rise & Fall: The Story of Whale Oil
Source: PRICE TRENDS OVER A COMPLETE HUBBERT CYCLE: THE CASE OF
THE AMERICAN WHALING INDUSTRY IN 19th CENTURY, Ugo Bardi, 2
Dipartimento di Chimica - Università di Firenze (2004)

3. The Story from Hawaii: The undeniable “Keeling Curve”
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4. The Electricity Grid of the past . . . and the future
Edison’s
Pearl
Street
Station
Photographic
Services of the
Consolidated
Edison Company of
New York, Inc.
Graphic courtesy of Alan Friefeld of Viridity Energy 4

5. The History of US Energy use in one slide
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Source: The Encyclopedia of Earth, Energy Transitions Past and Future, 2008.

6. Energy Sources and Uses: U.S. Edition
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7. Energy Sources and Uses: Massachusetts Edition
7

8. Climate: The New Imperative, lessons from Europe about sectors
EU-27 total GHG emissions Within
Sector Abatement Fuel shift
GtCO2e per year sector1, 2
5.9
Power 95% to 100% >95%
5.3 5.4
5.2
Road 95% 20% 75% (electric
transport vehicles, biofuels
1.2 1.2
1.2 and fuel cells)
-80% Air & sea 50% 30% 20% (biofuels)
0.9 1.0 transport
0.9
0.5 0.6 0.7 Industry 40% 35% (CCS3) 5% (heat pumps)
1.1 1.0 1.0 Buildings 95% 45% (efficiency 50% (heat pumps)
1.2 0.1 and new builds)
0.9 0.9 0.9 0.4 0.1
0.2 0.6 0.1 Waste 100% 100%
0.3 0.3
0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2
Agriculture 20% 20%
-0.3
1990 2010 2030 2050 2050 Forestry -0.25 GtCO2e Carbon sinks
abated
1 Based on the McKinsey Global GHG Abatement Cost Curve
2 Large efficiency improvements already included in the baseline
3 CCS applied to 50% of industry (cement, chemistry, iron and steel, petroleum and gas, not applied to other industries)
SOURCE: European Climate Foundation 8

9. The case for Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Emissions Reduction – Public Health Water Use/Discharge
Environmental Climate: electricity is
the “hinge” sector
Diversification /Reliability
Japan shows wind can
help keep the lights on Every place has indigenous renewable &
demand resources (unlike fossil fuels)
Electric
System Economic
Benefits Self sufficiency, independence,
Zero fuel cost resources – price stability it’s not just about rates – no one
really pays a rate
Jobs, attract employers, jobs, local
Popularity matters (or property taxes, jobs and of course jobs
should) in a democracy Political
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10. The Question from Copenhagen: Is there reason for hope?
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