Oil, Gas, and Energy Commons^™

Energizing Europe: The Geopolitics Of Energy Security And Energy Diversification In The European Union, Gabriel Alfredo Uribe

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Europe has always had an interesting relationship with Russia, be it social, political, or economic. From the days of the Cold War, when there was the ideological battle of communism versus capitalism, with the alliance of NATO representing a front against the Iron Curtain, certain remnants of this dynamic have still survived. Russia has not always had the best of relations with the European Union (EU), which has not made it easy for the EU to have fully functioning foreign relations with them. This is problematic specifically because of the importance that Russia has on EU energy security, as it …

Perspectivas Ciudadanas Del Petróleo En Ecuador: Variaciones De Opiniones Del Desarrollo Del Yasuní-Itt Por Barreras Socioeconómicas Y Geográficas / Citizen Perspectives On Petroleum In Ecuador: Variances In Opinion On Yasuní-Itt Development Across Socioeconomic And Geographic Barriers, Megan Tokunaga

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study considers the perspectives of the petroleum industry of three sites throughout Ecuador: the capital (Quito), a major Amazonian city (Coca), and a small Amazonian community (Loma del Tigre). Twenty-five surveys were distributed in each site with questions regarding socioeconomic factors, benefits of the petroleum industry, motivations behind these opinions, and economic alternatives to petroleum. Of the 75 participants, 79.7% were against the exploitation of the ITT petroleum Block in Yasuní National Park. Quito was most opposed and Loma del Tigre was least opposed to ITT exploitation. Perceived benefits from the petroleum industry were minimal: 33.8% felt that their …

Una Examinación Del Potencial Estratégico De Argentina Y Brasil En El Mercado Petrolero Mundial: Consideraciones Idiosincráticas Entre El Estado Y Empresas Petroleras Nacionales / An Examination Of The Strategic Potential Of Argentina And Brazil In The Global Energy Market: Idiosyncratic Considerations Between National Oil Companies And The State, Patrick John Zailckas

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Home to the second largest reserves of petroleum in the world, Latin America will prove to play an important role in the international energy market throughout the 21st century. Today, Argentina and Brazil in particular boast extensive quantities of nonconventional natural gas and petroleum reserves in the shale beneath the Vaca Muerta oil fields and the offshore wells of the Campos and Santos basins, respectively. Through the direction of their nationally-held oil companies (NOCs), YPF and Petrobras, the States of Argentina and Brazil have sought to exert their sovereignty over the presence of their hydrocarbon reserves. Whether financed through the …

Sustainable Development Of Tajikistan: Perspectives For Tajik Aluminum Company (Talco), Tahmina Azizova

Capstone Collection

Energy efficiency is one the most pressing objectives of the XXI century. Energy efficiency is an intrinsic part of sustainable development of any country. But it is especially crucial for country like Tajikistan, which has an inefficient energy use pattern as a result of the legacy of Soviet era. Energy resources required for economic development can be obtained not only through increased extraction of raw materials, but also through improved energy efficiency at the demand side. Tajikistan imports about 35 percent of its energy needs, which makes the country extremely energy-dependent. That leads to an obvious inference that for Tajikistan …

Measuring And Improving Sustainable Resource Management At Byron Region Community College, Jeremy Betterley

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The purpose of this study is to measure and report on progress made by Byron Region community College in relation to sustainable resource management as well as to observe, identify, and address and areas for improvement by developing recommendations in the categories of energy, waste and water. The college is dedicated in its vision to promote sustainability out of a sense of responsibility to the environment and future generations as well as a desire to train and prepare people for addressing 21st century problems such as climate change, drought, and peak oil. Energy, waste, and water make up a significant …

The Infinite And The Finite: An Analysis Of The United States’ Energy Future, Elise Voorhis

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Last year the New York Times published a newsworthy article stating that the United States could become “Energy Independent” from the tumultuous OPEC countries. This groundbreaking revelation, supported by statistics from the International Energy Agency, claimed that newfound energy resources were spread throughout North America in the form of shale oil and gas. Politicians and the public clung to this possibility in the face of strenuous relations with the Middle East as the Arab Spring and the War on Terror waged on. However, the consequences of becoming “energy independent” have not been considered. What are the geopolitical implications of pursuing …

La Contaminación Intradomiciliaria Por Combustibles En Las Casas De La Ix Región De Chile, Hannah Bewsey

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Fresh air: a natural and necessary commodity, and yet one that is missing from many of the world’s households. In rural communities and in the developing world, indoor air pollution is a very real health burden, constituting a factor in 2.5 million deaths every year. The homes of the IX Region of Chile are particularly disposed to indoor pollution, due to the use of biomass fuels for cooking and heating during the cold winter months. This investigation aims to supplement the relatively scarce amount of literature investigating the use of biomass fuels that contribute to indoor pollution in this region. …

Hydro Power, People Power: Hydroelectricity’S Potential For Community Development, With A Focus On The Khimti 1 Project, Amelia Prior

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Hydropower, a source of renewable energy that transforms water into electricity, has great potential in Nepal. It can be used to electrify homes, increase efficiency of agriculture, and improve businesses to spur economic growth. This research will examine the current status of hydropower in Nepal and the main obstacles to its expansion. More importantly, however, is the importance on developing hydropower responsibly and ethically. Harnessing the energy and generating electricity is not enough; hydropower projects should involve their surrounding communities, affecting genders, ethnic groups, and socio-economic classes equally. This research will examine how communities are affected by hydroelectricity projects and …

Fourteen Years Of Sustainable Charcoal: The Case Of Ankitsakalaninaomby, Dan Raudonis

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

All over the world, different sources of energy are harnessed by populations looking to fulfill their needs, be it electricity, heating, or cooking. In Madagascar, fuel wood and wood charcoal provide the bulk of daily energy needs – for over 85% of the population they are the only available sources of domestic energy (GREEN-Mad 6). These two sources provide a cheap alternative to other fuels such as natural gas, which can be more than three times as expensive as charcoal (GREEN-Mad 51). In an impoverished country such as Madagascar, where 90% of the population live on less than two US …

In The Realm Of Supay: The Stories Of The Miners, Graham Sutherland

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Ah, El Cerro Rico. She’s beautiful, no? Looming over Potosí with her red-tinted earth. But her real beauty is hidden within. Her body filled with veins of silver, the very silver that shimmered in the eyes of the Spanish empire and made Potosí one of the largest cities in the world. Oh, and the tin, the tin that helped Simon Patiño own mansions on 3 continents, living in villas in the United States and France while the ones here in Bolivia only collected dust. Mineral wealth you wouldn’t believe. They say that the Cerro Rico has twelve polleras of riches, …

Biogas Technology On Uzi Island, Zanzibar: A Feasibility Study, Peter J. Mcinerney

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

With realization of the finite quantity of fossil fuels and improved study on the effects of global climate change there has been an increasing demand for energy production from renewable, sustainable sources in developed and developing nations alike. The population of Tanzania relies overwhelmingly on biomass as a source of primary energy, with such impacts as deforestation and negative health effects. Biogas generation is a renewable energy technology that utilizes organic waste sources to produce a methane-rich gas suitable for cooking and lighting with the potential to replace current unsustainable energy sources and provide several environmental and socioeconomic benefits. A …

Las Negociaciones Entre Las Comunidades Nativas Machiguengas Y La Industria Extractiva Dentro Del Proyecto Camisea: Asesorando Los Roles De Y Las Interacciones Entre Los Actores, Julia Kim

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

En esta investigación, estudié cuales eran los roles de actores diferentes en las negociaciones entre las comunidades nativas amazónicas (CC.NN.) y las empresas extractivas dentro del contexto del Proyecto Gas de Camisea (PGC), uno de los proyectos de extracción más importantes en todo America del Sur. Mis objetivos principales eran conocer el rol de cada actor – las CC.NN., las empresas extractivas, el estado, las ONGs, y la misión católica – en las negociaciones y entender como se interactúan y se relacionan. Completé estos objetivos por la siguiente metodología: entrevistas abiertas en Quillabamba, Koribeni, Monte Carmelo, y Kiteni en la …

Energy Management And Governance In Vermont: A Case Study, Nicole Davis

Capstone Collection

Environmental management has always been important for global sustainability and has becoming even more critical in the face of climate change, the expansion of the global economy, and explosive population growth. Energy resource management is one of the critical areas that need to be address on the international, national, state and local levels. This paper presents a case study of the state of Vermont’s efforts towards energy management. Special attention is paid to governance of its energy systems and the ensuing results. The research looked at the energy supply and consumption profiles of the state, how those factors influenced policies, …

Renewable Energy In Rural Amazônia: A Case Study Of Its Advantages And Limitations In Santo Antônio, Amy Plovnick

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Isolated renewable energy projects are a promising alternative to diesel power for providing electricity in rural communities not connected to the conventional electricity transmission grid. However, there have been a limited number of such projects in rural Amazônia, and they often face obstacles that limit their sustainability. The objective of this study is to evaluate the environmental, social and economic impact of isolated renewable energy projects through a case study of a small-scale biomass and solar energy electrification project in the community of Santo Antônio, Pará. It will also evaluate the limitations to implementing and sustaining isolated renewable energy projects …

El Movimiento Verde En La Tierra De La Albiceleste: Obstáculos Y Oportunidades Para La Energía Limpia En Argentina, Robert Strickling

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Para combatir el cambio climático, países por todo el mundo están haciendo políticas para incentivar el desarrollo de energía limpia. Cada país tiene sus propias problemas y oportunidades para reemplazar su uso de energía con fuentes limpias como energía eólica y solar. Este estudio miró a la situación en Argentina y usó las opiniones de académicos y con actores. Con sus opiniones y experiencias y con estudios de caso de países con políticas más desarrollados muestra la situación actual y soluciones posibles para el futuro. Los problemas que emergieron incluye el desarrollo de líneas de transmisión, la competitividad de energía …

Los Problemas Energéticos De Chile Y Sus Soluciones: El Rol De Las Energías Renovables No Convencionales, Megha Jain

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Esta investigación trata sobe la seguridad energética de Chile, un concepto relativamente nuevo que tiene que ver con la capacidad de un país para garantizar un suministro energético, que permita el crecimiento económico y el desarrollo social. Actualmente, Chile se encuentra en una posición energética muy vulnerable. A pesar de su riqueza geográfica repleta de recursos energéticos renovables, carece de las fuentes de energía más importantes hoy día: el petróleo, el carbón y el gas natural. Por eso, para cumplir con una demanda creciente, tiene que importar entre el 70%  y el 80% de su energía, dependiendo de pocos suministradores …

Large Mining Projects In The Amazon, Gustavo Negreiros Phd, Academic Director

Fostering Multicultural Competence and Global Justice: an SIT Symposium

In addition to my work coordinating the SIT study abroad program Amazon Resource Management and Human Ecology since 1998, I pursue personal interests in the relation of modern development projects and the social environmental conditions faced by local populations of the region. In 2005, I evaluated the environmental licensing and implementation of Alcoa´s (Aluminum Company of America) mine operation in Juruti, western Pará State, which started operation in 2009. I was invited by the communities impacted and the different actors involved to participate in the team in charge of developing methodologies to valuate the social-environmental externalities faced by the communities, …

La Historia De La Energía Y Desarrollo En Una Comunidad Rural: El Uso E Historia De La Energía En Santa Rosa De Pacto Y Las Implicaciones Para El Futuro De Los Países En Vías De Desarrollo, Julie Lapidus

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

A medida que los países en vías de desarrollo continúan desarrollándose, sus contribuciones al cambio climático sólo continuarán aumentando. Actualmente, un país en vías de desarrollo (China) es el mayor productor del dióxido de carbono. Por eso, esta investigación se enfocó en el uso, la historia y el futuro de la energía de un pueblo rural en Ecuador (Santa Rosa de Pacto) que tiene energía eléctrica desde hace sólo ocho años. Este estudio de casos prácticos ayuda a la comprensión de la frecuencia y cambio del desarrollo de la energía en países en vías del desarrollo, particularmente en regiones rurales. …

Energy From The Sun: A Solar Feasibility Study For Macquarie University, Jj Augenbraun

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Macquarie University uses over 30,000,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year. As one of the largest energy consumers in its area, the University is looking for ways to reduce the cost and environmental impact associated with its operations. One possible option is the use of solar energy to generate electricity on campus. However, solar energy is a complicated issue, especially for a large scale project. By taking the time to evaluate options prior to beginning a project of this scale, money and effort can be saved in the future. The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility …

The Elusiveness Of Light: The Difficulty With Harnessing The Omnipresent Solar Energy In Africa, Hai-Vu Phan

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The world is currently facing an energy crisis. Our dependency on oil and natural gas has led to many global problems, such as OPEC’s oil hikes which have disrupted economies everywhere and caused oil dependent countries to suffer. Our huge consumption of oil has also led to the global warming catastrophe that we currently must combat. The world must find a new energy source soon, or more environmental, political, social, and economic problems will occur. Solar energy’s potential has been recognized for many decades, and its abundant and limitless supply makes it the perfect new form of energy. Solar energy …

El Plan Agua Bosque: Impactos Sociales Y Ambiéntales De Las Hidroeléctricas Comunitarias Propuestas En Intag, Jonathan Kadish

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

HidroIntag, a community based company has proposed to construct nine small and medium hydroelectric dams with generation potential of 100MW in total in the zone of Intag. The company plans to reinvest all net profits in activities in the communities, including agroforestry, small agroindustry, tourism, infrastructure, and social services. This study utilizes 18 formal and informal interviews to determine the preferences and concerns of community members about the possibility of having hydroelectric dams in the zone and in what the profits should be invested. The study also utilizes 5 interviews with leaders of HidroIntag and other involved organizations to determine …

Fueling Samoa’S Growing Transport Sector: The Impact Of Rising Oil Prices And Imports On A Pacific Island Economy, Janis Mcdaid Ikeda

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The developed nations of the world are more concerned than ever with reducing their dependence on imported oil, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and developing alternative energy technologies. These issues are among the highest priorities for developing economies in the Pacific region as well. Samoa is a part of several regional initiatives that address petroleum and energy issues and is due to launch its own national energy policy in the coming months.

Petroleum prices in Samoa are low in comparison to other parts of the region because of the unique government/oil company partnership that administers its oil imports and pricing; however …

Cuando Viene El Agua: Percepciones De Los Impactos Sociales Del Proyecto Hidroeléctrico “Chan-75” En Las Comunidades Ubicadas En La Cuenca Del Río Changuinola, Bocas Del Toro, Jeffery D. Stein

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This report analyzes the anticipated social impacts of a hydroelectric project, titled “Chan-75,” in the surrounding communities. The project is located in the Bosque Protector de Palo Seco (BPPS) protected area along the Changuinola River. The flooding of 750 ha to create a reservoir for the dam will require the resettlement of roughly 1,000 residents of at least four indigenous Ngöbe Buglé communities including Valle del Rey, Charco la Pava, Changuinola Arriba, and Guayabal, in addition to the submersion of thousands of ha of farmland belonging to residents of nearby communities (Cordero et al). Once completed, the dam will generate …

Potentiality Of Biogas And The Role Of Substrates In Biogas Formation Potential, Scott Shealy

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Biogas infrastructure development, particularly in countries such as Vietnam, has the potential to provide great benefits to people living agrarian lifestyles in rural areas. Decentralized wastewater treatment facilities that utilize anaerobic technologies to digest organic waste for the purpose of collecting methane provide a number of benefits to centralized use as well. In both cases, users benefit from the production of methane gas, wastewater treatment, nutrient recycling, and organic fertilizers. In the case of decentralized use, as is most prevalent in Vietnam, integrated farming methods, such as the VACB model, allow farmers to reap the benefits of a wide array …

Les Forêts, Les Charbonniers, Et L’Avenir Une Analyse De La Filière Charbon Dans Le District De Fianarantsoa, Bronwen Stanford

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

No abstract provided.

Fire Making Fuel: How A Surface Fire In A Primary Forest Affected The Availability Of Potential Fuel One Year Later, Alex Leckie

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Fires affect millions of hectares of tropical forests around the world. These fires result in great environmental damage and economical losses. Many farmers are dependent on fire for managing their lands and many times their fires accidentally spread into forests via fuels on the forest floor. This study attempted to analyze and quantify the difference of potential fuel in a primary forest which burned one year before and an unburned part of the same forest at a primary forest fragment surrounded by farms and with a history of anthropogenic accidental fires burning it. This was done by making three sample …

Assessment Of Small-Scale Biogas Systems And Their Widespread Dissemination In Can Tho City, Viet Nam, Tracy Zhu

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The Mekong Delta hosts suitable conditions for promoting the widespread dissemination of biogas systems, such as tropical temperatures, high population density, and widespread animal husbandry. The low-cost polyethylene biodigester (BD) is the most common model in the Mekong Delta, although concrete and brick biodigesters have been implemented to a lesser extent. Biogas systems offer a wide range of benefits, such as improving water quality, enhancing integrated farming systems, and meeting rural energy demand while improving public health. Many projects, especially through Can Tho University (CTU), have promoted the installation of biogas systems, but little research has been done to follow …