--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Probably no single event highlights the…" description: "\"Probably no single event highlights the strength of Campbell's argument (on peak oil) better than the rapid development of the Alberta tar sands. Bitum..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faa/andrew-nikiforuk-72359_alberta_probably-no-single-event-highlights-the_161560.jpg" --- # Probably no single event highlights the strength of… ![“Probably no single event highlights the strength of Campbell's argument (on peak oil) better than the rapid development of the Alberta tar sands. Bitumen, the world's ugliest and most expensive hydrocarbon, can never be a reasonable substitute for light oil due to its extreme capital, energy, and…” quote by Andrew Nikiforuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faa/andrew-nikiforuk-72359_alberta_probably-no-single-event-highlights-the_161560.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faa/andrew-nikiforuk-72359_alberta_probably-no-single-event-highlights-the_161560.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faa/andrew-nikiforuk-72359_alberta_probably-no-single-event-highlights-the_161560.jpg) > “Probably no single event highlights the strength of Campbell's argument (on peak oil) better than the rapid development of the Alberta tar sands. Bitumen, the world's ugliest and most expensive hydrocarbon, can never be a reasonable substitute for light oil due to its extreme capital, energy, and carbon intensity. Bitumen looks, smells, and behaves like asphalt; running an economy on it is akin to digging up our existing road infrastructure, melting it down, and enriching the goop with hydrogen until it becomes a sulfur-rich but marketable oil.” Andrew Nikiforuk ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage argues that Alberta’s tar sands are an impractical energy source due to high environmental and economic costs, making them a poor substitute for conventional oil. **In simple terms:** Tar sands are costly, carbon‑intensive, and not a viable oil alternative. Key Takeaway Seek cleaner, more efficient energy options. Themes energy environment economics Mood cautious urgent Type analytical warning When to use this quote - policy planning - energy investment - climate action Key Concepts sustainability resource extraction Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives can replace high‑impact fuels? - How can societies reduce reliance on tar sands? A Different Perspective Transition to cleaner energy is challenging and costly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alberta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alberta/) [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Extremes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremes/) [Global warming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/global-warming/) [Hydrocarbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hydrocarbons/) [Hydrogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hydrogen/) [Infrastructure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infrastructure/) [Intensity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intensity/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Peak oil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peak-oil/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Smell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smell/) [Sulfur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sulfur/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I know what difference it makes to a community if a dirt road becomes a bitumen road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-berejiklian/i-know-what-difference-it-makes-to-a-community-if-a-dirt-road-becomes/) [Gladys Berejiklian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-berejiklian/) > [It doesn't make sense to have a bitumen export economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/it-doesn-t-make-sense-to-have-a-bitumen-export-economy/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [Bitumen is junk energy. A joule, or unit of energy, invested in extracting and processing bitumen returns only four to six joules in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-homer-dixon/bitumen-is-junk-energy-a-joule-or-unit-of-energy-invested-in/) [Thomas Homer-Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-homer-dixon/) > [The safest way to ship bitumen is by rail. Now, there are other things that you get doing it that way. 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Man must have lived there once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-brie/the-atmosphere-of-venus-consists-of-ammonia-sulfur-and-nitric-oxide/) Andre Brie > [For relatively modest amounts of sulfur dioxide injected into the atmosphere, you could easily cool Earth by 1% or more, if you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/for-relatively-modest-amounts-of-sulfur-dioxide-injected-into-the/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) > [ \[On the propulsive force of rockets\] One part of fire takes up as much space as ten parts of air, and one part of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannoccio-biringuccio/on-the-propulsive-force-of-rockets-one-part-of-fire-takes-up-as-much/) Vannoccio Biringuccio > [Sulfur, when burning, absorbs oxygen gas; the resulting acid is considerably heavier than the sulfur burned; its weight is equal to the sum of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-lavoisier/sulfur-when-burning-absorbs-oxygen-gas-the-resulting-acid-is/) [Antoine Lavoisier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-lavoisier/) > [“About eight days ago I discovered that sulfur in burning, far from losing weight, on the contrary, gains it; it is the same with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-lavoisier/about-eight-days-ago-i-discovered-that-sulfur-in-burning-far-from/) [Antoine Lavoisier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-lavoisier/) > [I think if you have mandatory carbon caps combined with a trading system, much like we did with sulfur, and if you have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/i-think-if-you-have-mandatory-carbon-caps-combined-with-a-trading/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [This generation has altered the composition of the atmosphere on a global scale through radioactive materials and a steady increase in carbon dioxide from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/this-generation-has-altered-the-composition-of-the-atmosphere-on-a/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [I have flown twice over Mount St. Helens out on our West Coast. I'm not a scientist and I don't know the figures, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-have-flown-twice-over-mount-st-helens-out-on-our-west-coast-i-m-not/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Off they go on this sort of camping trip to Iwo Jima, where they're taken around and shown where all the battles took place.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/off-they-go-on-this-sort-of-camping-trip-to-iwo-jima-where-they-re/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Scotland: That garret of the earth - that knuckle-end of England - that land of Calvin, oatcakes, and sulfur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/scotland-that-garret-of-the-earth-that-knuckle-end-of-england-that/) [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) ## More by Andrew Nikiforuk > [Schools have never been about getting access to information. That's the job of libraries. Schools and universities have nobler missions as gentle gatekeepers. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-nikiforuk/schools-have-never-been-about-getting-access-to-information-that-s/) Andrew Nikiforuk > [“Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-nikiforuk/nicholas-georgescu-roegen/) Andrew Nikiforuk Explore all 3 Andrew Nikiforuk quotes ## More Alberta quotes > [“Alberta had always had many forms of idling. She frittered away her time with virtuosity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cora-sandel/alberta-had-always-had-many-forms-of-idling-she-frittered-away-her/) [Cora Sandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cora-sandel/) > [“Alberta was back again. 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I look forward to the Battle of Alberta for the next X number of years. If the idea is, 'Burn it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-feaster/you-know-what-i-look-forward-to-the-battle-of-alberta-for-the-next-x/) Jay Feaster > [Rural Alberta is a lot less homogeneous than it used to be, partly because of my immigration policies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kenney/rural-alberta-is-a-lot-less-homogeneous-than-it-used-to-be-partly/) [Jason Kenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kenney/) > [Bishop Frederick Henry of Calgary is facing at least two official objections to his public statements along with expensive hearings before the Alberta Human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stockwell-day/bishop-frederick-henry-of-calgary-is-facing-at-least-two-official/) [Stockwell Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stockwell-day/) > [“Rose," Alberta said, leaning toward me. "I'm going to be blunt with you. I'm not going to give you lectures or demand any explanations.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/rose-alberta-said-leaning-toward-me-i-m-going-to-be-blunt-with-you-i/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [You go to a lot of small communities in rural Alberta and you'll find a degree of diversity that probably hasn't existed in terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kenney/you-go-to-a-lot-of-small-communities-in-rural-alberta-and-you-ll-find/) [Jason Kenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kenney/) > [“Alberta's two largest cities collected more in library fines than two higher levels of government levied against polluters in 2006-2007.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-laird/alberta-s-two-largest-cities-collected-more-in-library-fines-than-two/) Gordon Laird [Browse all 42 Alberta quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alberta/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Probably no single event highlights the strength of Campbell's argument (on peak oil) better than the rapid development of the Alberta tar sands. 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