At the same time, the energy-guzzling Tennessee mansion is apparently not good enough for Al.

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Even the most innovative state is tightly linked to the energy-guzzling North American economy.

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And although rich countries have curbed their energy-guzzling a little, demand continues to surge in emerging markets.

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Energy-guzzling heavy industries, such as steel and cement, bore the brunt of China's downturn late last year.

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There is Al buying yet another energy-guzzling multi-million dollar mansion, this time overlooking the Pacific Ocean along the Santa Barbara coast.

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Paul Cavey, an economist at Macquarie Securities, argues that the discrepancy is explained by the fact that energy-guzzling heavy industries, such as steel and aluminium, bore the brunt of the slowdown last year.

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And China is phasing out energy-guzzling, Soviet-era industry.

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The energy-guzzling does not stop there.

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It would boost firms hit by higher energy prices, such as the struggling manufacturers of gas-guzzling cars.

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