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Monthly Archives: September 2016
Why the demise of civilization is inevitable
MacKenzie, D. April 2, 2008. Why the demise of civilisation may be inevitable. NewScientist. Every civilization in history has collapsed. Why should ours be any different? Homer-Dixon doubts we can stave off collapse completely. He points to what he calls … Continue reading
Posted in 3) Fast Crash, Interdependencies
Tagged civilization, collapse, homer-dixon, tainter
1 Comment
Effects of biodiesel on diesel engines: John Deere
[ Since petroleum is finite, the most important focus of U.S. energy research ought to be keeping trucks operating, since civilization ends when trucks stop running. Ideally this would be done with a “drop-in” fuel that can be burned in … Continue reading
Posted in Biodiesel, Trucks
Tagged biodiesel, diesel engine, John Deere
Comments Off on Effects of biodiesel on diesel engines: John Deere
Restore wild bison
[ Native wild animals have the least impact on ecosystems. While cattle plod along in line with one another, bison dance their own unique steps across the landscape, and don’t develop deep rutted grooves that can erode soil like cattle … Continue reading
A U.S. Senate hearing on T. Boone Pickens plans for natural gas and wind to reduce oil dependence
[ This session is unusual in that the words “peak oil” are spoken several times, and M. King Hubbert, James Howard Kunstler, and Matt Simmons are lauded. Gal Luft points out that “10 years ago, Osama bin Laden predicted that … Continue reading
Posted in Energy Dependence, Natural Gas Vehicles
Tagged natural gas, peak oil, pickens, wind
Comments Off on A U.S. Senate hearing on T. Boone Pickens plans for natural gas and wind to reduce oil dependence
Natural gas is a stupid transportation fuel
[ My comment: The only reason natural gas has come up as a transportation fuel at all is the false belief that there is 100 years of natural gas (even this article does, but natural gas may last far less … Continue reading
Posted in Automobiles, Natural Gas Vehicles, Transportation
Tagged cars, natural gas, transportation
Comments Off on Natural gas is a stupid transportation fuel
Methane hydrate apocalypse? Maybe not…
[ Articles skeptical of the clathrate gun theory: Mooney, C. 2013. How Much Should You Worry About an Arctic Methane Bomb? Mother Jones. While researching the Permian extinction, I came across all sorts of doubts about methane hydrates as a … Continue reading
Posted in CO2 and Methane, Methane Hydrates
Tagged clathrate gun, climate change, debunk, methane, methane burp, methane hydrate, permean extinction
Comments Off on Methane hydrate apocalypse? Maybe not…
California could hit the solar wall
[ According to a Stanford University article below this introduction (followed by excerpts from two California Energy Commission reports), if California uses mainly solar power to meet a 50% Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), on sunny days, for most of the … Continue reading
Posted in Photovoltaic Solar, Renewable Integration
Tagged alternative energy, renewable integration, solar, solar wall
6 Comments
Why human waste should be used for fertilizer
[ At John Jeavons Biointensive workshop back in 2003, I learned that phosphorous is limited and mostly being lost to oceans and other waterways after exiting sewage treatment plants. He said that it’s dangerous if done incorrectly and wasn’t going … Continue reading
Posted in Soil, Waste, Water
Tagged eutrophication, excrement, fertilizer, phosphorus, sewage, water
4 Comments
Scientific American: Peak oil and coal may keep catastrophic climate change in check
[ Since conventional oil, 90% of supply, peaked in 2005-6 we’ve been on a plateau. Since the rate of conventional oil decline exponentially decreasing, and population is still exponentially increasing, it is unlikely unconventional oil like shale “fracked” oil, tar … Continue reading
Posted in But not from climate change: Peak Fossil Fuels, Peak Coal, Peak Oil
Tagged climate change, IPCC, peak coal, peak oil
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Ecological cost of new roads in Africa
[ What follows are excerpts from the January 8 2014 issue of Newscientist’s “Africa’s road-building frenzy will transform continent” by Andy Coghlan. ] China is funding most of the new roads to get the minerals they’ve mined, and transport food … Continue reading
Posted in Roads, Transportation
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