Monthly Archives: December 2016

Electric Cars and Biofuels switch dependence from foreign oil to domestic water and weather risks

Posted on December 29, 2016 by

  Figure 1. Energy/Water Nexus Amy Hardberger, Matthew E. Mantell, Michael Webber, Carey W. King, Karl Fennessey [ This Senate hearing covers a lot of ground. I found the most interesting testimony to be the intersection of water and energy, … Continue reading →

Posted in Drought, Energy Production, Hydropower, Transportation, Water | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Current energy security challenges 2009 U.S. Senate hearing

Posted on December 26, 2016 by

[ Here are a few quotes from this 2009 Senate hearing on “Current energy security challenges”: Eric Schwartz, member, Energy Security Leadership Council: “Air transport, long-haul freight shipping, and heavy-duty trucks are not likely to be candidates for electrification…. Despite … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy Dependence, Energy Policy | Tagged , | Comments Off on Current energy security challenges 2009 U.S. Senate hearing

How Much Oil is Left?

Posted on December 23, 2016 by

The Power of Exponential Growth: Every 10 years we have burned more oil than all previous decades Preface. There is a lot of oil left. The problem is, most of the remaining oil is unconventional, which needs a lot more … Continue reading →

Posted in How Much Left, Oil, Peak Oil | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

U.S. House meeting on terrorist threats to energy security

Posted on December 22, 2016 by

[ Even though this hearing was over a decade ago, the issues are still the same.  Nothing has changed. Alice Friedemann   www.energyskeptic.com  author of “When Trucks Stop Running: Energy and the Future of Transportation, 2015, Springer] House 109-70. July 27, … Continue reading →

Posted in Caused by Scarce Resources, Chokepoints, Middle East, Oil Shocks, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on U.S. House meeting on terrorist threats to energy security

The dangers and costs of importing Liquefied natural gas (LNG). U.S. Senate Hearing 2005.

Posted on December 20, 2016 by

                      [ Before fracked (tight) natural gas came along, natural gas prices spiked sky-high and the U.S. Congress began looking at how new LNG import terminal construction could be expedited, … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy Policy, LNG Liquified Natural Gas | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The dangers and costs of importing Liquefied natural gas (LNG). U.S. Senate Hearing 2005.

The Back to the Land Movement: why it failed and why we need to try again

Posted on December 19, 2016 by

[ This is my book review of “Back from the Land: how young Americans went to nature in the 1970s, and why they came back”.   Some succeeded, but most failed, and there are lessons to be learned from the previous … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Books | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Energy Security: Historical perspectives and Modern challenges. Senate hearing 2009

Posted on December 17, 2016 by

[ In this hearing former President Carter was brought in by the Senate to help them cope with the energy crisis.  Carter said that no one but the President can educate the public about the energy crisis and  “explain to … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy Dependence, Energy Policy, Experts, President Jimmy Carter | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Energy Security: Historical perspectives and Modern challenges. Senate hearing 2009

House hearing on Canadian oil sands

Posted on December 14, 2016 by

House 112-128. March 20, 2012. The American Energy Initiative Part 17: A focus on the future of energy technology with an emphasis on Canadian oil sands. U.S. House of Representatives. [ Excerpts from the 203 page transcript ] President Obama … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy Policy, Oil (Tar) Sands | Tagged , , | Comments Off on House hearing on Canadian oil sands

Electrifying freight trains in the U.S. is a really bad idea

Posted on December 13, 2016 by

[ Diesel-electric locomotives are ALREADY electric, and overall more energy efficient than electric freight trains.  Only passenger rail ought to be electrified, though since buses are far more energy efficient, this is arguable (Why is passenger rail so damned inefficient, … Continue reading →

Posted in Electric Grid, Electrification, Railroads | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Electrifying freight trains in the U.S. is a really bad idea

Can Geothermal power make up for declining fossil fuels?

Posted on December 10, 2016 by

[ Geothermal power plants are cost justified only in places where volcanic or tectonic activity brings heat close to the surface, mainly in “ring of fire” nations and volcanic hot spots like Hawaii.   On top of that, the rocks below … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Energy, Energy, Geothermal | Tagged | Comments Off on Can Geothermal power make up for declining fossil fuels?