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Category Archives: Electricity
The electric grid: fragile, filthy, poorly managed, polluting, inefficient, corrupt
Preface. Most forms of alternative energy depend on the electric grid (nuclear, wind, solar, geothermal, hydropower). But the Grid is falling apart. Most people who care about climate change believe electrifying everything will solve our problems. This energy section of … Continue reading
Posted in Alternative Energy, Blackouts, Books, Electricity, Energy
3 Comments
Big Fight: 21 top scientists show why Jacobson and Delucchi’s renewable scheme is a delusional fantasy
[ Seldom have I seen such a vitriolic fight among scientists. As you’ll see below, I think all of them miss the main problems with trying to create a 100% renewable energy system, though I can only summarize and leave … Continue reading
How is California’s AB2514 experiment with utility scale battery storage coming along?
[ This is an excellent article by Tod Kiefer about tests of sodium-sulfur batteries, which are the only kind of battery for which there is enough material on earth to make. Battery electric storage is meant to “replace nimble, fast-ramping … Continue reading
Posted in Batteries, Battery - Utility Scale, Electricity
Tagged AB2514, battery, energy storage, lithium, NaS, utility
1 Comment
The EMP Commission estimates a nationwide blackout lasting one year could kill up to 9 of 10 Americans through starvation, disease, and societal collapse
[ Several times Dr. Pry recommends that “States should harden their electric grids against nuclear EMP attack because there is a clear and present danger, protecting against nuclear EMP will mitigate all lesser threats, and both the federal government in … Continue reading
Posted in Blackouts, Congressional Record U.S., Electricity, EMP Electromagnetic Pulse, Energy Policy, Extreme Weather, Infrastructure, Nuclear, Nuclear Power
Tagged cyber attack, electromagnetic pulse, EMP, nuclear, spent fuel pool, war
Comments Off on The EMP Commission estimates a nationwide blackout lasting one year could kill up to 9 of 10 Americans through starvation, disease, and societal collapse
Building a national super grid in America
Building a national super grid in America [ By Alice Friedemann www.energyskeptic.com author of “When Trucks Stop Running: Energy and the Future of Transportation, 2015, Springer] A national supergrid is seen as essential for integrating renewable power into the electric … Continue reading
Posted in Blackouts, Electric Grid, Electric Grid, Electricity, National Super Grid, Solar, Vaclav Smil, Wind
Comments Off on Building a national super grid in America
Electric grid large power transformers take up to 2 years to build
[ This post contains excerpts from the Department of Energy document “Large power transformers and the U.S. electric grid”. Large power transformers are essential critical infrastructure to the electric grid, and are huge, weighing up to 820,000 pounds. If large … Continue reading
Posted in Electric Grid, Electricity, Infrastructure, Interdependencies
Tagged cyber attack, electric grid, foreign dependency, limited raw material, power transformer, special grade electrical steel, supply chain failure
Comments Off on Electric grid large power transformers take up to 2 years to build
Roger Andrews: California public utilities vote no on energy storage
[My comment: Without energy storage, wind, solar, and other electricity generating alternative resources can’t continue to be added to the electric grid, because they make the grid too unstable and prone to blackouts (which can damage the electric grid). To … Continue reading
Posted in Batteries, Electric Grid, Electric Grid, Electricity
9 Comments
Chip Fab Plants need electricity 24 x 7. The electric grid needs chips. The Financial system needs both.
[ When Trucks stop running, civilization ends. Trucks are not only vulnerable to running out of liquid fuels, they also depend on micro-chips (i.e. engine, emissions, etc), which can only be made if electricity is up around the clock. Alice … Continue reading
Posted in Electric Grid, Electricity, Interdependencies, Microchip Fabrication stops
Tagged cyber attack, electric grid, micro chip
1 Comment
Terrorism and the Electric Power Delivery System. National Academy of Sciences.
Much of what follows is from the National Academy of Science 2012 (for the Department of Homeland Security): “Terrorism and the Electric Power Delivery System” & 2013 “The Resilience of the Electric Power Delivery System in Response to Terrorism and … Continue reading
Posted in Electric Grid, Electricity, Infrastructure, Oil & Gas, Water
1 Comment
The Impact of Climate Change on California: 8th Largest Economy, 40% of U.S. Shipping
Introduction California’s economy and population relies on one of the most extensive and costly infrastructure systems in the world. This includes thousands of miles of roads, highways and railroads, nearly 200 large water reservoirs of varying capacity, miles of canals, … Continue reading
Posted in Electricity, Energy, Extreme Weather, Heat, Oil & Gas, Railroads, Sea Level Rise, Transportation
Tagged airports, california, climate change, infrastructure, ports, railroads, roads, sea level rise, wildfire
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