Author Archives: energyskeptic

Why You Should Love Trains

Posted on November 13, 2014 by

Why You Should Love Trains by Alice Friedemann    November 13, 2014 Trains rock! Trains are over 4 times more fuel efficient than trucks. On average it takes just 1 gallon to move a ton 473 miles, using just 2% of … Continue reading →

Posted in Rail, Railroads, Transportation Infrastructure | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Looking for a good book to read?

Posted on November 13, 2014 by

Here are eight book lists with recommendations from 45 years of non-fiction reading Booklist: Natural history & Science, Evolution, Critical thinking, Health, Resource allocation, Climate change, Fire Booklist: Travel, Psychology, World history, Food, Anthropology, (Auto)biography, Religion Booklist: American History, Politics, … Continue reading →

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Statistics: USA Rail, Truck, and Water Transportation

Posted on November 13, 2014 by

Average Miles of track, # of Rail Tonnage Length road, or Carloads 2010 in tons of haul navigable water Class 1 Rail 29,200,000 1,851,000,000 914 95,700 Class II & III Rail 7,800,000 600,000,000 32 43,000 Truck 8,778,000,000 4,016,000 Inland water … Continue reading →

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PNAS: Human population reduction is not a quick fix

Posted on October 29, 2014 by

Human population reduction is not a quick fix for environmental problems by Corey J. A. Bradshaw and Barry W. Brook Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Edited by Paul R. Ehrlich, Stanford University, and approved September 15, 2014 … Continue reading →

Posted in Birth Control, Population, Scientists Warnings to Humanity | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Naomi Oreskes on “The Collapse of Western Civilization”

Posted on October 28, 2014 by

A Chronicler of Warnings Denied: Naomi Oreskes Imagines the Future History of Climate Change By Claudia Dreifus, Oct 27, 2014, New York Times “I get from the scientific community a feeling that things are going from bad to worse. I … Continue reading →

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Trains Rock! Trucks suck: 4x less efficient. Shift freight from truck to rail

Posted on October 26, 2014 by

A proposed National System of Interstate and Defense RAILROADS, as an infrastructure project for the next fifty years by J. William Vigrass To the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission, USDOT Bldg., L’Enfant Plaza, 400 7th St. N.W. … Continue reading →

Posted in Railroads, Transportation What To Do | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Gail Tverberg: Eight Pieces of Our Oil Price Predicament

Posted on October 23, 2014 by

Eight Pieces of Our Oil Price Predicament October 22, 2014, by Gail Tverberg A person might think that oil prices would be fairly stable. Prices would set themselves at a level that would be high enough for the majority of … Continue reading →

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Large agribusiness gets corporate welfare via illegal ethanol subsidies

Posted on October 22, 2014 by

What more proof is needed that the Energy Returned on Energy Invested of ethanol is negative?  They’re losing money and getting corporate welfare to keep the scam going, meanwhile destroying prime topsoil, poisoning the land with pesticides, and eutrophying the … Continue reading →

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Ivanpah Biggest solar power plant ever – $2.2 billion for only 100 MW

Posted on October 19, 2014 by

The $2.2 billion dollar Ivanpah Solar power plant generates 100 MW of power when you take the 25% capacity into account (not 400 MW).  That’s enough power for 25,000 to 50,000 homes (not 140,000 as claimed).  There are 116,700,000 households … Continue reading →

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The Scientific Consensus on Maintaining Humanity’s Life Support Systems in the 21st Century

Posted on October 13, 2014 by

May 21, 2013. the Scientific Consensus on Maintaining Humanity’s Life Support Systems in the 21st Century In the one month since it was written, 520 global scientists have signed on to this statement. You can, too. There is more information, … Continue reading →

Posted in Scientists Warnings to Humanity | 2 Comments