Author Archives: energyskeptic

Photovoltaic solar has many problems

Although sunlight is renewable, photovoltaic panels aren’t. PV isn’t ready yet. NREL (National Renewable Energy Lab) lists the technical barriers below in: PV Roadmap. U.S. Dept of Energy National Center for Photovoltaics. Lack of widespread availability of low-cost feedstock and … Continue reading

Posted in Photovoltaic Solar | Tagged , | Comments Off on Photovoltaic solar has many problems

Solar 1 and 2 in the United States

Howard Hayden estimates Solar Two would need to take up 127 square miles to produce as much energy as a 1000-MWe power plant does in one year. (Solar Fraud, p. 187). According to Robert Bradley Jr, Solar One was very … Continue reading

Posted in Concentrated Solar Power | Comments Off on Solar 1 and 2 in the United States

Lack of water threatens energy production

July 2013. U.S. Energy Sector Vulnerabilities to Climate Change and Extreme Weather. 18 July 2013. Katherine Tweed. Collision Between Water and Energy Is Underway, and Worsening. spectrum.ieee.org 24 July 2013. Bloomberg News. China Coal-Fired Economy Dying of Thirst as Mines … Continue reading

Posted in Energy Production | Tagged | Comments Off on Lack of water threatens energy production

Trillion of dollars of debt and unfunded liabilities

Unfunded liabilities Boston University economist Laurence Kotlikoff has calculated that the U.S. government is facing unfunded liabilities of 222 trillion dollars in the years ahead. To name just a few: Medicare and Medicaid, social security, service treasury bonds, food stamps, … Continue reading

Posted in Debt | Comments Off on Trillion of dollars of debt and unfunded liabilities

Cities will go bankrupt

As the cost of energy keeps rising, and more and more “money” goes to obtaining energy, which leaves less for everything else.  And since capitalism depends on growth, but we’re on the cusp of shrinking back to the stone age, … Continue reading

Posted in Debt | Comments Off on Cities will go bankrupt

Survival: stay out of institutions

I’ve always been amazed at how many people are not in the labor force and that the taxes on those who work can support everyone else.  Including those who are institutionalized. On the other hand, I ran across a survivalist … Continue reading

Posted in Advice | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Survival: stay out of institutions

NG vehicles: 15 million world-wide, up to $1.7 million per NG filling station

14 July 2013. Energy Burrito. 10 Points To Consider In The Natural-Gas-Vehicle Debate. oilprice.com The perception of natural gas as a mainstream fuel for vehicles runs the gamut, dependent upon where you live: from the improbable… to the viable… to … Continue reading

Posted in Natural Gas Vehicles | Comments Off on NG vehicles: 15 million world-wide, up to $1.7 million per NG filling station

Ugo Bardi: Quite likely we’ll have a fast collapse, a “Seneca Cliff”

Excerpts from: Ugo Bardi. August 28, 2011. The Seneca effect: why decline is faster than growth. Ugo Bardi. July 15, 2013.The punctuated collapse of the Roman Empire. Could it be that the Seneca cliff is what we are facing, right … Continue reading

Posted in 3) Fast Crash, By People, Scientists, Ugo Bardi | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Ugo Bardi: Quite likely we’ll have a fast collapse, a “Seneca Cliff”

Survival: avoid disease and disability

If you want to have a shot at making it through the worst of the collapse stay healthy and avoid accidents.  Medicine will be less available as the depression grows worse and businesses fail. Below are some statistics about various … Continue reading

Posted in Advice | Comments Off on Survival: avoid disease and disability

Grid has too many owners, forget about increasing the size and strength

Summary of The New York Times article below: There are too many commercial and government players. with too many conflicting interests, plus regulatory hurdles, as well as too much money required to maintain, improve, or expand the grid. What this … Continue reading

Posted in Electric Grid, Wind | Comments Off on Grid has too many owners, forget about increasing the size and strength