Author Archives: energyskeptic

Flow Rate Posts

Interview of Richard G. Miller by Steve Andrews in Peak Oil Review.  Feb 2014. Q: You refer to the widely used phrase—“it’s not so much the size of the tank as it is the size of the tap.”  Care to comment … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Oil | Comments Off on Flow Rate Posts

Depletion Rate Articles and Posts

Articles 2005. Matt Simmons. THE WORLD’S GIANT OILFIELDS How Many Exist? How Much Do They Produce? How Fast Are They Declining? Posts July 13, 2005.   “Powerswitch” Clive Smith What seems to be happening…is that our new oil extraction technology, … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Oil | Comments Off on Depletion Rate Articles and Posts

Coal: why it can’t easily substitute for oil

In a major 2009, 737 page landmark study of our energy predicament, the National Academy of Sciences proposes  that the only possible near-term solution to a substitute transportation fuel to replace gasoline is liquified coal.   Liquified coal is the only … Continue reading →

Posted in Coal, Energy | Comments Off on Coal: why it can’t easily substitute for oil

Oil

Since oil is so fabulous, why not just drill for more? Economists don’t believe that there is a finite amount of anything, all you have to do is drill a hole, pour money into it, and Voila! – black crude … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Oil | Comments Off on Oil

Biofuels can be explosive

Oil and natural gas can be cheaply distributed by pipeline, but ethanol must move by very expensive truck or train. 6 Feb 2011. Ohio train derailment prompts evacuations. CNN. 7 Oct 2011. Freight Train Derailment in Illinois Prompts Evacuations.   Associated … Continue reading →

Posted in Biofuels | Comments Off on Biofuels can be explosive

Outsmarting smart growth. Population Growth Key Reason for Sprawl

OUTSMARTING SMART GROWTH – Population Growth Key Reason for Sprawl WASHINGTON (August 26, 2003) — In recent years, many local governments, states, and non-profit groups have adopted initiatives to save rural land from sprawl. Most anti-sprawl efforts have focused on … Continue reading →

Posted in Overpopulation | Tagged , | Comments Off on Outsmarting smart growth. Population Growth Key Reason for Sprawl

Carrying Capacity, web sites, and articles

Definition of Carrying Capacity Carrying capacity refers to the number of individuals who can be supported in a given area within natural resource limits, and without degrading the natural social, cultural and economic environment for present and future generations. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Overpopulation | Tagged | Comments Off on Carrying Capacity, web sites, and articles

When Life Nearly Died. The greatest mass extinction of all time

[ Benton shows why it was probably lava flows, not impact from meteors that caused the Permian extinction. I don’t know why everyone isn’t reading whatever they can find on the greatest mass murder of all time — the Permian … Continue reading →

Posted in But not from climate change: Peak Fossil Fuels, Extinction Books | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on When Life Nearly Died. The greatest mass extinction of all time

How to improve railroad fuel efficiency

[ Below are excerpts from this 70 page report. It is hard to find documents on reducing oil consumption through energy efficiency, most papers concentrate on greenhouse gas emissions, which usually lowers energy efficiency, or how to grow roads, rail … Continue reading →

Posted in Railroads | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on How to improve railroad fuel efficiency

Microgrids not yet possible with today’s technology

Preface. This article says that renewables do increase grid fluctuations, but that power trading fluctuations were even larger, and that with current technology, microgrids are not possible yet. Alice Friedemann   www.energyskeptic.com  author of “When Trucks Stop Running: Energy and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Grid instability | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Microgrids not yet possible with today’s technology