Author Archives: energyskeptic

Coal: why it can’t easily substitute for oil

Posted on July 9, 2011 by

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 →

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Oil

Posted on July 9, 2011 by

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 →

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Biofuels can be explosive

Posted on June 14, 2011 by

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 →

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China’s growing energy use and effect on U.S. jobs and prices

Posted on April 27, 2011 by

[ China’s huge appetite for energy creates a risk of war over the remaining oil resources.  But we are unlikely to take them on directly in the South Sea because they are so much better prepared to launch a cyberattack … Continue reading →

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Outsmarting smart growth. Population Growth Key Reason for Sprawl

Posted on March 14, 2011 by

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 →

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Carrying Capacity, web sites, and articles

Posted on March 13, 2011 by

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 →

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

Posted on January 18, 2011 by

[ 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 →

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How to improve railroad fuel efficiency

Posted on January 12, 2011 by

[ 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 →

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Microgrids not yet possible with today’s technology

Posted on January 13, 2010 by

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 →

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