Author Archives: energyskeptic

Why technology can’t solve all of our problems

Posted on September 13, 2019 by

I have many posts about energy contraptions that have had hundreds of thousands of breakthrough stories in the media, yet here we are, without powerful enough batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, and so on to replace fossil fuels despite the exciting … Continue reading →

Posted in Critical Thinking, Transportation | 2 Comments

Challenges to making California’s grid renewable

Posted on September 10, 2019 by

What follows is a report from the California Energy Commission. But in less bureaucratic language, this may summarize it better (Petersen 2019): “I’ve always been amazed at a strange mental disconnect that’s common among renewable power advocates. On one hand, … Continue reading →

Posted in Grid instability | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

One million plant & animal species at risk of extinction

Posted on August 31, 2019 by

As usual, no mention of birth control or carrying capacity. Related: 2019-9 Huge decline in songbirds linked to common insecticide (neo nicotinoids). National Geographic. Alice Friedemann   www.energyskeptic.com  author of “When Trucks Stop Running: Energy and the Future of Transportation”, 2015, … Continue reading →

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Global wildlife populations have fallen 60% in just 40 years

Posted on August 28, 2019 by

Below is a summary of the World Wildlife Fund report. Alice Friedemann   www.energyskeptic.com  author of “When Trucks Stop Running: Energy and the Future of Transportation”, 2015, Springer and “Crunch! Whole Grain Artisan Chips and Crackers”. Podcasts: Derrick Jensen, Practical Prepping, … Continue reading →

Posted in Biodiversity Loss, Extinction | 1 Comment

Peak Copper

Posted on August 25, 2019 by

Preface. Copper is essential for modern civilization and any hope of migrating to renewable energy, since solar, wind, tidal, hydro, biomass and geothermal use 5 times more copper than traditional power generation in fossil and nuclear power plants. Nothing matches … Continue reading →

Posted in Peak Copper | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Climate change risks could cause an American “Fukushima”

Posted on August 10, 2019 by

Preface. Nuclear power plants need a constant supply of electric power to pump cool water into a reactor’s core. Ninety percent of them, 54 plants, have at least one flood risk exceeding their design. If flooding stops the power supply … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Nuclear Waste | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

China is deforesting Russia

Posted on August 7, 2019 by

Preface. Here’s more than half of a New York Times article about China deforesting Russia. Yikes! Peak oil had better come soon before we denude the earth. Alice Friedemann   www.energyskeptic.com  author of “When Trucks Stop Running: Energy and the Future … Continue reading →

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Going 100% renewable power means a lot of dirty mining

Posted on August 4, 2019 by

Preface. Everyone talks about oil spills, but what about the dirty mining that will have a huge polluting footprint on the earth of mercury, arsenic, and other toxic heavy metals.  The Pebble mine is canceled for now, but if the … Continue reading →

Posted in Groundwater, Manufacturing & Industrial Heat, Pollution | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Going 100% renewable power means a lot of dirty mining

Automated vehicles: more driving, energy wasted, & congestion

Posted on August 1, 2019 by

  Preface. My main post on this is: “Why self-driving cars may not be in your future“. Alice Friedemann  www.energyskeptic.com  Author of Life After Fossil Fuels: A Reality Check on Alternative Energy; When Trucks Stop Running: Energy and the Future … Continue reading →

Posted in Automobiles, Efficiency | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

So you want to start a vertical farm?

Posted on July 26, 2019 by

Preface. Vertical farms sound even more impossible than rooftop farms, which at least can use free sunshine. And they use massive amounts of energy to heat, cool, ventilate, light, and so on, not a good direction to go given energy … Continue reading →

Posted in Farming & Ranching | Tagged , | 6 Comments