Author Archives: energyskeptic

Why it is futile to think that Wind could ever make a significant contribution to energy supplies

Posted on April 8, 2018 by

Matt Ridley. May 15, 2017. Wind turbines are neither clean nor green and they provide zero global energy. Even after 30 years of huge subsidies, it provides about zero energy. The Spectator. The Global Wind Energy Council recently released its … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Energy, Wind | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Why it is futile to think that Wind could ever make a significant contribution to energy supplies

Richard Heinberg on why low oil prices do not mean there is plenty of oil, EROI, collapse

Posted on April 5, 2018 by

[ Yet another wise, thoughtful, and wide-ranging essay from my favorite writer of the many facets of a civilization about to decline as it is starved of the fossil fuels that feed it.  Although the topics are quite varied, Heinberg … Continue reading →

Posted in Oil, Peter Turchin, Richard Heinberg, Social Disorder | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Richard Heinberg on why low oil prices do not mean there is plenty of oil, EROI, collapse

Oil theft around the world: Cartels and exploding donkeys

Posted on April 4, 2018 by

Preface. Oil thefts cost Nigerian oil producers at least $18 billion a year. In Mexico, cartels spend only $5-8,000 to tap into pipelines and withdraw “unlimited” amounts of gasoline, and did so 7,000 times in 2016, resulting in $1 billion … Continue reading →

Posted in Peak Oil, Threats to oil supply | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Oil theft around the world: Cartels and exploding donkeys

How horses changed native cultures after 1492

Posted on April 2, 2018 by

[ This is a very brief overview of Peter Mitchel’s “Horse Nations”.  As oil and other fossils decline, will we will almost certainly return to using more horse “muscle power” as we did in the past. Alice Friedemann   www.energyskeptic.com  author … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Farming & Ranching, Muscle Power | Tagged , , | Comments Off on How horses changed native cultures after 1492

Preventing economic shock wave: Securing the port of Houston from a terrorist attack

Posted on March 29, 2018 by

                    [ An attack on (LNG) ships, oil tankers, or the Houston port facilities Houston would cause an oil shock, since a third of oil refining takes place there, and it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Disasters, Oil & Gas, Terrorism | Tagged , | Comments Off on Preventing economic shock wave: Securing the port of Houston from a terrorist attack

Wells Fargo created bogus bank accounts and credit cards without customer knowledge, billed them millions

Posted on March 26, 2018 by

[ I know this is “old news” from 2016, but the drawback of newspapers is that stories aren’t repeated.  What an insane level of corruption we’ve reached! Just look at the financial book list I haven’t yet posted at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Banking | Comments Off on Wells Fargo created bogus bank accounts and credit cards without customer knowledge, billed them millions

We Must Preserve The Earth’s Dwindling Resources For My 5 Children

Posted on March 23, 2018 by

Brenda Milford. June 28, 2006. We Must Preserve The Earth’s Dwindling Resources For My 5 Children. The Onion. Vol 44 Issue 27 “As we move into the 21st century, it is our responsibility to think of the future of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Population | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Lab Girl by Hope Jahren (excerpts)

Posted on March 20, 2018 by

Preface. Here are some excerpts to give you a taste of how delightful and well written this book is, hope it inspires young women to go into science.  And something good to read when the grid goes down… Warning: these … Continue reading →

Posted in (Auto)biography | Tagged , | 4 Comments

U.S. House 2013 “Exports and the Changing global energy landscape”

Posted on March 17, 2018 by

[ My excerpts from the house hearing below is another “let’s export Natural Gas to our allies now that we’re energy independent”.  The driving force is not making even better friends with Europe and keeping bully Russia away (though that’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Military, U.S. Congress Energy Independence | Tagged , , | Comments Off on U.S. House 2013 “Exports and the Changing global energy landscape”

Promoting abstinence and fidelity does nothing to reduce teen pregnancies or HIV

Posted on March 14, 2018 by

Preface. One of the goals of Christian evangelists and fundamentalists is to get enough Supreme Court justices who will stop sex education and ban contraceptives. Bad timing, free birth control and abortion are desperately needed to get the human population down … Continue reading →

Posted in Population | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Promoting abstinence and fidelity does nothing to reduce teen pregnancies or HIV