Author Archives: energyskeptic

Carbon Capture and Storage not likely to ever be commercial: too expensive, uses up to 30% of the power

[It’s 2016 and CCS still isn’t working, and can never work because the size of the storage area is too large:  “The prospects for carbon capture (e.g., clean coal) are widely discussed. Unfortunately, what is not usually discussed is that … Continue reading

Posted in Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS), Congressional Record U.S. | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Electromagnetic pulse threat to infrastructure: U.S. House hearings 2012 & 2014

Related articles: Russian hackers suspected in attack that blacked out parts of Ukraine How the weapon works (pdf): CRASHOVERRIDE Analyzing the Threat to Electric Grid Operations The EMP Commission estimates a nationwide blackout lasting one year could kill up to … Continue reading

Posted in Congressional Record U.S., Electric Grid & EMP Electromagnetic Pulse, Infrastructure & Collapse, Interdependencies, U.S. Congress Energy Dependence, U.S. Congress Infrastructure, War | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Electromagnetic pulse threat to infrastructure: U.S. House hearings 2012 & 2014

Another reason to think oil production probably peaked in 2005

[ In this Kurt Cobb post, Texas oilman Jeffrey brown explains why the story of oil production growth from 2005 to 2014 is probably wrong, because the increase came from lease condensate, not oil.  If this is true then Brown … Continue reading

Posted in How Much Left, Kurt Cobb, Peak Oil | Tagged , | Comments Off on Another reason to think oil production probably peaked in 2005

When Trucks Stop Running, So Does Civilization. Energy and the Future of Transportation.

When Trucks Stop Running. Energy and the Future of Transportation. Available at Springer, Amazon, Google Play, Barnes & Noble, Alibris When Trucks Stop Running: Table of Contents, Preface, References Book review: “When Trucks Stop Running: Energy and the Future of … Continue reading

Posted in Electric & Hydrogen trucks impossible, Electric Grid & EMP Electromagnetic Pulse, Electrification, Energy Books, Oil Shocks, Railroads, Ships and Barges, Transportation Infrastructure, Transportation Supply chain, Trucks, When Trucks Stop Running | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on When Trucks Stop Running, So Does Civilization. Energy and the Future of Transportation.

When Trucks Stop Running: Table of Contents, Preface, References

Alice Friedemann.  2016. When Trucks Stop Running: Energy and the Future of Civilization. Springer. Available in print and eBook at Springer, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Table of Contents 1 When Trucks Stop Running, America Stops 2 Shipping Makes the … Continue reading

Posted in When Trucks Stop Running | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Cost overruns on roads from subsurface conditions

[ What follows are excerpts from the 91 page NRC document on cost overruns. As energy declines, future new roads aren’t likely to be built, and existing roads unpaved, so I didn’t excerpt much.  Alice Friedemann www.energyskeptic.com ] NRC. 2016. … Continue reading

Posted in Roads | Comments Off on Cost overruns on roads from subsurface conditions

The periodic table limits battery development

Preface. My book, When Trucks Stop Running, makes the case that civilization ends when trucks stop running.  The replacement for diesel fuel that everyone expects, especially because Elon Musk has told them it’s on the way, are battery electric trucks. … Continue reading

Posted in Electric & Hydrogen trucks impossible, Electric Vehicles, Lithium-ion | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

U.S. House drilling on federal versus non-federal land

Serial No. 112-170. August 2, 2012. The American energy initiative part 27: A focus on growing differences for energy development on federal versus non-federal lands. House of Representatives. 171 pages. [ Who invites these “experts”?  Will Sullivan provide deniability to … Continue reading

Posted in U.S. Congress Energy Independence | Tagged | Comments Off on U.S. House drilling on federal versus non-federal land

Former President Bill Clinton on Peak Oil, Peak Soil, and other depleting resources

Former President Bill Clinton. May 4, 2007. The Looming Crisis; Can We Act in Time? Harvard Kennedy School. Excerpts from Keynote Address by Former President William Jefferson Clinton Kennedy School Spring Conference – Cambridge, MA I think it is highly … Continue reading

Posted in Energy Policy & Politicians, Peak Oil, Peak Topsoil | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Former President Bill Clinton on Peak Oil, Peak Soil, and other depleting resources

Congressional hearing on transportation – industry and agricultural perspectives

House 113-36. October 1, 2013. Perspectives from users of the nation’s freight system. U.S. House of Representatives. The United States manufacturing sector employs over 12 million people and contributes almost $2 trillion in goods and services to the Nation’s economy … Continue reading

Posted in Congressional Record U.S., Transportation | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Congressional hearing on transportation – industry and agricultural perspectives