Category Archives: A Fast Crash

This site makes the case that collapse will take decades, not centuries. And the worst that ever has been or will be, it is fossil fuels that enabled 8.2 people to exist on the planet

Book review: Lights Out. A cyberattack. A nation unprepared. Surviving the aftermath

Preface.  This is one of three posts based on Ted Koppel’s book Lights out: A Cyberattack, A Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath. There are three posts on Ted Koppel’s book “Lights out”: Book review of Lights Out. A Cyberattack. A … Continue reading

Posted in Cyber, Electric Grid & EMP Electromagnetic Pulse, Energy Books | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Book review: Lights Out. A cyberattack. A nation unprepared. Surviving the aftermath

Off-Road vehicles & equipment need diesel fuel

Preface. Move over semi-trucks. You are not the most important truck in the world, even though I gave you the starring role in “When Trucks Stop Running”.  What really matters are the trucks that grow our fuel: Food. And mining … Continue reading

Posted in Efficiency, Electric & Hydrogen trucks impossible, Infrastructure & Fast Crash, Transportation Infrastructure, Trucks | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Tesla Semi trucks hauling corn chips

Preface.  Many dismiss my writing about why heavy-duty class 8 battery electric trucks can’t replace diesel trucks because there are class 8 electric trucks. Most famously the Tesla semi trucks, which are under a trial at the PepsiCo Frito-lay plant … Continue reading

Posted in Electric & Hydrogen trucks impossible, Trucks: Electric | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Tesla Semi trucks hauling corn chips

What is the plan for an electric grid outage that lasts for months?

Preface. There are three posts on Ted Koppel’s book “Lights out”: Book review of Lights Out. A Cyberattack. A Nation Unprepared. Surviving the Aftermath What is the plan for an electric grid outage that lasts for months? Want to survive … Continue reading

Posted in Blackouts, Electric Grid & EMP Electromagnetic Pulse, Energy Books, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Where to be? Superfund, hazardous waste & other toxic sites in U.S.

Preface. If you’re thinking of moving to another state that is under carrying capacity, where agriculture depends on rainfall rather than irrigation, with good topsoil and other ecologically important factors in the approaching postcarbon world, also make sure you’re not … Continue reading

Posted in Chemical Pollution, Hazardous Waste, Where to Be or Not to Be | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Where to be? Superfund, hazardous waste & other toxic sites in U.S.

Do you want to eat, drink, or fly?

Preface.  In this post the New York Times writes about renewable airplane fuel from corn ethanol, and questions whether there is enough water and a few other problems.  First I’m going to summarize their issues with this, and then follow … Continue reading

Posted in Airplanes, Biofuels, Biomass EROI, Groundwater, Peak Water | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Do you want to eat, drink, or fly?

A Nuclear spent fuel pool fire could force millions to evacuate & cost $2 trillion

Source: Stone R (2016) Near miss at Fukushima is a warning for U.S., panel says. Science Preface. Nuclear cheerleaders love to talk about how safe nuclear power is.  You will never ever hear them talk about nuclear fuel pools because … Continue reading

Posted in Nuclear Power Energy, Nuclear spent fuel fire, Nuclear Waste | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Book review: Atomic Days. The Untold Story of the Most Toxic Place in America

Preface. Plutonium for nuclear weapons was produced at the Hanford Washington site for nearly four decades. Today it is the world’s most polluted site chock-a-block with radioactive waste and toxic chemicals. Chemical pollution is one of the planetary boundaries that … Continue reading

Posted in Chemical Pollution, Disasters, Energy Books, Nuclear Waste, Pollution | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Book review: Atomic Days. The Untold Story of the Most Toxic Place in America

Want to survive Peak Everything? Become a Mormon

Source: Salt Lake Tribune. For Latter-day Saint families, preparing for emergencies is the norm Preface.  Ted Koppel’s book “Lights Out” highlights the many risks to the grid from cyber and physical attacks, electromagnetic pulses from weapons or solar flares, large … Continue reading

Posted in Blackouts, Electric Grid & EMP Electromagnetic Pulse, Energy Books, Where to Be or Not to Be | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Book Cobalt: The Making of a Mining Superpower

Preface. This book is about the history of the town of Cobalt and would make a great horror movie — the disease, filth, poverty, poor wages, racism, and destruction of the environment — the biodiversity, fresh water and more.

Posted in Energy Books, Hazardous Waste, Mining | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Book Cobalt: The Making of a Mining Superpower