Category Archives: 1) Decline

Decline will be death by a thousand cuts as too many problems occur and overwhelm societies ability to fix them (i.e. Tainter’s “complexity”). Already our infrastructure (oil and gas pipelines, electric grid, roads, bridges, etc) has a Report Card of D from the American Society of Civil Engineers. All 18 components of essential infrastructure, from the electric grid to the financial system are vulnerable to cyber-attack, The end of growth means bankruptcy for cities, pensions, families, and businesses, and no credit for energy companies to borrow for new projects to obtain oil, coal, and natural gas, the real drivers of the economy (just try putting dollar bills in your gas tank)

Book review of Door to Door and the amazing world of transportation

Edward Humes.  2016. Door to Door: The Magnificent, Maddening, Mysterious World of Transportation. HarperCollins. A book review by Alice Friedemann at www.energyskeptic.com  author of “When Trucks Stop Running: Energy and the Future of Transportation, 2015, Springer] I was in the … Continue reading

Posted in Energy Books, Transportation, Travel | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Climate change impacts on transportation 2008 U.S. Senate hearing

Senate  110-1199. June 24, 2008. Climate change impacts on the transportation sector. U.S. Senate Hearing. Excerpts from this 135 page document follow. DANIEL K. INOUYE, U.S. SENATOR FROM HAWAII The transportation sector is a major indicator of the overall economic … Continue reading

Posted in Climate Change, Transportation, Transportation Infrastructure, U.S. Congress Transportation | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Climate change impacts on transportation 2008 U.S. Senate hearing

Most energy efficient: passenger bus, rail, or auto?

Preface. Weight reduces energy efficiency, so one way to make transportation more efficient is to light-weight rail cars, buses, trucks, and cars. For every 10% reduction in weight, up to 7.6% more fuel efficiency can be gained (Joost 2012). While … Continue reading

Posted in Automobiles, Mass Transit, Railroads | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Most energy efficient: passenger bus, rail, or auto?

Coal plants are causing water shortages in China

Wong, E. March 22, 2016. Report Ties Coal Plants to Water Shortage in Northern China. New York Times. China’s consumption of coal, a major contributor to climate change and the country’s horrific air pollution, is worsening a severe water shortage … Continue reading

Posted in China, Energy Production, Peak Water | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Coal plants are causing water shortages in China

67% of USA counties still in recession — lower incomes than 2009

[ Time magazine points out that most of the green counties are oil drilling locations, which in 2016 are quickly losing jobs ] Wilson, C. December 15, 2015. See How Well Your Neighbors Have Recovered From the Recession. Time Magazine. … Continue reading

Posted in Poverty | Tagged , , | Comments Off on 67% of USA counties still in recession — lower incomes than 2009

Chemicals banned in cosmetics

The environmental working group has this to say about cosmetics: “American families assume personal care products on the market today have been tested by the federal government. Unfortunately, the personal care products industry remains largely unregulated. The FDA does not … Continue reading

Posted in Chemicals | Comments Off on Chemicals banned in cosmetics

Alternative fuels to replace transportation oil. U.S. House hearing 2012

House 112–159. July 10, 2012. The American energy initiative part 23: A focus on Alternative Fuels and vehicles. House of Representatives. [ Excerpts from this 210 page transcript follow ] MIKE BREEN, Vice President of the Truman National Security Project.   … Continue reading

Posted in Alternative Energy, Natural Gas Vehicles, Transportation, U.S. Congress Transportation | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Alternative fuels to replace transportation oil. U.S. House hearing 2012

Overview of the United States freight transportation system. House hearing 2013

House 113-13. April 24, 2013. Overview of the United States Freight Transportation System. House of Representatives.   [ excerpts from the 193 page transcript of the house hearing ] Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member Rahall have designated this panel to … Continue reading

Posted in Transportation, U.S. Congress Transportation | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Overview of the United States freight transportation system. House hearing 2013

USA rail policy: goals, objectives, and responsibilities. House hearing 2013

House 113-28. June 27, 2013. National rail policy: Examining goals, objectives, and responsibilities. House of Representatives. [ Excerpts of the 211 page transcript of the hearing follow ] Edward R. Hamberger, President and Chief Executive Officer, Association of American Railroads … Continue reading

Posted in Railroads, U.S. Congress Energy Policy, U.S. Congress Transportation | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on USA rail policy: goals, objectives, and responsibilities. House hearing 2013

We’ll all be Flint Michigan someday: U.S. water infrastructure is falling apart

NRC. 2006. Drinking Water Distribution Systems: Assessing and Reducing Risks Committee on Public Water Supply Distribution Systems: Assessing and Reducing Risks.  National Research Council, National Academies Press. [ According to this Free National Research Council report, most water systems and … Continue reading

Posted in Water Infrastructure, Water Pollution | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on We’ll all be Flint Michigan someday: U.S. water infrastructure is falling apart