Category Archives: Energy

the posts in this category used to be in “Energy in A Nutshell” at my former web site.

Don’t worry, be happy, there’s plenty of oil, natural gas, & coal left

Posted on July 9, 2012 by

These posts and links rebut the studies of cornucopians like Magueri and Daniel Yergin at CERA, who say there’s lots of oil left. Richard Kerr. 10 Aug 2012. Are World Oil’s Prospects Not Declining All That Fast? Science vol 337 … Continue reading →

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Bunker Fuel supplies declining

Posted on March 21, 2012 by

I had always assumed large container ships would be the last to go in the oil age since hauling cargo in them is more efficient than even trains, but it looks like that isn’t as true any more. Ships use … Continue reading →

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James Howard Kunstler “True Believers”

Posted on November 16, 2011 by

James Howard Kunstler. August 17, 2005. True Believers. There is a special species of idiot at large in the financial media space who believe absolutely in the desperate and tragic public relations bullshit that this society churns out to convince … Continue reading →

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Long-Term Reliability of Power Systems In North America

Posted on October 23, 2011 by

North American Electric Reliability Council. Oct 2006. Summary of 2006 Long-Term Reliability Assessment: The Reliability of the Bulk Power Systems In North America Capacity Margin — Capacity that could be available to cover random factors such as forced outages of … Continue reading →

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Natural Gas pros and cons

Posted on July 10, 2011 by

Natural gas is the ideal electricity generating source: No sulfur or mercury like coal No particulates like diesel fuels Isn’t radioactive like uranium It’s always “on” unlike intermittent sources such as wind and solar Natural gas power plants are essential … Continue reading →

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Flow Rate Posts

Posted on July 10, 2011 by

Interview of Richard G. Miller by Steve Andrews in Peak Oil Review.  Feb 2014. Q: You refer to the widely used phrase—“it’s not so much the size of the tank as it is the size of the tap.”  Care to comment … Continue reading →

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Depletion Rate Articles and Posts

Posted on July 10, 2011 by

Articles 2005. Matt Simmons. THE WORLD’S GIANT OILFIELDS How Many Exist? How Much Do They Produce? How Fast Are They Declining? Posts July 13, 2005.   “Powerswitch” Clive Smith What seems to be happening…is that our new oil extraction technology, … Continue reading →

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Coal: why it can’t easily substitute for oil

Posted on July 9, 2011 by

In a major 2009, 737 page landmark study of our energy predicament, the National Academy of Sciences proposes  that the only possible near-term solution to a substitute transportation fuel to replace gasoline is liquified coal.   Liquified coal is the only … Continue reading →

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Oil

Posted on July 9, 2011 by

Since oil is so fabulous, why not just drill for more? Economists don’t believe that there is a finite amount of anything, all you have to do is drill a hole, pour money into it, and Voila! – black crude … Continue reading →

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Biofuels can be explosive

Posted on June 14, 2011 by

Oil and natural gas can be cheaply distributed by pipeline, but ethanol must move by very expensive truck or train. 6 Feb 2011. Ohio train derailment prompts evacuations. CNN. 7 Oct 2011. Freight Train Derailment in Illinois Prompts Evacuations.   Associated … Continue reading →

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