Alternative Energy Sources Debunked | There is "No Way Out"

Discussion in 'Politics & Religion' started by gauharjk, Jun 29, 2008.

  1. bogart

    bogart Notable Member

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    #21
    It's true that most of the US oil demand is for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Howver we are still using home heating oil is some market. Home heating oil is basically diesel. So replacing electric heat for the heating oil would help the diesel shortage.

    It's really not a matter of replacing oil. Rather we need to reduce oil consumption to the level where it isn't so important.

    If the US could reduce oil consumption by 50% we would be alright.
     
    bogart, Jul 21, 2008 IP
  2. earlpearl

    earlpearl Well-Known Member

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    #22
    This deep link from the dept of energy describes where the energy sources come from and how they are used w/in the US

    yeah...24% of the oil is used for electric generation and makes up 44% of the energy consumption within that aspect of energy usage. So yeah....if coal, hydro, natural gas were substituted for oil....it would shrink oil usage. Its doable and not in the long term future....but more immediately with other sources that can ramp up more quickly.

    I keep looking at the Brazilian example and keep thinking....why don't we do 3 things. It would make for a faster turn around then drilling for oil.....and simply cut oil usage....which means less imports from the outside.

    1. Decide and ramp up for biofuel availability. Choose a product (corn, sugar cane, something else).....and push production for large scale usage. Figure out where and how much land and resources it would take and how that might impact food production. Those things are reasonably calculable. Then push forward if we can produce in quantity.

    2. Make biofuel distribution for auto's widespread. Get it available. Geez.....start with a section of a country and then ramp up. It would put a lot of people to work.

    3. Make auto engines that use biofuel. The technology is already there. Ford and GM are each doing it in Brazil as are all the major auto makers. The tech change in engine development is ready to go.

    All that stuff would put a dent in oil importing and do it faster than drilling. Brazil is one large country that has already shown it can be done rather quickly.
     
    earlpearl, Jul 22, 2008 IP
  3. gauharjk

    gauharjk Notable Member

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    #23
    A very interesting article in WSJ

    A Difficult Road Awaits For Energy Conservation

    Soaring gasoline prices, angst in Washington, economic malaise, fears of far worse to come -- the U.S. has been through the energy wringer before, and even managed to ease the pain through conservation.

    The last time the country was clobbered, 1979-1983, Americans cut way back on driving, bought far fewer and smaller cars and dramatically reduced the use of oil. It's natural to assume that we can do it again.

    But conserving our way out of this crunch won't be so easy. Here are five key reasons why.

    [​IMG]
     
    gauharjk, Jul 22, 2008 IP