Bikewer
Penultimate Amazing
Dunno if this belongs in Politics or Science....
Just listened to Paul Roberts, author of The End of Oil, on the Fresh Air show this afternoon. (Have not yet read the book)
Having been with the local County Police back in the 70s and the Oil Embargo, I'd have thought that that particular event would have been enough of a wake-up call that we'd now be well on the way to energy independence.
Alas, not the case, however, and it seems (at least locally) that the largest possible SUV or 4-wheel rear-axle pickup is the status symbol of the middle classes.
Mr. Roberts maintains we will see significant degradation of the mideast oil supplies within 10 years. He says the largest Saudi field is already showing signs of enroaching water, a sign that it's usefulness is coming to an end.
Although there are substantial supplies becoming available in a variety of locations, including South America, Indonesia, and Russia, all of these places are politically unstable and have comparatively limited reserves to begin with.
Europe and Japan are going ahead with some speed in the areas of wind and solar, while our own efforts are limited at best. Roberts fears a head-in-the-sand approach which will culminate in a massive crunch requiring emergency measures.
Work done in an emergency is likely not to be the best either for the economy or the environment.
Most of the work driving the "hydrogen economy" seems to rely on the major energy companies extracting hydrogen from...oil.
Will our short-sighted and PAC-influenced politicians have the integrity to take serious steps to research and develop alternative energy sources?
As I recall, Buckminster Fuller once said that eventually we would have to realize that oil was too valuable to burn up in internal combustion engines
Just listened to Paul Roberts, author of The End of Oil, on the Fresh Air show this afternoon. (Have not yet read the book)
Having been with the local County Police back in the 70s and the Oil Embargo, I'd have thought that that particular event would have been enough of a wake-up call that we'd now be well on the way to energy independence.
Alas, not the case, however, and it seems (at least locally) that the largest possible SUV or 4-wheel rear-axle pickup is the status symbol of the middle classes.
Mr. Roberts maintains we will see significant degradation of the mideast oil supplies within 10 years. He says the largest Saudi field is already showing signs of enroaching water, a sign that it's usefulness is coming to an end.
Although there are substantial supplies becoming available in a variety of locations, including South America, Indonesia, and Russia, all of these places are politically unstable and have comparatively limited reserves to begin with.
Europe and Japan are going ahead with some speed in the areas of wind and solar, while our own efforts are limited at best. Roberts fears a head-in-the-sand approach which will culminate in a massive crunch requiring emergency measures.
Work done in an emergency is likely not to be the best either for the economy or the environment.
Most of the work driving the "hydrogen economy" seems to rely on the major energy companies extracting hydrogen from...oil.
Will our short-sighted and PAC-influenced politicians have the integrity to take serious steps to research and develop alternative energy sources?
As I recall, Buckminster Fuller once said that eventually we would have to realize that oil was too valuable to burn up in internal combustion engines