Oil Crisis--NOT!
The biggest lie we’re hearing lately is about America’s oil crisis
It seems that when people are paying $75 to fill up the tank in their economy car, you have their attention. It’s a shame the media has to deceive people once they get their attention.
America has an energy crisis—we don’t use it efficiently enough. Our crisis only becomes an “oil” crisis because our government/corporate media does not want us to lose our focus on oil.
We are told that wind energy is impractical—we lack the infrastructure to deliver it. As I was driving up the Skyway to Paradise recently—in a fresh gale—I passed under several sets of high-voltage transmission lines strung along the ridge, despoiling the view. I wondered, how hard would it be to put a series of wind generators along that ridge-top and the thousands of other ridge-tops over which high-voltage transmission lines already are strung? The view is already ruined. Personally, I find that renewable energy has a beauty all its own. As much as I abhor mega-corporations, I have to give GE credit for the wind turbines they have developed in the past few years. They have one unit that will power 2500 homes. It is truly an objet d’art.
A wind generator--strong enough to power the typical household--can be mounted on the typical house with zero investment in infrastructure. A generator strong enough to recharge a “commuter” car could be mounted damn near anywhere.
Another huge myth is being spread in transportation circles. It goes something like, “The energy used by electric vehicles is the same amount of energy used by cars—it just comes from somewhere else. Further, just as much CO2 is released when the electricity is generated.
Bull.
Electric motors obtain 90% efficiency. The best a gasoline motor can do is 24%--the rest is lost to heat. Electric cars can go three times as far for the same amount of energy.
Where and when the wind blows, electric cars are virtually free to drive!
Of course, the wind doesn’t blow everywhere, or reliably enough in many places, but that’s not the point.
The point is, no one is even talking about the simple ideas!
We don’t have to make oil companies even richer to solve our energy problems. The energy is all around us, we just have to make wise use of it.
Comments
Simple answer, Q. Alternatives to oil and gas will be used when they are economically viable. With the cost of oil at a new all time high, alternatives deserve another look. And contrary to your comment, there are MILLIONS of people talking about these "simple ideas".
Go ahead. If you think putting a windmill on your roof so you can drive an electric car is free and an economic alternative, go ahead. I think you'll find that adding an electricity generating windmill is NOT a "zero investment in infrastructure" endeavor. It'll cost you thousands of dollars to do it right. Go ahead, give it a go. It might take you 6 or 8 years to get that investment back, and maybe you'll think that's a wise economic choice. Or maybe, if you're lucky, the cost of electricity from coal and oil will increase, and that windmill will take 3 or 4 years to break even.
My point is -- The wind is NOT free. Electric cars are NOT free. And if that's not true, please prove me wrong with actual practice, not words.
On a side note: An electric motor may be 90+% efficient in converting electricity to mechanical energy, but there are huge losses in creating, transmitting and storing that electrical power. When the entire process is considered electric transportation is not 90% efficient.
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Good points, Frank--as always.
When I referred to the infrastructure, I was referring to the allied costs associated with the power generation--most importantly, the transmission aspects of the infrastructure.
Even Bob Brinker, the investment guy on weekend radio, has said that getting the power from where the wind is blowing is the problem, not generating the power. He states it as an infrastructure problem.
That is utter nonsense!
I could, without infrastructure, put a generator on my roof.
PGE could, without adding any infrastructure (well, maybe a few yards of cable) add some generators alongside where the wires are currently strung.
Perhaps I do not understand the economics--I admit my ignorance in the field--but after the break-even point, isn't that free?
I did a Google search for folks who might enjoy a free commute. I had no luck. I was actually quite surprised.
Looks like I will have to be the first!
Give me two years.
Quentin
Posted by: Frank | June 17, 2008 10:12 AM