As a former Physicist, I found this article very telling. Next time you run into a “green energy expert” ask him what his grade was in college for calculus. Many tell me that they never took calculus. I the respond to them, “Then you are wholey unqualified to even have an opinion about anything scientific.”
I don’t want to get into an endless debate about solar vs. fossil fuels, but this article in particular stinks:
“Green supporters” have a problem with basic math? Oh really, like an entire movement can be boiled down to flawed arithmetic. Comon, even if you’re staunchly anti-solar you have to admit that the debate is complex and runs deeper than basic math. Oh, and by the way, there’s nothing in here that has anything to do with calculus.
The comparison with nuclear is unclear. Why does it matter that a nuclear power plant would produce more energy? Nothing is said about the cost of building a nuclear plant vs. solar. Nothing is said about the controversy surrounding spent nuclear fuels. And nothing is said implying that the government is footing the bill for the solar plants, which are merely being allowed to be built on public lands.
Government can either support or hinder nuclear plant building. Now they are hindering it, based upon political considerations. Obama’s stated goal was to raise the cost of electricity so as to make other sources appear more desirable. See Solyndra and the other companies that are crony capitalism. Government regs for new plants are simply silly. Also see the environmental political play that is going on with regards to Keysone. Also, all the BS going out about the dangers of fracking.
Yes. They believe that all or most of the U.S. electrical needs can be met with wind and solar. Basic science, for which one needs to use math, including calculus, says it cannot happen.
Will, even more “basic” science will tell you these are not finite resources. My 3rd grader understands this already. So to say that fossil fuels can meet US electrical needs is also a fallacy. The correct statement would be that fossil fuels can “currently meet US electrical needs”.
Technically solar, wind and geothermal are not finite either, but at that point I think the earth will have bigger problems.
ummm not really sure what that link to a Wordpress (blog - opinion) is about. It shows a chart to 2015. There is more than 3 years left, but not much more than 100 years according to the USGS.
Here is most of the data for almost all fossil fuel reserves:
Might want to actually check that link out. I am going to trust the USGS over just about anyone’s opinion.
I rented a room and house sat for one of the professors at NAU for geology during my college years. He had been awarded multiple grants from the USGS to do work for oil reserve studies and develop new affordable techniques in horizontal drilling (common place now a days). His findings even back then were approx 150 years left of oil. Keep in mind this is well before the over development of 75% of the worlds population in China and India…not to mention places like Brazil (Petrovas).
Even BP agrees that renewable will see the largest percentage gain in energy sources, with natural gas being 2nd in gains. They expect a substantial decline in oil. Keep in mind this study is based on current prices. Have you seen the surge in nat gas prices lately?
Where do you people come up with this stuff? We are producing more oil now than we have since the late 90’s.
I suppose political banter, the media and other misc new sources are actually “believable”. Where are you getting your “centuries of reserves” data from? The USGS data says otherwise. I am probably going to believe a bunch of PHDs over Wordpress blogs.
Here is “real” data on oil production.
Keep in mind 2011 numbers are only through October.
Actually, you have ducked my original question and asked a new one that you are now accusing me of ducking.
Where is your data source for your repeated claim of “abundant coal and gas supplies” and “centuries of X energy source”.
To recap I used the USGS site and you used some Wordpress site.
I showed my source in the previous post. I do not watch TV as I do not have time for it. I use to love watching football, I don’t even have time for that anymore.
HUH? I thought you wanted government out of it…now you don’t? Let me know when you pick a side so we can get back to our debate.
Because we could have even more domestic oil and be even less dependence on buying oil form people who do not like us and expending military resources to keep that oil flowing.
Go back and click on the links in my post. It’s there Jason.
Hundreds of years of supply is not a joke and gives us ample time to develop other viable energy sources.
The only thing stopping us is green politics and their hatred for people and especially oil, coal and nuclear and now natural gas fracking.
Okay so according to your bottom source there is not centuries of fossil energy left. There isnt even a century of oil, unless you want to move to Iraq.
Your naturalgas.org link features this report…which I already read a while back.
Check out the chart on page 112. So what happens 75 years from now? Keep in mind it is based on 2005 consumption. I am sure that will go down, right? Lol.
In addition it states right on their home page there is no way to accurately determine how much nat gas is left. If you are going to quote a source you might want to read it first.
Your coal link states 250 years. I am sure that will still be 250 years once all the oil and nat gas dries up.
The good news is you and I can just be selfish and not worry about it…none of this will happen in our lifetimes.