Fossil fuels are the new whale oil

[Aurora]

The Guardian - 21/02/12

'Fossil fuels are the new whale oil', says environmentalist Amory Lovins

The energy expert and physicist describes his vision of how the world can attain a green energy future by 2050.

Article continues ...

[Mr. Fox]

Lovins: Well, we use private enterprise, co-evolving with civil society and sped up by military innovation, to end run Congress. The transition we describe requires no act of Congress. It's led by business for profit.

Basically, carrot instead of stick. Just keep the 'growth donkey' climbing.

It made me think of this:

[woodburner]

— the book lays out a plan for the U.S. to achieve the following by 2050: cars completely powered by hydrogen fuel cells, electricity, and biofuels; 84 percent of trucks and airplanes running on biomass fuels; 80 percent of the nation's electricity produced by renewable power;

Cars completely powered by fuel cells and bio fuels? How? 84% of trucks and planes running on bio-mass?

This is just a fantasy probably to get some research funding.

Just to power cars in the UK on bio fuels would take more than the land area of the UK to grow enough crops.

Just not credible.

[Mr. Fox]

No, it's all fine, because Legomen don't need food.

[frank_begbie]

The Guardian - 21/02/12

'Fossil fuels are the new whale oil', says environmentalist Amory Lovins

The energy expert and physicist describes his vision of how the world can attain a green energy future by 2050.

Article continues ...

So why do we want all this cheap energy?

To carry on making things that nobody really needs to line the pockets of the same people as we are today?

Better a massive die off and get back to living how nature intended.

[woodburner]

So why do we want all this cheap energy?

To carry on making things that nobody really needs to line the pockets of the same people as we are today?

Better a massive die off and get back to living how nature intended.

+1 +1 +1

(PS I see the oil price indicator continues its rise).

[JonB]

The Guardian - 21/02/12

'Fossil fuels are the new whale oil', says environmentalist Amory Lovins

The energy expert and physicist describes his vision of how the world can attain a green energy future by 2050.

Article continues ...

So why do we want all this cheap energy?

To carry on making things that nobody really needs to line the pockets of the same people as we are today?

Better a massive die off and get back to living how nature intended.

after you....

[hodson2k9]

So why do we want all this cheap energy?

To carry on making things that nobody really needs to line the pockets of the same people as we are today?

Better a massive die off and get back to living how nature intended.

after you....

+1 +1 +1

[emordnilap]

So why do we want all this cheap energy?

This is the important part of FB's post, despite the humorous responses.

We need, throughout society (not just this island or that state), a thorough and transparent debate revolving around the basic concept of massive energy use - and the realisation that it cannot (will not) continue and there is no reason why it should.

Sadly, until plebs get it through their thick heads that cheap energy availability is on an inexorable decline, no such debate will be worth it, clouded as it is by the selfishness we've come to expect.

And that's before they accept climate change.