c300man

Natural Gas Stocks: The Ultimate Form of Stored Solar Energy

Very good article Mr. Shaefer,
and I think a good choice of companies.

I think you are right on about the thought of the relatively low energy intensity of the sun being effectively concentrated over millions of years to the coal, oil, and NG high-energy-intensity 'batteries' the Great Provider set aside for our use. The only other thing readily available with more energy density is Uranium which should also be fully exploited.

At least one other thing Hubbert didn't imagine was a company like BP finding a large oil deposit 7 miles deep in the Gulf of Mexico.

I very strongly believe we should always use our lowest cost energy alternatives. No wise person pays more than necessary for whatever he wants to buy that meets his requirements. The same should be true for energy. We should use our lowest cost resources until some other alternative becomes cheaper. Having our politicians interfere with this process in the form of subsidies, mandates, questionable environmental restrictions, etc., is costly and wasteful - it is that simple.

Postal Service Set to Lead the Way in Deploying Electric Fleet

Thanks John,

For your answer and reference to your earlier article on frequency regulation. In my more simplistic consideration it is easy to understand a pumped storage facility being filled at night and then being used during the daytime to generate energy when needs are greater. Thinking of many batteries for momentary use for frequency regulation is a different sort of application. So thanks for describing those other sorts of FR systems.

For the PO E-LLV's analysis apparently the assumption is that they would be plugged into the grid at a time they would be really most helpful. If they are in use on the streets during peak energy use times that seems unlikely. They could be providing FR during off use time (5 pm - 7 am) but the need or benefit at that time would seem to be much less.

Postal Service Set to Lead the Way in Deploying Electric Fleet

Hopefully, this project can / will result in an honest and thorough study of battery powered alternative LLV's for the postal service. For the type of use they see, an E-LLV would seem like a good choice.

A point I'm missing is the idea of selling energy back to the grid. I thought the vehicle batteries would be charged at night during their off use hours when electric rates might be lower. In the analysis by the PO is it the overnight period when they expect to sell energy back to the grid? Are they assuming they can sell energy back at some other period when they can receive a higher value? As you say, the E-LLV's are in use delivering mail during peak electrical energy demands.

The Truth About Fossil Fuels and Renewable Energy

Thanks Mr. Shaefer, for a very good and thorough article.

When will Part II be out?

I can only hope our congress and administration will read and start to digest the sort of information you have presented.

Why Isn't Midwest Wind-Generated Power Blowing East?

There is little discussion of the energy requirements to transmit large amounts of electrical energy long distances. There is a cost associated with energy transmission that increases as the distance increases. So ideally, energy should be generated as close as practical to where it is used.

New technology is / can be employed to reduce this energy loss but that comes at a cost. Hopefully the author can comment about this transmission energy requirement and how it can be minimized and at what cost.

Investing in the Smart Grid

I agree with rrbatch. Smart Grid is mostly hype. Progressive electric companies have long had variable rates through a variety of programs that let people benefit from lower electric rates when they can (and want to) shift their power use. My daughter and son-in-law live in northern Wisconsin and use electric resistance heat at night (4 pm to 7 am) at very low rates. They use NG heat in the daytime. That is all good and there are many additional steps that can be done. It is more 'energy management in the home' than 'smart grid'.

One factor that is missing from the discussion is the cost and energy required to transmit electrical energy long distances. That is the reason generation facilities need to be located as close as practical to where the energy is used. Otherwise much energy is lost in the long-distance transmission. The idea of generating a lot of solar energy in the southwest or wind energy in the countries mid-section and sending that energy long distances is wasteful. The 'smart grid' doesn't address this fundamental aspect of electrical energy transmission. Of course research is underway (and long has been) to improve this transmission efficiency but nothing practical is available yet.

House Throws Away Big Money in Cap-and-Trade Bill

This administration and the democratic leadership in the congress (and especially the House) are out of control. Hopefully enough of the country will understand better what they are doing by the time the next elections come around.

Please take the time to read the EPA - Carlin report that has been suppressed by the EPA. It is available from many sources on-line (98 pages). Also, look at Mr. Carlins credentials and papers over his 40 year EPA career. His report should have taken the administration, EPA and congress back to square one about global warming and the need for any sort of cap and trade but instead it seemed to provide the impetus to railroad and foist this legislation all the quicker on the American people.

Will India's Changes Bring Headwinds for Gold?

There is a discrepancy in some of the data. If the yearly import is 500 tons and the gold in private hands is 25,000 tons it would represent 50 years worth of imports.

Stay Away from U.S. Treasuries - Invest in Energy Stocks

This administration and the democratic party are leading our country down this dangerous path with their costly and hopelessly idealistic energy policies.

As the American public begins to better understand what these energy policies will result in in cost and control of their lives I think we will see many changes in future elections. We will elect politicians who will truly support and push for use of all of our countries natural resources especially tight NG and offshore oil. As oil price increases oil shale and coal conversion and NG conversion to liquids will increase. Use of nuclear energy will be expanded and permitting will be simplified and the permitting timeframe will be shortened.

All the while alternative energy systems / types will be supported and developed and become a more significant part of our total energy supply as they become cost competitive (without subsidies) with the proven technologies.

Also, there will always be room to improve efficiency. But again, cost should be the determining factor. Small efficiency gains at great expense don't always lead to a lower total cost.

All of this just seems like common sense most people would agree to if given the opportunity to set energy policy. Unfortunately there are so many associated issues that aren't presented honestly such as global warming and foreign mid-east oil (really most of it is Canadian oil) that leave voters wondering what is best for them and our country. I think it will become more apparent and our energy policies will swing to more support for use of our own resources.

Energy: Zero Sum, We Lose

optionsgirl is right that our nation should be increasing our use of nuclear energy. Instead this administration recently stopped funding for development of the Yucca Mountain high level nuclear waste repository. Spent fuel will continue to be stored at the plants. Billions have been spent studying and developing Yucca Mountain. While some environmentalists will never be satisfied with the studies, an overwhelming majority of engineers and scientists find the site acceptable. This decision by the Obama administration was strictly political to satisfy Sen Reid and other western democrats. So much for Obama's promise of honest government.

Power Plays on Energy Management

Simple on-off switches can be effective too. It shouldn't be expecting too much to ask employees to turn off their computer and the lights when they are not going to be used for a few hours or certainly for overnight. People can adjust blinds and turn down / up thermostats too.

New technology that takes over all these simple responsibilities is fine and needs to be developed but there is no mention of their cost and on-going maintenance / upgrading expenses. It is always prudent to question just how complicated you want to make a simple task and what are the true savings.

Oil Rises Again: What Does it Mean?

Here is a comprehensive outlook for worldwide energy demand and supply through 2030.

www.exxonmobil.com/Cor...

Renewables: Another Perspective on Energy

I'm glad to see Shell state so clearly that they don't consider alternative technologies to be attractive investment alternatives. I think Exxon is in that same camp.

There will be a day when we truly enjoy and capture all of the energy nuclear energy has to offer. We've enjoyed the benefits chemical energy has offered and will for a long time to come but I think a greater transition to nuclear will occur. The waste issue is not a problem to the engineering and scientific community only to the politicians and environmental extremists.

Smart Grid: Powering Us Out of Recession

You've gotten carried away with your multiplcation in the lead-in paragraph. Lost electrical energy sales = 800 mw x 1000 kw/mw x 8 hr x $0.10 / kwh = $640,000

Wages paid to plant employees during that outage =
800 employees x 8 hrs x $10 / hr = $64,000

There are lots of opportunity for improved and more efficient energy use and reduction of energy waste although you can't eliminate some cost for moving energy.

I believe we need to increase use of nuclear energy. Mining and processing of Uranium ore is safe. Disposal of spent fuel is safe but unfortunately the Obama administration has let politics guide their decision making.

Is a Car Produced in Alabama Really an Import?

Here is an interesting video that probably shows the future of the auto industry:


info.detnews.com/video...