Blair

An Alternative to America’s Gasoline Crisis

The basic problem with the list of characteristics is the missing important item -- energy density.

The big advantage of diesel is its high energy density -- you don't need to drag around of big tanks of LNG for mobile applications. The list does not address the transportation and conversion costs. All of the so called alternative energy sources fail on this critical item. LNG is applicable to stationary energy consumption -- not mobile uses. (Electric trains??? how much will it cost to instal appropriate overhead lines, etc.)

So, what do we do?

1. Apply solar energy for hot water generation. This is a low tech application. With this, you could cut energy consumption by 10 - 15% without any problem.

2. Enhance mobile energy use efficiency. Possibly save 15 - 20 %

3. Drop the long distance trucking of goods -- use rail to terminal points then go to trucks. Here is another 10 - 15% energy consumption reduction.

4. Reduce household energy consumption - another 10-15% reduction.

One can go on -- the major point is that significant energy savings can be achieved by getting 10 - 15% point item reduction. All of this without major pain - both economic and convenience.

Long term, there is no reason for not expecting 50 - 60 % energy consumption reduction.

With the energy cost going up, I think that the items listed above will occur on a 'natural' level. You don't need any government to get involved with their elite-o-crats telling you how to do things.