Fossil Fuels

**Patrick** · 09-22-2005, 09:28 PM

The price of gas and oil is high, and Hurricane (Rita?) is going to hit Texas, apparently that is 25% of where we get our oil. If Texas gets raped like planned, oil is going to go even higher.

When we first started using oil the ratio was 20:1 (20 gathered 1 used to get it)

Now I read it is either 5:1 or 2:1.
Coal and Exhaust is bad for the environment.
Right now the fossil fuels has the world in a choke-hold, and when we run out the world won't know what to do. I've heard everywhere from 10 years left to 300 years left.

Either way you can't stop the inevitable that we will run out unless someone invents something to duplicate fossil fuels.
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Wind energy- the majority of the US has enough potential to use this and have it work economically. The catch? Giant windmills everywhere you look.

Solar Energy- no waste, works, no catch I can think of other that it doesn't work as good as fossil fuels.

Nuclear Energy- Monitored 24/7 for safety precautions, supposedly statistically less likely for an accident than getting struck by lightning. But if it does blow up or something, it really hurts.

Then of course you have hyrdoelectric energy and geothermal...the bad thing about geothermal is that its hard to get from deep in the earth, takes a long time, and spends a lot of energy to get.

So do you think US/World should start converting now so we'll be ready later?

**SuperAfroBoy** · 09-23-2005, 07:38 PM

yes.

here on PEI, there are plans to start converting to wind energy in the next ten years.

**Patrick** · 09-24-2005, 07:36 PM

I don't think the US, the biggest fossil fuel consumer, will change its ways.
Another bad thing about that is that all the pollution we make drifts to other countries.

Don Francisco · 09-24-2005, 11:15 PM

"I don't think the US, the biggest fossil fuel consumer, will change its ways."

Even if congress never does anything (which is very unlikely due to pressure from environmental groups and public consensus), it eventually would. Once it is cheaper for industry to use alternate fuel methods, they will change.

egonboy · 09-24-2005, 11:45 PM

Yes but by the time they switch will it not be to late? Its hard to try to find another fuel source when you either don't have one or if you still do even only the rich have access to it. Its very hard to build things when everyone is used to gas powered machines doing all the work when there is no gas for those machines to use or the gas that would be used is to expencive to be considered. We might get to the point of no return until people learn how to do manual labor again and build up out of the ashes of our old society. Although thats just one potentual way for things to go that I forsee.

**SuperAfroBoy** · 09-24-2005, 11:54 PM

Well, when we eventually make the switch to full blown wind/solar/hydro power, fuel will barely be used, especially by the consumer. All consumer products would be electric powered.

egonboy · 09-24-2005, 11:56 PM

Yes but if we don't make that switch until fuel gets upto 500 dollars just to fill up your car we might end up in trouble on even working on the other fuel sources.

**SuperAfroBoy** · 09-25-2005, 12:06 AM

Well, vehicles would really be the hardest part of a nation wide cross to a free energy solution (not really but close as we'll get), and until that market catches up, the government could always just raise taxes and provide free public transportation.

egonboy · 09-25-2005, 12:08 AM

Yes that may work for other goverment but I doubt the american goverment would do that maybe free transit for the rich but not for all.

Don Francisco · 09-25-2005, 12:49 AM

Free transit for the rich but not for all? What are you smoking? Have you heard of city buses? Have you heard of subways?
It's not like we need to begin from scratch when we decide to switch. Science works differently from industry. There are research-driven companies out there perfecting solar energy collection, hydrogen fuel cells etc. (trust me, I've been to the world expo 2005 in Japan, which focuses on a healthier environment - the stuff some companies are working on (especially Toyota) is frickin' amazing). When industry chooses to move (or, more likely, is forced to by congress), the means will be readily accessible.

egonboy · 09-25-2005, 01:07 AM

currently busses are not free but if gas costs alot bus prices will go up and if anyone gets anything for free in this contrey its the rich.

**Inept** · 09-25-2005, 01:10 AM

the problem is that there isn't a reasonable place to refuel these new energy cars. this whole thing is just screwed. there is no reasonable solution that could possibly not take way too much effort or time to make it something the government would actually do.

**aaron** · 09-25-2005, 01:23 AM

with any luck we'll just nuke humanity come WW3 and we wont have to worry about fuel or pollution or the environment anymore. thats your reasonable solution. seriously though. back to the future has the answer. garbage -> fuel.