We all know by now that the California Air Resources Board has banned the sale of traditional combustion trucks – that run on diesel – by 2036 in the state. California now requires fully electric truck fleets. Recently, CARB unanimously adopted its Advanced Clean Fleets regulation phasing in mandates for medium and heavy-duty truck operators in California to buy 100 percent zero-emission vehicles and remove from their fleets internal combustion engine vehicles at the end of their useful … [Read more...]
Replacing The Supply Chain In A “Net-Zero” World
Only a handful of individuals have ever seen or touched crude oil, but every one of the 8 billion people on this planet enjoys the products made from the oil derivatives manufactured from that black gold. Chemical products, such as plastics, solvents, medical supplies, and fertilizers, are essential for supporting modern lifestyles. The world is trying to transition away from fossil fuels, but the ruling class is not yet cognizant of the limitations of solar and wind. The elephant in the … [Read more...]
An Easy Guide to Rational Energy Policies
There are extensive technical and lengthy discussions and proposed solutions—both pros and cons—about climate change, rising oceans, extreme weather events, the impact of emissions, net-zero, EV mandates, wind and solar mandates, pollution, temperature change, and energy subsidies. The elephant in the room that is seldom discussed is the simple and an easy-to-understand fact of life that the world is facing shortages of the same products and fuels manufactured from crude oil that were the … [Read more...]
There Is No Green “Energy Transition”
The reason for the growth in humanity from 1 to 8 billion in 200 years is simple: fossil fuels are abundant, cheap, and efficient, so they provide reliable and dense energy at scale that can be manufactured into usable products by humanity. Renewables, on the other hand, cannot manufacture anything for humanity. Fossil fuels have helped to generate a quality-of-life revolution for a portion of humanity, and people in poverty who have missed out on this … [Read more...]
Greens Refuse to Discuss Recycling of Renewables and Restoration of Mining Locations to Pristine Conditions
The reality is that all the mineral products and metals needed to make wind turbines, solar panels, and EV batteries are mined and processed in places like Baotou, Inner Mongolia, Bolivia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, mostly under Chinese control. Decommissioning and restoration of those mining landscapes back to their original pristine condition is not in the cards in developing countries. Recycling of worn-out turbine blades, solar panels, and EV batteries in wealthy … [Read more...]
Will Breezes and Sunshine Charge Governor Jay Inslee’s EVs?
Washington State Governor Jay Inslee, like California’s Governor Gavin Newsom, is mandating that his state become all-electric. In doing so, Inslee demonstrates serious myopia. He cannot see the ugly side of his wind, solar, and EV-mandated world. Image: Creative Commons under Unsplash Such comprehensive dependence on wind and solar requires vast acreage for turbines and panels. The result? The pathetic destruction of pristine landscapes. Further, after decades of experience around … [Read more...]
Where’s the electricity?
One of the best-known quotes was “where’s the beef?“ from Clara Peller, who was a manicurist and American character actress who, at the age of 81, starred in the 1984 advertising campaign for the Wendy’s fast food restaurant chain. Image: Creative Commons under Unsplash Today, the huge dark cloud over EV projected sales is the availability of electricity to charge batteries which leads us to the quote for the foreseeable future. Where’s the electricity? The … [Read more...]
Oil Exporting and Poorer Countries Have Lower Costs for Gasoline
When we look outside the few wealthy countries in the world, we see that at least 80 percent of humanity, or more than six billion people, are living on less than $10 a day. With billions living with little to no access to electricity, politicians are pursuing the most expensive ways to generate intermittent electricity. Energy poverty is among the most crippling but least talked about crises of the 21st century. We should not take energy for granted. The burden of expensive electricity and … [Read more...]
Dark Clouds on the Horizon for Electric Vehicles
There are a couple of dark clouds hanging over the optimistic growth of electric vehicles (EV’s) that may decimate the supply chain of lithium to make the EV batteries, and how to safely transport EV’s across wide oceans. 1. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is expected to classify lithium carbonate, chloride, and hydroxide as dangerous for human health. The decision is expected to be reached by early next year. 2. The recent (March 2022) sinking of a cargo ship with 4,000 vehicles, … [Read more...]
Biden’s Crude Oil Policies May Be The Cause of Shortages and Inflation
A year before being inaugurated President in 2021, Biden professed that “we are going to get rid of fossil fuels.” Before the recent inauguration, America, for the first time since Harry Truman was president about 70 years ago, had finally become crude oil independent and no longer relied on unstable Petro-powers and foreign crude oil supplies. The unintended consequences of attempting to rid America and the world of crude oil usage are being realized in supply shortages and soaring prices … [Read more...]