The Oil Drum

89 comments on HO v. Econbrowser: Title Fight...Round 20! (and another open thread)

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Todd on April 29, 2006 - 11:38am

Alan,

I certainly agree with your proposals. One suggestion I would make is to address where the electricity is going to come from. From everything I've read, it sounds as though the transmissions grid is already borderline and then there is the major issue of generation itself and the fuel it will use.

Your proposal also enwakend a sore point with me about the future. This is a little OT but I may as well mention it. It seems that just about all articles/suggestions about the future are merely work-arounds to maintain the old comsumer paradigm. In other words, where are the Ecotopian writings that might lead to demonstration projects? Given the difficulty getting the sheeple to even acknowledge peak energy, it seems to me that it will be almost insurmountable to get society to change course without being able to actually see the future. Yet, this will be a necessity as resources decline and population increases.

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AlanfromBigEasy on April 29, 2006 - 12:00pm

Just a quick note before I go out the door (late already for JazzFest, the sacrifices I must make to save the world {sigh} :^P

Overall electricity use in US is close to 13 Quads (EIA #). .03 Quad goes for transportation electricity today (2004) That covers NYC subway, BART, DC Metro, every light rail in country, golf carts AND Amtrak's NorthEast Corridor.

The efficiency gain from electrification is so great that it can fit into the current system easily. The annual growth projections for electricity use can fit electrification of transportation in as well. A recession will slow growth enough, or improved conservation (my retrofit of a 5 story building provided much of the electricity needed for the Canal Streetcar Line).

I kept my steps down to 2 pages, and I tried to appeal to the "practical" side. The only mention of Peak Oil was my addendum to Hirsch's paper (very oblique way to get it accross for those that dig deeper). Also I mentioned that "more than half of DC Metro's gasoline savings came from changes in development patterns". VERY non-threatening to the "American Way of Life" (although "the other TOD" Transportation Orientated Development, is a different way of life).

This is NOT a purist paper, it is an appeal for a change in federal policy ASAP. I contradict nothing that I believe in, but I do NOT require that others believe as I do to support the policy changes.

Coalition building requires a broad tent. I welcome those that want to electrify our freight railroads and build Light Rail so that they will have to contend with fewer 18 wheelers and "others" as they drive their Hummer to work from their McMansion in the far exurbs. Their votes count to in a democracy.

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Todd on April 29, 2006 - 1:34pm

Thanks Alan. I have a much better understanding of your goal.

I'm running around too. Our weather has suddenly changed from winter (4-5" of snow three weeks ago) to summer(77 degrees yesterday) and I'm trying to get the garden planted, the bees coming to the fruit trees and kill the weeds in the grapes. Well, back to work.