Comments for 0 at http://www.fcnp.com , comment 1 to 4 out of 4 comments http://www.fcnp.com Sat, 10 May 2008 15:17:02 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.fcnp.com/national_commentary/the_peak_oil_crisis_load_shedding_20080326.html#comment-55 this was all amply predicted by Richard Duncan's Olduvai Theory. - We're all dead Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:44:03 +0100 http://www.fcnp.com/national_commentary/the_peak_oil_crisis_load_shedding_20080326.html#comment-54 When the power grid fails, little in your house will function: no TV or radio, because there is no transmission; no refrigerator because there will be no food in it and your solar panels don't have sufficient power; no water because the pumping stations won't function; and no heat because you won't have fuel oil or natural gas delivered or sent. - Clifford J. Wirth Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:25:45 +0100 http://www.fcnp.com/national_commentary/the_peak_oil_crisis_load_shedding_20080326.html#comment-53 Solar photovoltaic panels with battery backup is a better alternative to noisy, polluting diesel generators for keeping light loads like PC's and fluorescent lighting going. When the 'grid' power goes, much of our house keeps functioning, including the computer. What's great about the 'solar system' is there's no noise, no engine to maintain, no requirement to purchase diesel fuel and we have about 5 billion years in reserves of solar power! - Daniel Draffen Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:28:24 +0100 http://www.fcnp.com/national_commentary/the_peak_oil_crisis_load_shedding_20080326.html#comment-50 The nation depends on electric power for: industry; manufacturing; auto, truck, rail, and air transportation (electric motors pump diesel fuel, gasoline, and jet fuel); oil and natural gas heating systems; lighting; elevators; computers; broadcasting stations; radios; TVs; automated building systems; electric doors; telephone and cell phone services; water purification; water distribution; waste water treatment systems; government offices; hospitals; airports; and police and fire services, etc. Phillip Schewe, author of “The Grid: A Journey Through the Heart of Our Electrified World,” writes that the nation’s power infrastructure is “the most complex machine ever made.” In “Lights Out: The Electricity Crisis, the Global Economy, and What It Means To You,” author Jason Makansi emphasizes that “very few people on this planet truly appreciate how difficult it is to control the flow of electricity.” A 2007 report of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) concluded that peak power demand in the U.S. would increase 18% over the next decade and that planned new power supply sources would not meet that demand. NERC also noted concerns with natural gas disruptions and supplies, insufficient capacity for peak power demand during hot summers (due to air conditioning), incapacity in the transmission infrastructure, and a 40% loss of engineers and supervisors in 2009 due to retirements. According to Railton Frith and Paul H. Gilbert (National Research Council), power failures currently have the potential of paralyzing the nation for weeks or months. In an era of multiple crises and resource constraints, power failures will last longer and then become permanent. When power failures occur in winter, millions of people in the U.S. and Canada will die of exposure. There are not enough shelters for entire populations, and shelters will lack heat, adequate food and water, and sanitation. For references see page 41 of this report: http://www.peakoilassociates.com/POAnalysis.html - Clifford J. Wirth Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:26:36 +0100