Archive for the 'Energy' Category
OIL $90
October 19th, 2007Via: Bloomberg: Crude oil breached $90 a barrel in New York for the first time as the dollar traded near a record low against the euro, enhancing the appeal of commodities as an investment. Investors purchased oil on speculation the Federal Reserve will cut borrowing costs to bolster the U.S. economy when policy makers meet […]
The Flywheel
October 16th, 2007The flywheel is such a simple concept that it’s painful to think too much about it. Now, if someone would just dedicate, say, 1% of the assets and engineering hours that will go into the next iteration of the dead end Toyota Prius… While the flywheel concept is simple, good rotor design and frictionless magnetic […]
OIL RECORD
October 15th, 2007Via: Bloomberg: Crude oil rose to a record above $85 a barrel as tensions on the Turkey-Iraq border increased concern that supplies may be threatened as global stockpiles decline. Turkish lawmakers will vote this week on allowing military attacks within a year against Kurdish rebel bases in the north of Iraq, which has the world’s […]
New Zealand to Ban Construction of Coal and Gas Fired Power Plants for 10 Years
October 14th, 2007Just last night, I watched a large storm go barreling through Doubtless Bay and I thought about how much power was just blowing and surging around out there. And today… Via: Bloomberg: New Zealand electricity producers, including Contact Energy Ltd., will face a 10-year ban on the construction of new gas- or coal-fired generators to […]
Do You Want Alternative Energy Related Articles?
October 14th, 2007UPDATE: OKOKOK. I got it. It’s running about 15 yes to 1 no. Fascinating. I don’t know why so many of you YES voters would stay quiet in comments, but anyway, it’s overwhelming. — End Update — “Fifteen years ago I thought solar power was impractical because I thought nuclear power was the answer. But […]
Clotheslines in America: The Right to Dry
September 19th, 2007The Farmlet is far, far away from Irvine, California Via: Wall Street Journal It was a sunny, 70-degree day here in Awbrey Butte, an exclusive neighborhood of big, modern houses surrounded by native pines. To Susan Taylor, it was a perfect time to hang her laundry out to dry. The 55-year-old mother and part-time nurse […]
OIL RECORD
September 18th, 2007Another eddy current to add to the perfect storm. Via: IHT: Oil prices climbed to a fresh high above US$81 a barrel amid hopes that the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut a key interest rate later Tuesday, a move the market believes would bolster the economy and strengthen petroleum demand in the world’s largest energy […]
Crude Oil Nears Record on Signs OPEC Will Keep Output Quota
September 11th, 2007According to my Magic 8-Ball, OPEC probably can’t increase output. In the Past Peak world, look for demand destruction to occur through economic collapse or kill off or both. Have a nice day. Via: Bloomberg: Crude oil rose to within 50 cents of a record on speculation rising demand and restricted OPEC production may tighten […]
How Absurd Can it Get? Shell Considering Nuclear Power for Tar Sands Program in Canada
September 11th, 2007I thought, for sure, that this was an Onion article. Nope. Get ready for, “The worst of all worlds.” Via: Telegraph: Shell is considering using nuclear power to operate its controversial tar sands programme in Canada. Tar sands extraction – mining oil from a mixture of sand or clay, water and very heavy crude oil […]
Milestone in Magnetic Cooling
September 5th, 2007Danish researchers are developing a silent, very low power refrigeration technology that uses magnets. Via: Physorg: The first milestone in magnetic cooling has been achieved. Between 5 and 10 degrees of cooling – this was the success criteria for the first milestone in a project involving magnetic cooling at Risø National Laboratory – Technical University […]
