A very-rough calculation Comparing Solar Energy Output to the Gulf Oil Slick.

Oil is leaking out at 5,000 Barrels / Day.

Apparently the most efficient 4-stroke engines run at about 43% efficient, as well, so the previous estimation of 43% will still work.

Previous Calculations give around 14.25 kWh/Gallon of Gas.

I'm going to be very rough, because gas is only a bit less than half of the stuff that comes out of a barrel of oil ( http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pnp_pct_dc_nus_pct_m.htm ).

So a Barrel of oil is worth about 21 Gallons of gas, 12 Gallons of Fuel Oil, and 4 Gallons of Jet Fuel.

I've not got it in me to look up the details of the fractions of different types of fuel oil and jet fuel, so I'm just going to stick with 21 Gallons of Gas per Barrel of Oil right now.

So, 5000 Barrels of oil per day times 21 Gallons of Gas / Barrel of Oil gives 105,000 Gallons of Gas per Day draining into the Gulf.

At 14.25 kWh/Gallon of Gas, the leak is equivalent to 1,496,250 kWH / Day in Energy output.



19 Solar Panels = 1 Gallon Gas / Day @ 200W / Panel (In much of the USA).

So, it takes roughly 1,995,000 Solar Panels to produce the equivalent in Energy to 105,000 Gallons of Gas per Day.

Multiply this times 200W per Panel gives a total of 399 MW of Solar Installation in order to equal the gas content of this single spill. If we assume that the remainder of the oil doubles the energy content of the barrel of oil (which I bet is giving false advantage to Oil), then we need 798 MW of Solar to replace it. This seems like alot. Just a few years ago there wasn't this much Solar Capacity in the World. Last year the World Installed about 7 GW of Solar Energy, or a bit over 8.7 offshore platforms, and this year we're looking at the possibility of 13 GW in new Installation, or the equivalent of 16 Platforms. It goes wild from there.

Now, at $4/W Installed, 798MW of Solar Energy would cost around $3.2 Billion Dollars, which is surely much higher than the cost to produce a single oil platform. On the other hand, it's surely alot less than what this disaster is going to cost BP for this particular Rig. In any case, the Price of Solar will keep coming down, while the price of fossils is going to keep going up.


Anyway, just sayin'...

The slick...

This Oil Slick is bad. Understatement.

If they can't shut this down for 3 months, then the destruction is going to be simply catastrophic.

Political / Environmental Game-Changer.

Petrobras Oil Workers Strike.

Petrobras Oil Workers Strike; Production Cut Expected

Brazil's Oil Workers Confederation began a five-day strike against Petroleo Brasileiro SA, the country's state-controlled oil company, an action that may cut Brazilian daily oil output by more than half.

The Bakken formation - Bloomberg

Dakota Oil Fields of Saudi-Sized Reserves Make Farmers Drillers

A man with a Plan - T Boone Pickens.

The man with the plan - T Boone Pickens.

Pickens wants more emphasis on alternative energy

'"I don't have any profit motive in this. I'm doing it for America, that's my point," he said in the meeting with the AP.'



YES! This is a man on a mission. He's 80 years old, and he's going to "save the day."

You can bet that many will follow him as he's setting the course. Some of these followers will be in Oil. They'll have to transform their thinking, and their investing.

Pickens has a focus on Wind, but he also mentioned Solar on CNBC.

He's the man with the plan.

Obama - 05/20/08 - Change.

"Change is an energy policy that doesn't rely on buddying up to the saudi royal family, and then begging them for oil*.


Change is an energy policy that puts a price on pollution and makes the oil companies invest their record profits in clean, renewable sources of energy, that will create millions of jobs, and leaves our children a safer planet."


-Obama 05/20/08

House Renewables Bill.

They're trying it again! Go! Go! Go!

Of course, the President will veto it, because he's a Bastard.

In any case, I watched some of the speeches in Congress on this Bill this morning.

Representative Ed Markey demonstrated that he can make a good Spiel on the subject.

Republicans weren't even talking about Energy, they used all of their time to talk about FISA, a completely unrelated subject.

Well, it passed anyway. Let's see what the President has to say about it.

House Votes to Rescind Tax Break for Oil Companies - Funds Renewables

Gore speaks before a collective $20 Trillion.

Gore warns on 'subprime carbon' industry

From the article:

"You need to really scrub your investment portfolios, because I guarantee you — as my longtime good redneck friends in Tennessee say, I guarandamntee you — that if you really take a fine-tooth comb and go through your portfolios, many of you are going to find them chock-full of subprime carbon assets," the former vice president said.

Thriftville and Squanderville

If you haven't read it before, check out an essay by Warren Buffett on the dangers of the trade deficit.

America's Growing Trade Deficit Is Selling the Nation Out From Under Us. Here's a Way to Fix the Problem — And We Need to Do It Now.

Posted in response...

Question:

"I have always voted Democrat except for Reagan's second term.

I'm really wanting to vote Democrat this time but I am coming to the realization that energy is a national security issue (may be a bit late to the party there but I am there now).

Anyway, can someone tell me what Mr. Obama or Ms. Clinton are going to do to get us off of the "oil standard" as I call it?

Do you think it will work?"


My Response:

I'm less sure about Obama on this, but he does support Energy reform of some sort. I just wonder where it sits in his priorities. In his victory speech after Iowa he used the phrase "Tyranny of Oil." It's only words, though. I don't know well prepared he is with a workable plan, and how dedicated he is to doing battle to make it happen.

Hillary is particularly strong here (as I see it). She's done several major speeches on the subject, and is very knowledgeable. Healthcare is her first priority, I think, but I'm confident that Energy won't wait until she's done with our Healthcare system.

I watched Bill Clinton talk about this subject the other day on CSPAN, and he mentioned a program that he's got going on right now between NY Developers and Banks, so that the Banks will lend the Developers the money to upgrade their properties to Green properties, and the banks would basically not charge more in payments every month than the Developer had saved in Energy Costs.

So, with Hillary, we also have Bill. They could get things done. Bill has been working very hard in the last few years in putting together and working with NGO's and Businesses to accomplish beneficial projects. He's got skillz and connections.

That said, I'm supporting Obama. HAHA! It's a tough choice. I'd like to see fresh blood, and Obama seems very solid. He's thoughtful and inclusive. Bringing Americans back together may very well be more important than having experience-based plans ready to go. There's no reason that President Obama can't tap Hillary, and Bill, or even Gore, for that matter, to help pull together and implement a solid plan.

Here are the official statements from the Obama / Clinton websites:

Obama's Official Energy Position

Clinton's Official Energy Position

Will it work? I'm confident that it can work, because there is little other choice in the matter. There are a growing number of people that are ready to jump in and take whatever efforts are required, and not only that, there is a boatload of money to be made in making it happen. This is the world energy market, and it's a big one. It does depend, however, on a level of stability in the world that is not assured right now.

The pieces are being put into place right now, however, that will lower costs dramatically in many of the "Alt-Energy" techonologies, and there is great potential in the capacity of conservation programs to pay off for American energy consumers. We just need a leader willing to let it happen.

Sanjay Shrestha Interview on CNBC.

The Solar Trade

Sanjay is debating a joker from The American Enterprise Institute. Sanjay puts up a strong defense of FSLR and SPWR's potential to become price competitive with Coal. In particular, he points out that the typical price given for Coal-generated power is at the "point of production" rather than at the "point of consumption."

As for the opponent, he's a senior fellow at the American Enterprise institute. These guys are Neocon and Big Oil all the way.


Kudos to ibcnu2day69 of Yahoo for the find.

House passes Energy Bill. Go Go Go!

Get this Energy Bill through the Senate and onto the President's Desk for a veto. Let that dumbshit explain just why he's going to hold up progress on American Energy Development. Let him explain why pulling those tax-cuts from Big Oil are going to force these companies to raise prices (they'll still be making large profits without the incentives). Let that shithead explain why he consistantly acts in greater support of Saudi, Iranian, and Venezuelan interests than in the interests of the United States of America.

I'm sorry, this blog is not where I plan to be political, but this joker running the show right now in the whitehouse makes me fucking sick.

Gas going back up...

Next time somebody tells you that the reason that gas prices are so high is because of limits on Refinery construction, tell them they're full of crap.

http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/27/markets/oil_eia/index.htm?postversion=2007062715

Prices would go down considerably simply by fixing the problems in the current plants. Of course, the owners don't necessarily benefit by increasing production since they're making profits off of the high prices.

Exxon / BP - Saudi / Venezuela Split.

Hmm, just a thought.

BP is signing with Venezuela, Exxon is not.

Shouldn't this lower oil prices as competitive forces between the companies and nations become more distinct?

Bad News for Exxon and ConocoPhillips.

http://www.petroleumworld.com/storyt07062701.htm

I see these news articles about Exxon and Conaco failing to get a deal in Venezuela, and I see that the titles are typically written as if it was neutral news on the wellbeing of these companies, like "ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips to Negotiate their Venezuelan Exit," or "Exxon, ConocoPhillips Refuse Chavez Deal."

How is this anything other than very bad news for these companies?

Oh, I forgot. As long as the price of Oil goes up, so does Exxon**. Bullshit. This is the echo chamber talking. Not only does the high price of Oil stress the very US Economy that keeps Exxon in Business*, but high prices support alternatives to Exxon's product. Sure, Alternative production of energy is just a speck on the radar, but it's growing like mad. Exxon is between a rock and a hard place. Prices continue stay up, and they must continue ignoring alternatives, because to recognize them in any way is to legitimize their potential, and give them a big boost.

* Like militarily assuring a stable searoutes for Oil Distribution.
** Hereafter I use the name Exxon only, just to save time, not because they are in some way specifically the target of my ire.

Thoughts on Solar Industry Risk.

It seems to me that the greatest risk to the Solar is a concentrated effort by "Big Oil" to bring down prices.

Now, if only the Arabs were in charge, I'd say that the risk would be tremendous, but is Chavez going to support such a move? There's little in it for him, he's building a regional power using today's high prices. I do not believe that Saudi Arabia has the power to do it alone, and can't see Chavez or Ahmadinejad willingly cutting the price, if for no other reason than to give the US Economy a big boost.

Though, Exxon has access to a ton of cash, but they can't do it alone; ok, they could take some of the edge off, but if they lower gas prices, then they are succeptable to the corresponding growth in the political will to add new gas taxes.

I think we're in good shape.

Demonstration of Growing Difficulties in Oil.

US firms 'reject' Venezuela deal

Caterpillar attacked by Conservatives on Global Warming

I caught a bit on CNBC this morning about how Caterpillar is having trouble with The National Center for Public Policy Research for their support of The U.S. Climate Action Partnership.

As you can see from their website, The National Center is a conservative organization. From their "Earth Day" page, it's pretty clear that their position is not a balanced one at all, but is an overtly denial-based, in the (percieved) best interest of its Fossil-based clients.

So,we see a good example of how these particular special interests are going to band together to try to smash those who are following the science and working to get ahead of the issue in a proactive way.

I can only hope that Caterpillar stands strong, and doesn't buckle to these guys. It will be to everone's benefit if industry is ready to deal with cap and trade when it comes around, and per Nanci Pelosi, it will come around.