FW: Modern life takes massive flows of oil-based energy
Dennis Brumm has excerpted the following paragraphs which explain the nature of the oil crisis -- it goes far beyond cost of fuel for autos and trucks. This was written in 1997. I take the apparently pessimistic view of the experts quoted by Dennis as a 'wake-up call' and a challenge to the imagination and/or ingenuity of our ability to respond to crises once we are fully aroused to the need. But, unfortunately, it takes a LOT to get our society to that point. Spreading the word that there is a problem is a good way to begin, if it is not already too late...
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dennis Brumm <brumm@brumm.com>
Date: Apr 28, 2006 5:40 AM
"...Modern agriculture, Âindeed, all of modern civilization, Ârequires massive, uninterrupted flows of oil-based energy. For example, the International Energy Agency projects that world oil demand will rise from the current 68 million barrels per day to around 76 million b/d in the year 2000 and 94 million b/d in 2010. [10] What will happen when demand for oil exceeds maximum possible production?
To really understand the underlying causes and implications of oil depletion, one must stop thinking of the "dollar cost" of oil, and take a look at the "energy cost" of oil. We note that the energy cost of domestic oil has risen dramatically since 1975. [11] As oil becomes harder and harder to find and get out of the ground, more and more energy is required to recover each barrel. In other words, the increasing energy cost of energy is due to increasing entropy (disorder) in our biosphere.
Optimists tend to assume that the "quality" (e.g., liquid vs. solid) of energy we use is not significant, that an infinite amount of social capital is available to search for and produce energy, and that an infinite flow of solar energy is available for human use. Realists know that none of these assumptions is true.
In fact, ALL alternative methods of energy production require oil-based energy inputs and are subject to the same inevitable increases in entropy. Thus, there is NO solution to the energy (entropy or disorder) problem, and the worldwide energy-food crisis is inevitable. "
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dennis Brumm <brumm@brumm.com>
Date: Apr 28, 2006 5:40 AM
"...Modern agriculture, Âindeed, all of modern civilization, Ârequires massive, uninterrupted flows of oil-based energy. For example, the International Energy Agency projects that world oil demand will rise from the current 68 million barrels per day to around 76 million b/d in the year 2000 and 94 million b/d in 2010. [10] What will happen when demand for oil exceeds maximum possible production?
To really understand the underlying causes and implications of oil depletion, one must stop thinking of the "dollar cost" of oil, and take a look at the "energy cost" of oil. We note that the energy cost of domestic oil has risen dramatically since 1975. [11] As oil becomes harder and harder to find and get out of the ground, more and more energy is required to recover each barrel. In other words, the increasing energy cost of energy is due to increasing entropy (disorder) in our biosphere.
Optimists tend to assume that the "quality" (e.g., liquid vs. solid) of energy we use is not significant, that an infinite amount of social capital is available to search for and produce energy, and that an infinite flow of solar energy is available for human use. Realists know that none of these assumptions is true.
In fact, ALL alternative methods of energy production require oil-based energy inputs and are subject to the same inevitable increases in entropy. Thus, there is NO solution to the energy (entropy or disorder) problem, and the worldwide energy-food crisis is inevitable. "
posted by Rev. Rick Mitchell, PhD at 1:33 PM
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