Talk:Chem395:March 14 discussion

This will be the eighth in the discussion series. See Chem395:Unit_7 and the discussion topic for background.

Agenda

• In the coming years, how do you expect usage of fossil fuels to change? Will fossil fuels still dominate our energy production in 2030, as the US government predicts?

Discussion

I'm here. J-Fed 15:55, 14 March 2008 (EDT)

hello, folks! --JGrinst21 15:56, 14 March 2008 (EDT)

Hey! J-Fed 15:57, 14 March 2008 (EDT)

Howdy all Murphy44 15:58, 14 March 2008 (EDT)

Welcome! We will start at 4:00 on my clock. Please can you make sure you read over the comments on the main article page first? Thanks, Walkerma 15:59, 14 March 2008 (EDT)

OK, lets' start. Can we expect fossil fuel consumption to continue its growth, at least over the next 50 years, as Dorf predicts?

I feel that the government is correct in it’s predictions, providing that we don’t run out of oil before that date. This I feel is at the heart of the problem, this is a prediction that is in my opinion setting our goals to low. The technology is here for renewable energy and we need to be moving in that direction. Murphy44 16:02, 14 March 2008 (EDT)

Well I believe it is a reasonable scenario. The numbers may be off somewhat in either direction but it will still negatively affect the environment. On the flip sides since the fossil fuels still exist it would be strange not to use them. However, there needs to be a larger shift to developing new and sustainable energy means/ methods. J-Fed 16:04, 14 March 2008 (EDT)

I expect that the usage of fossil fuels will diminish somewhat over the next few years. They will still exist in the year 2030 and since the research and funding of several projects for alternative fuels is a very time consuming project they may still be the best source of energy. I do not think that fossil fuels are going anywhere soon. An article about such change is shown below through this link: J-Fed 16:06, 14 March 2008 (EDT)

http://albuquerque.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/stories/2006/06/19/story7.html J-Fed 16:06, 14 March 2008 (EDT)

I agree I feel that they will be off the market anytime soon and they may be our best form of free energy, this still doesn't change the fact that they have huge negative effects on the environment and that if they are going to continue to be used their use needs to be monitored and made sure it is as clean as possible. This epically applies to nations like china that overt he next 50 years are going to be the greatest energy consumers in the world and most of this being produced from coal. Murphy44 16:11, 14 March 2008 (EDT)

It's just an example of how changes need to be integrated on all levels in the community. J-Fed 16:07, 14 March 2008 (EDT)

That's a very interesting link, Jesse! I think other places around the world are trying similar initiatives. Are they realistic? Won't people baulk at the higher prices/tax hikes needed to replace the power stations? Walkerma 16:09, 14 March 2008 (EDT)

Thank you. Yes many places are trying to do the same sort of thing. It's a great initiative! I do think people will baulk at higher prices and tax hikes. As I've said before though, and Lester Brown also states, that appropriating taxes and moving them around is the best way to (A) make them effective (B) utilize them to the fullest. It is necessary to look at long-term goals and outcomes, not short-term fixes. J-Fed 16:12, 14 March 2008 (EDT)

Dorf (231) talks about the use of electric cars and other vehicles and that it is hard to store energy in them (let alone deliver it to a massive amount of consumers). “Gasoline has about four times the energy density of a storage battery per kilogram of weight added to the vehicle” (Dorf 231). I believe that electric cars are great and they have benefits, but the current set-up to provide energy for them needs work. I suppose people can just charge their cars at home, but what if you are traveling a long distance? What about planes? J-Fed 16:13, 14 March 2008 (EDT)

Neat link!, yes they probably will complain, the general public is good at that. Everyone has an opinion and most of what they know is hardly factual and this is the problem. Perhaps an education campaign would be a smart course of action. Murphy44 16:14, 14 March 2008 (EDT)

I expect that demand for fossil fuels will continue to increase despite any of these measures, though supply bottlenecks are already strangling the US and other industrialized nations. The biggest problem on fossil fuel independence is simply product availability. More traditional biofuels, ie soy and other vegetable oils, corn or cellulosic ethanols, are rapidly leading to disaster without ever solving any problems: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article3500954.ece --JGrinst21 16:14, 14 March 2008 (EDT)

That's true Jason. Thanks for sharing that article. And Chris I do feel that a better, more focused educational campaign would be beneficial. J-Fed 16:18, 14 March 2008 (EDT)