I suppose there are a few people out there (assuming that 'people' refers to those members of the H.sapiens group that think) who comfort themselves that scientists will bail them out and that biofuels will jsut pick up the slack when fossil fuel runs out. Sorry guys, can't happen. Why? Simple logic - fossil fuels represent the concentrated energy from thousands, if not millions, of years of photosynthesis. This cannot possibly be replaced by real-time plant-based harvesting of solar energy, it is just not possible. The world cannot support even a few percent of the energy demands of society and even less if you count the area consecrated to food production.
Therefore, wind, solar, tidal (and nuclear for a short while) are our current best hopes. All those people who get in a lather about wind farms on their horizon should stop a while and think what might be the benefits. Proximity to the last embers of a dying fire is a whole lot better than being out in the cold.
All of which is a short-cut to one of my recurrent arguments - everything will become more local as time passes. The cost of transport will only get higher and the price of locally-produced materials (especially food) will become more attractive. There might be a bit of bother while the system reaches balance, but this will be mitigated if only people would listen to me. Support your local farmer, carpenter, mechanic, etc now (even if it is slightly more expensive than buying on-line) so that they are there when you really need them.
Good luck with that, I will be sitting by (in) an eternal fire by the time the lights go out.
A random collection of musing on topics which annoy me. I am old, gone to seed, know what is a cumerbund and like to wear one while sitting in my armchair by the fire, drinking port and fulminating. I consider gout to be an occupational hazzard.
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