BIOFUELS

WHY THE NEED FORTHE TRANSITION?

World Population Growth Through History

Worldwide Oil Demand

U.S. Peak Oil

World Oil Prices

Hubbard’s Peak Oil Curve

Peak Oil by Specific Countries

Fuel Sources for Electrical Power Generation

Declining investment in the grid. In a fractured system where no one company is responsible for the transmission lines, there is little incentive to invest in maintaining them. Lower maintenance costs will result (in the short term) in higher operating profits.

Industry experts suggest largely deregulated electrical generating industry creates a number of concerns that may limit the ability for the national grid to supply the electrical needs in the coming years. These include:

Overuse of lines between systems. Investors trade power, often requiring extensive transmission over long distances. Prior to deregulation, transmission lines between utilities were designed for use primarily in emergencies. Today these transfers are common.

Industry experts suggest largely deregulated electrical generating industry creates a number of concerns that may limit the ability for the national grid to supply the electrical needs in the coming years. These include: (continued)

More rapid deterioration. As power stations are cycled on and off frequently in an effort to satisfy inter-system trading, the metal parts carrying the power are repeatedly heated and cooled. This will result in a more rapid deterioration of the facilities than might otherwise be expected.

Industry experts suggest largely deregulated electrical generating industry creates a number of concerns that may limit the ability for the national grid to supply the electrical needs in the coming years. These include: (continued)

Additional power sources. Legislation allows wind, solar and natural gas fueled power stations to be added to the grid, regardless of whether there is capacity to accommodate these sources at the location where they are connected.

Industry experts suggest largely deregulated electrical generating industry creates a number of concerns that may limit the ability for the national grid to supply the electrical needs in the coming years. These include: (continued)

Increased line congestion. As long-distance transmission of power increases, there are not enough lines in existence to accommodate the demand.

Industry experts suggest largely deregulated electrical generating industry creates a number of concerns that may limit the ability for the national grid to supply the electrical needs in the coming years. These include: (continued)

No overall plan. The responsibility for the design, maintenance and funding of the national grid is shared by many players. Yet the system functions as a whole. With many people responsible for its design - the result is that no one is responsible to make sure the system is planned and designed in a logical manner.

Industry experts suggest largely deregulated electrical generating industry creates a number of concerns that may limit the ability for the national grid to supply the electrical needs in the coming years. These include: (continued)

Little incentive to add generating capacity. As long as there is a possibility of purchasing power elsewhere, there is little incentive for operating companies to add local generating capacity. Profits are maximized by keeping the system running at as close to capacity as possible, whether or not this causes occasional blackouts.

Industry experts suggest largely deregulated electrical generating industry creates a number of concerns that may limit the ability for the national grid to supply the electrical needs in the coming years. These include: (continued)

HUMANS VS. ENVIRONMENT?Feedback Loops

HISTORIC CO2 LEVELS AND GLOBAL TEMPERATURE

Ice pack melting. Snow and ice reflect a great deal of the sun’s radiant energy back into space. If large areas melt, the darker surface below will absorb more of the sun’s energy - increasing the surface temperature.

EXAMPLES OF FEEDBACK LOOPS INCLUDE:

Melting of peat bogs. Peat bogs capture and retain large amounts of greenhouse gases. Many of these bogs have remained frozen for many centuries. The melting of these bogs and wetlands releases large amounts of methane into the atmosphere.

Increased fire hazard. Warmer temperatures lower the moisture content of soil and within plants, increasing the possibility of fire. Large-scale forest fires release large amounts of greenhouse gases and reduce the amount of vegetation available to absorb more greenhouse gases.

EXAMPLES OF FEEDBACK LOOPS INCLUDE:

Warmer oceans. Warmer water is less able to absorb CO2 than cooler water. Warmer oceans and seas result in more of the CO2 finding its way into the atmosphere.

WORLD POPULATION GROWTH THROUGH HISTORY

BiofuelsSolar PowerWind Power

FOR PRACTICAL PURPOSES THE DISCUSSION OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY IS GENERALLY LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING BROAD CATEGORIES:

Fuel Cells Nuclear PowerHydroelectricityGeothermal