{"items": [{"author": "Paul", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/154313711332718?comment_id=154329854664437", "anchor": "fb-154329854664437", "service": "fb", "text": "Unfortunately our society doesn't take problems seriously until they smack us in the face. And by then it might be too late.", "timestamp": "1320415359"}, {"author": "Mac", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/154313711332718?comment_id=154437271320362", "anchor": "fb-154437271320362", "service": "fb", "text": "Some thoughtless people wail that we should be using our domestic oil to become less dependent on foreign oil. As long as they will sell it to us at almost any price, we should buy it, reserving our own supply. And, yes, alternate energy will take the form of nuclear. Also, it has been said that the US is the Saudi Arabia of coal. But that produces CO2.", "timestamp": "1320433363"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/154313711332718?comment_id=154443067986449", "anchor": "fb-154443067986449", "service": "fb", "text": "@Walker \"As long as they will sell it to us at almost any price, we should buy it, reserving our own supply.\"
US-centricly, you're right.", "timestamp": "1320434318"}, {"author": "Mac", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/154313711332718?comment_id=154446307986125", "anchor": "fb-154446307986125", "service": "fb", "text": "You've probably heard it before: \"We're the worst there is -- except for everyone else.\" :) Not trying to be absolutist here. But think deeply about it on all sectors that define a society. A vital US is probably a net good for the world.", "timestamp": "1320434832"}, {"author": "David German", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/111229345142780712481", "anchor": "gp-1320450686738", "service": "gp", "text": "The author's math starts with the world waking up one New Year's and discovering it doesn't have enough fossil energy anymore. That would be ugly, but \nany\n story that starts with a total market and policy failure is going to be ugly. I don't at all understand why he's expecting one. Governments and businesses seem to be taking plenty of action well in advance.\n
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\nFirst, the post-fossil-fuel world is already well under construction. Modern nuclear plants and offshore wind farms are coming online. Cost per watt for PVs is plummeting. Production-scale plants for cellulosic ethanol are under construction, as are demo-scale plants for algae biodiesel. Electric cars are a viable commercial product.\n
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\nSecond, as he admits, the remaining fossil fuel stocks are actually massive. We can tap centuries' worth of coal, natural gas, heavy oil, and shale oil with current technology and modest capital expenditure. As we draw from less convenient sources, prices per watt will certainly increase, but that just helps motivate further progress on renewables and electric infrastructure.", "timestamp": 1320450686}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/103013777355236494008", "anchor": "gp-1320674632951", "service": "gp", "text": "@David German\n \n
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\n\"waking up one New Year's and discovering it doesn't have enough fossil energy anymore\"\n
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\nThis is a little overstated, but you're right: that's a weak point in the argument, and it's a big one. \n
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\n\"the post-fossil-fuel world is already well under construction\"\n
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\nThe current projects are far short of what we'll need. Nuclear capacity is actually decreasing, wind and PV are getting cheaper but are still tiny compared to global energy use.\n
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\n\"We can tap centuries' worth of coal, natural gas, heavy oil, and shale oil with current technology and modest capital expenditure.\"\n
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\nWhen you say \"centuries worth\" are you accounting for growth in consumption continuing as it has?", "timestamp": 1320674632}]}