There was a really good West Wing episode last night. I took time to take notes. The "quote" indicates actual dialogue from the episode:


HUBBERT PEAK:
"Hubbert's a guy who accurately predicted the drop in U.S. oil production. He predicts world production will peak 10 years from now, and after that oil will be scarce & expensive."


SOLAR:
- clean, accessible, only requires 220,000 km^2
- a square 300x300 miles in the Las Vegas region
- problem - we've only manufactured 10 square kilometers to date. We have 219,990 to go! (huge production obstacle to overcome)


WIND:
- windmills provide electricity to "light up San Francisco"
- problem - that's only 1.3%/30,000 windmills - California needs 1 million more! (huge production obstacle)
- "plus they are an eyesore & no one wants them"


ETHANOL/BIODIESEL:
- corn "made in America" -practical NOW
- reduces CO2/HC output by 30%
- problem - increases HC Evaporative & NOx - only replaces 10% of gasoline


HYDROGEN:
- burns clean (exhaust = water)
- problems - distribution requires liquified hydrogen & arctic temperatures in tanker trucks and at the pump - "extreme pressures leads to a tendency to explode (like the Hindenberg)"


PRESIDENT:
"Improving fuel economy deserves more than a 20 minute debate. Hummer sales has their best month & Prius is increasing production 50%. The market's doing what markets do - sorting itself - messily - and with contradiction. A presidential veto forces Congressional debate & jumpstarts a national debate for better fuel economy.

"And continue looking at alternative fuels. If we wait 'til alternatives are perfect, it's all going to be too late."


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Overall, I thought this was a GREAT episode. Whenever the topic of SUVs or fuel economy or alternate fuels comes up, this episode should be the first thing the participants watch.

Very well done.

Troy