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Topic: How's the gas/electricity crisis where you live?
Bart's photo
Tue 11/29/22 10:30 AM

Where I live in the USA, the price of a gallon of gasoline has dropped below $2.80.

Oh, for what it is worth, global warming is real, and much of it during the last 100 years is due to the greenhouse gases put into the air by human activity.

Sure, global warming would occur naturally in a few thousand years, but planet Earth would be heading toward another ice age right now if it were not for the human contribution to global warming.

So, which would you prefer to have, the warming or the ice age?

Also, fossil fuels are non-renewable fuels, which means that eventually they will become scarce. So, it makes sense in the long term to invest in the use of renewable fuels.

Sure thing that fossil fuels will eventually run out but not in ours or our childrens life time. By that time we could have enough infrastructure to handle all the electric charging stations and have better understanding and technology to make the change over to renewables more reliable. To think the world will end in 9 or 10 years is ludicrous at best but we hear it a lot coming from the left. I think humans have a insignificant role in global warming or climate change. More to do with slight changes in the solar system and how earth and moon revolve around the sun.

delightfulillusion's photo
Wed 11/30/22 03:24 AM

With the exception of the cost of gasoline per gallon, USD $3.39,


I pay USD $9.80 per gallon for diesel!

SparklingCrystal πŸ’–πŸ’Ž's photo
Wed 11/30/22 05:52 AM
So far it seems heating in the US is very oil-reliant while over here it's done with gas for the most part.

But if memory serves, when my girl lived in the US they heated their home electrically?

And how bout wood for heating?
I know this is normal -and always has been- in remote areas of Scandinavia.
But here in The Netherlands more and more people have a woodstove. Buying wood is not per say cheap, but people say it's cheaper than gas, and certainly if you have options to get wood for free like leftovers from forestry.
And the warmth that it produces is way nicer than central heating!

It's not particularly environmentally friendly when so many use it though. My neighbours have one since 2-3 yrs, the neighbour next to them only uses his woodstove, and when I open my windows my entire house stinks of it. SO I cannot even ventilate my home anymore.
Government also asks people to use it sparingly because of the exhaust stuff (soot particles), especially when it's misty weather as then the smoke doesn't rise properly and soot and stink linger.


SparklingCrystal πŸ’–πŸ’Ž's photo
Wed 11/30/22 05:59 AM

Where I live in the USA, the price of a gallon of gasoline has dropped below $2.80.

Oh, for what it is worth, global warming is real, and much of it during the last 100 years is due to the greenhouse gases put into the air by human activity.

Sure, global warming would occur naturally in a few thousand years, but planet Earth would be heading toward another ice age right now if it were not for the human contribution to global warming.

So, which would you prefer to have, the warming or the ice age?

Also, fossil fuels are non-renewable fuels, which means that eventually they will become scarce. So, it makes sense in the long term to invest in the use of renewable fuels.

Couldn't agree more, which is why we have to begin with that now, which is what is happening.
I applaud that. It's good to invest in new truly clean renewable energy sources like wind, sun, water.

When I was watching the docu "The Long Way Up" I was surprised to see that in South America this is widely used! Water energy, wind energy, solar in lesser degree.
In Africa -I think Ethiopia especially- they're creating massive 'fields' with solar panels for electricity. They got the space, it is clean energy, AND it provides jobs for people. They get trained to set them up, maintain them, clean them, etc. etc.
Win-win.

I never get why development/poor countries CAN effectively do this while in Western countries there's so much fussing going on about it.
It almost makes you think that we white people are geared to destroying the planet. Really weird.

Chris's photo
Thu 12/08/22 04:07 PM
Hate to be the bearer of bad news but what you think happened in Venezuela? Once the richest country in South America; now, poorest. Gas, food, cost of living went up, up now, can't afford nothing. Their basically repeating them same failed ideas in Europe and America. Im about facts not politics. If life was great here but not there, that tells me everything I need to know.

Chris's photo
Thu 12/08/22 04:15 PM
Couldn't agree more, which is why we have to begin with that now, which is what is happening.
I applaud that. It's good to invest in new truly clean renewable energy sources like wind, sun, water.

When I was watching the docu "The Long Way Up" I was surprised to see that in South America this is widely used! Water energy, wind energy, solar in lesser degree.
In Africa -I think Ethiopia especially- they're creating massive 'fields' with solar panels for electricity. They got the space, it is clean energy, AND it provides jobs for people. They get trained to set them up, maintain them, clean them, etc. etc.
Win-win.

I never get why development/poor countries CAN effectively do this while in Western countries there's so much fussing going on about it.
It almost makes you think that we white people are geared to destroying the planet. Really weird.

You said it yourself, ice age or this? Every yr we get closer to the sun and that's a fact. Them glaciers are gonna melt with or without us. Oh, also like in Texas, Arizona a few different states; there are acres of wind turbines "natural energy". The problem is, from what they produce minus what an average person uses, it's not enough.

SparklingCrystal πŸ’–πŸ’Ž's photo
Wed 12/14/22 09:33 AM
Edited by SparklingCrystal πŸ’–πŸ’Ž on Wed 12/14/22 09:36 AM

Couldn't agree more, which is why we have to begin with that now, which is what is happening.
I applaud that. It's good to invest in new truly clean renewable energy sources like wind, sun, water.

When I was watching the docu "The Long Way Up" I was surprised to see that in South America this is widely used! Water energy, wind energy, solar in lesser degree.
In Africa -I think Ethiopia especially- they're creating massive 'fields' with solar panels for electricity. They got the space, it is clean energy, AND it provides jobs for people. They get trained to set them up, maintain them, clean them, etc. etc.
Win-win.

I never get why development/poor countries CAN effectively do this while in Western countries there's so much fussing going on about it.
It almost makes you think that we white people are geared to destroying the planet. Really weird.

You said it yourself, ice age or this? Every yr we get closer to the sun and that's a fact. Them glaciers are gonna melt with or without us. Oh, also like in Texas, Arizona a few different states; there are acres of wind turbines "natural energy". The problem is, from what they produce minus what an average person uses, it's not enough.

I think it comes down to a combination, not just one means. So sun, wind, water where possible.

Over here more and more people have solar panels on their roof, even council houses, and often there's so much energy generated by them that then gets sent to the utility company that they have to pinch it off as they cannot store the vast amount.
So they are urging people to use electricity during the day as much as possible while it's generated via their solar panels.
We're getting to the point that there are more houses with solar panels than without.

So here we have a vast amount of solar panels on houses, but also wind farms. We practically always have wind here. So it's a combi of both solar and wind. That gets you a long way.
Many people can make do with the electricity their panels generate. My daughter makes money of them as they have more powerful panels on their roof. Makes her about E55 ($55) a month.
That's because of special rule that you get a certain amount of money for generating extra energy. That regulation will expire next year or in 2025.

In a docu I've seen a community in southern part of South-America generated all their electricity with water from a stream somewhere close-by.
It got stored in vast batteries. Of course you cannot run a plant on that, but again, when combining things you get a long way.

And they are constantly improving solar panels and wind things. Thinner, better panels that generate way more energy than the default ones now. Very different energy generating wind machines that aren't huge, do not disturb birds and fish etc. and can be put in a garden or on a roof even.
I've seen various designs that work, one so great that it looked like a piece of art! You could easily stick that in a town / shopping centre as it simply looks cool and at the same time it produces energy.
That's the beaut of all these things, the big huge wind turbines were first thing, but now people are invented smaller, less impactful on environment, and better.
Same with solar panels.
We haven't seen the end of that development yet, not even close.

Chris's photo
Sat 12/17/22 03:44 AM
I think it comes down to a combination, not just one means. So sun, wind, water where possible.

Over here more and more people have solar panels on their roof, even council houses, and often there's so much energy generated by them that then gets sent to the utility company that they have to pinch it off as they cannot store the vast amount.
So they are urging people to use electricity during the day as much as possible while it's generated via their solar panels.
We're getting to the point that there are more houses with solar panels than without.

So here we have a vast amount of solar panels on houses, but also wind farms. We practically always have wind here. So it's a combi of both solar and wind. That gets you a long way.
Many people can make do with the electricity their panels generate. My daughter makes money of them as they have more powerful panels on their roof. Makes her about E55 ($55) a month.
That's because of special rule that you get a certain amount of money for generating extra energy. That regulation will expire next year or in 2025.

In a docu I've seen a community in southern part of South-America generated all their electricity with water from a stream somewhere close-by.
It got stored in vast batteries. Of course you cannot run a plant on that, but again, when combining things you get a long way.

And they are constantly improving solar panels and wind things. Thinner, better panels that generate way more energy than the default ones now. Very different energy generating wind machines that aren't huge, do not disturb birds and fish etc. and can be put in a garden or on a roof even.
I've seen various designs that work, one so great that it looked like a piece of art! You could easily stick that in a town / shopping centre as it simply looks cool and at the same time it produces energy.
That's the beaut of all these things, the big huge wind turbines were first thing, but now people are invented smaller, less impactful on environment, and better.
Same with solar panels.
We haven't seen the end of that development yet, not even close.

I can see where your coming from and agree for the most part. natural energy created from water isn't new though. thats been known now for a long time. however, I notice a lot of environmentalist likes the idea of batteries. well, they use fossil fuels to charge them. let's take it further, say they used solar or another natural source to charge. do you know what a "lithium" battery mine looks like and it's effects on people? not just that, most individual batteries need to be discarded a certain way because there made up of chemicals and toxic metals called "carcinogens". known to give people cancer, other serious illnesses, birth defects and even death. car batteries are "lead and acid" and non rechargeable batteries almost always contain "nickel cadmium" which according to the EPA can leak into the soil, water and air causing some serious damage to people and also the environment. ever notice how even cell phone manufacturers are increasing saying don't throw away your phone. it's because of the type of battery being utilized.

Bart's photo
Tue 01/10/23 06:07 PM
Hey Spar.cryst. I saw in your earlier post that in your home country a lot you guys heat and cook by gas.?… many Americans also depend on gas to stay warm or cook food. But our president is seriously thinking about banning the production and purchasing of gas stoves or gas fireplaces . Although current users of these essential parts of their homes will be grandfathered in, you can’t help but wonder how long those existing units will be acceptable. Think of the many business this will effect, restaurants ( most cook by gas) it’s much cheaper than electricity, hotels , schools, the many manufacturers in America that build stoves , gas inserts, refrigerators washers , dryers, etc. not to mention a whole bunch of folks that install gas lines in factories, homes, businesses. This policy if put forward and passes will ruin a lot of people and leave a lot of folks without basic needs to survive. Hopefully this kind of green initiative doesn’t come to your homeland. Or has it already?

Duttoneer's photo
Fri 01/13/23 03:44 AM
Edited by Duttoneer on Fri 01/13/23 03:46 AM

Many moons ago the UK energy suppliers were government owned, that's why we have the National Grid network for distribution, over many years it has been sold off, privatised, and now we have many suppliers and none are UK owned companies. Recently, a French owned company under direction of the French government. threatened to disconnect electrical power to the UK due to an argument over Fishing rights since Brexit. (We do obtain power through under sea cables from France, the UK has insufficient electrical generation capacity to meet demand).

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/05/france-uk-jersey-eu-energy-supply-fishing-row-channel

Talk about the 'Tail wagging the Dog', but clearly there is politics at work here. These now foreign owned electricity supply companies are making huge profits for their investors. The UK government chooses to give money to the people to help pay for these massive price increases but for a very limited time period only, after which we pay, rather than introduce strict regulation on what these companies can charge their customers. Maybe it's time to start thinking about bringing some of these Energy Supply companies back in to UK Government ownership, because this situation is not going to improve any time soon. We sold them all off, so surely we can buy some back, that should bring the prices down. We are not in the EU anymore hampered with rules and regulation on what governments can and cannot do in supporting their own industries if they wish to that is.
A disgruntled pensioner.

Rock's photo
Sat 01/14/23 06:40 PM
I finally got an electric bill.

From late August, 2022, through January 1, 2023
$77. USD .

Basically, $15.40 USD per month.

Kevin's photo
Sat 01/14/23 07:25 PM
Here, in India, the scenario is pretty similar to the experiences of most of you!

Over the past few years before the pandemic our cooking gas prices have more than tripled, the price of fuel for automobiles have more than doubled. Our electricity charges have shot up nearly four times. And all these within 2014 to 2019.
It is increasingly becoming difficult for even the middle and higher middle income groups to maintain a steady standard in their lifestyle!

However, here this escalation has rarely to do with availability of fuel. Rather it has everything to do with the profiteering of the large couple of corporates who are so very hand-in-gloves with the state powers.

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