Alternative energy sources are subsidized by fossil fuels
April 29th, 2008 by Jim JustNate Hagens at The Oil Drum points out that ALL fuel sources are now heavily subsidized by an infrastructure built and maintained by cheap and constantly available liquid fuels.
The example he uses is the Grangemouth refinery shutdown, which caused work on a new wind farm in Scotland to shut down for lack of diesel fuel.
“MORE than 100 construction workers could face the dole after the fuel crisis brought their project to a halt.
“The drivers for Glasgow-based AB2000 were grounded at the new wind farm at Fenwick Moor, Ayrshire, on Thursday after contractors Morrison Construction were unable to find more diesel.
“The job was restarted on Friday but bosses fear the limited fuel supply will soon run out and lead to job cuts.
“Ted Reilly, of AB2000, said: “We have 70-odd vehicles stuck there because we are hiring men and vehicles to a contractor which can’t supply diesel. That situation can’t go on any longer.”"
Hagens notes:
“[There is] unquantified systemic risk in the energy markets. We need diesel fuel, cheaply and consistently available to move parts and components around for wind turbines and solar panel production. We need large amounts of natural gas and electricity to produce crude oil. We need well maintained asphalt roads and clean drinking water and municipal infrastructure to keep employees moving to their jobs at alternative energy manufacture. We need hospitals and healthy insurance companies for employees to feel secure and safe in their jobs, etc. There are many many interconnected threads within modern society that all link back to cheap oil and gas.”
That’s why it’s imperative to begin the energy transition long before supplies of fossil fuels run short. If we procrastinate, we won’t have the energy resources left to build an alternative energy infrastructure.