Energy Related Issue: A Short Term Outlook at Prices

There are many uncertainties that could push oil prices higher or lower. The unrest in the Middle East I believe is the main concern in this early part of 2011. I am not talking about Egypt,but the spreading of unrest to other countries in the area.Routes for oil could be interrupted or the flow of oil stopped.
The Energy Administration says the WTI crude oil average to be $93 a barrel in 2011 and $98 average per barrel in 2012
The price for regular-grade motor gasoline $3.15 in 2011(average),$3.30 in 2012 and 5 cents higher during peak driving seasons each year(April-September). Gas prices could go as high as $3.50/gal. in 2011 and exceed $4.00/gal. in 2012.
We all need to stop kidding ourselves if the price of fossil fuels goes down it will not be for very long. It is getting costlier all the time to find more oil. Yes we still have oil on our great planet,but the finding of oil is getting harder to get at. How much do we have left and how long will it last? I have seen some articles on this ,but I can,t make a prediction. I do know we need to conserve where we can and use renewable energy where we can.
I wanted to do a post about long-term predictions for gas and oil,but with the current unrest in the Middle East,I don’t think it can be done.

Most of the information from this post came from The Energy Administration. Check them out for a full report on all fossil fuels

Video: Frenchman rides solar bike to Japan

Video: Frenchman rides solar bike to Japan
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Information on the war on drugs.

Some statistics and information on the world’s war on drugs.

Did You Know: War on Drugs Edition, posted with vodpod

Pros and Cons of Oil Spill Dispersants

Oil spills cause a lot of harm to the underwater communities affected by the oil. The utilization of oil spill dispersants is sometimes controversial because of misunderstanding about the principle of dispersing oil and the lack of knowledge of the limitations of alternatives response techniques. These dispersants are the chemical products especially designed for marine clean up. They are exclusively developed to deal with problems associated with marine related oil spills and the professional clean-up operations that follow the spill. The advanced marine technology has made it easy to tackle the marine oil spill problems with the help of advanced oil spill dispersants.

The main purpose of oil spill dispersants is to remove the spilled oil from the surface of the sea and transfer it into the water column where it is rapidly diluted to below harmful concentrations and is then degraded. The dispersants reduces the damage caused by floating oil to some resources like the sea birds, and minimizes the damage that could be done to susceptible coastline by spraying the dispersants on the oil before it reaches the shore. However, the use of the dispersants has the potential to present a small risk of temporary and local exposure to dispersed oil for some marine organisms.

The oil spill dispersants do not function to remove oil from the water. Instead, they break down great oil areas into much lesser pieces that make it simpler for all the sea creatures to deal with it. The down side is that dispersants also facilitates the spreading of the spilled oil more extensively into the atmosphere. While the center of everyone’s attention is to do everything possible to prevent the oil from reaching the shoreline, often it is often overlooked that there is a large effect on sea floor organisms caused by the oil. These days, robots are being used undersea to spray the oil-spill dispersants directly on the oil since it spreads on the ocean floor.

Using oil-spill dispersants is a controversial topic, as many people feel that they add to the harms caused by the pollution. However, there are other groups of people who support its use because it is the most quick and effectual means of reducing the harm that is likely to be caused by the spill. All the evidence that has been gathered during thirty years of research indicates that there is only small risk to marine life when the dispersants are used, when compared to the direct effects of the spill. It has been scientifically proven that the utilization of dispersants can be an effective oil-spill response method and there is little likelihood of oil-spill dispersants causing negative effects unless they are used in shallow water or very close to particularly sensitive species.

Even in cases when oil spill dispersants might cause negative effects, the positive benefit obtained by their use might outweigh this to produce a Net Environmental Benefit. Nevertheless, any use of dispersants must be carefully planned and explained to all those who might be affected by an oil spill.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ruth_Caldon

Is Solar Electricity the Future of Power Generation?

For thousands of years, man has been harnessing the raw power of the sun for his many activities. Today, there is a rising trend in the use of solar energy as a practical alternative source of power.  Until a few decades ago, electricity from solar energy has proven itself to be viable, effective, and efficient. For several years, there was an ongoing growth in terms of power plants built in many areas around the world to supply electricity. A radical innovation now makes solar energy a ready and natural source of power in many households.

Further refinement in the field of electricity has given rise to the design of solar electricity in homes. It has also intensified the concept of solar electricity in the world. In today’s highly energy-conscious market, solar electricity is a very attractive alternative renewable energy source. Some homes are now equipped with solar panels and accessories that converts solar heat into functional electric supply for the household. Current technology in solar electricity allows homes to have a steady source of electricity to power home equipment and appliances.

Solar energy has obvious benefits. For one, homes that depend on solar power can eliminate their need to get energy from conventional power grids in the locality. This means no monthly electric bills. Those getting energy from plants who uses gas and oil will find solar power cheaper since plants burning oil and gas steadily increase their rates as gas and oil dwindles. This can be a great investment as the future rates of electricity will constantly be on the rise. Another benefit in using solar power is its positive impact for the environment. With the growing concern on global warming and climate change becoming world-wide issues, many people are looking for ways to reverse the decline of the planet in a smaller scale. In some places, global warming and climate change are already a reality. Minimizing carbon dioxide emission is the most effective way to allow the environment to recover. Trimming down on harmful gases can best be achieved by using solar energy. For this reason, using solar electricity does not necessarily mean carbon emission. Solar electricity is therefore not only cost-effective but environment-friendly as well.

Basically, a regular-sized homes can use stand-alone solar electricity systems initially. This means that this system will gradually take over the energy consumption of the home from electric companies. The first month of usage of solar electricity will give homeowners an idea how much they are going to spend in the succeeding months on electricity. Using solar electricity system means that there will be plenty of energy for home use without worrying for increasing cost in electricity. Many people are surprised to know that transitioning from purely plant-dependent electricity needs will take some time, although it will not be for long. Once the residential need for electricity stabilizes, adjustments will be out of the picture.

Solar electricity is one hundred percent safe and effective. The real challenge lies during the weaning period, when owners will have to be conscious of how they use their appliances. After the transition, everything will be back to normal. Technology news it may be, but solar power has been around for millions of years. We just need to know how to use it best.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harvey_Russell visit www.oscarsproducts.com for more information on solar products