Introduction Joseph sent the response below via e-mail. I have done a bit of formatting, but otherwise it is exactly as received. I will respond by the end of the week. As always, feel free […]
Author: Robert Rapier
Peak Oil Primer
Peak Oil Primer I have written a comprehensive Peak Oil primer for OmniNerd . The article is What You Need to Know about Peak Oil. I attempted to write it from a completely objective viewpoint, […]
XTL: Promise and Peril

The following is a slightly modified version of an essay that I posted to The Oil Drum . Introduction I have stated on several occasions that I believe global warming is a greater immediate threat […]
Rapier Response to Miglietta
Introduction First of all, I would like to thank Joseph Miglietta for taking up my Ethanol Debate Challenge. I firmly believe that the best way to get to evaluate some of these claims is by […]
Wednesday Quick Hits

Plug-In Hybrids The more I learn about plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), the more convinced I am that this would be a far better use of our alternative energy dollar than subsidizing corn ethanol. Learn All About […]
Joseph Miglietta Response to Ethanol Debate Challenge
Introduction Joseph Miglietta, a chemical engineer and chemist, responded to my Ethanol Debate Challenge. I look forward to the exchange of ideas. His response is posted below, with nothing changed except for some formatting. Joseph, […]
Compressed Air Energy Storage
I have always been a big fan of wind power. But one of the knocks on wind is that it is intermittent. Since electrical demand probably won’t match up very well with wind fluctuations, installed […]
Ethanol Debate Challenge
Suggested Debate Guidelines My opinions on grain ethanol are clear from my previous essays. I object to grain ethanol because I feel it is a tremendous misallocation of time, money, and resources, while the benefits […]
Daschle and Khosla Ethanol Propaganda
I just read an Op-Ed piece in The New York Times by Tom Daschle and Vinod Khosla. The editorial is Miles Per Cob, (1) and is one of the dumbest things I have run across […]
60 Minutes – The Ethanol Solution
I just finished watching the 60 Minutes piece on ethanol production. Wow. What a puff piece. I thought at least I might see some attempt at balance. But there was no mention of the disadvantages […]