Comment posted on Question: How can we license fracking when we have permanent drought? by Stephen Mackenzie

Maybe For Argyll can set up a permanent floating bickering about renewables thread for us?

Malcolm, I think you are conflating “efficiency” and “percentage of total electricity generated” back there. There’s also “load factor” which is another thing.

And I’ll end on noting that in this week’s edition of Stephen’s favourite science magazine is a small article mentioning that the US is now preparing to export gas… since fracking has produced so much of it it’s no longer economic to sell it.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21428612.800-us-to-export-gas-as-glut-slashes-prices.html

Stephen Mackenzie also commented

• Actually, yes, I’m surprised at the speed it’s developing here. If you’re against wind power, I agree it must seem very threatening. However, I like it. I walked down Buchanan Street in Glasgow the other day in search of trousers, and I could see the turbines powering Buchanan Street (so to speak) up in the hills to the south of the city.

  I’ll confess to being a little confused about that 35% figure as well. Did wind really generate 35% of all electricity made in Scotland last year?

• Methane doesn’t last nearly as long in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide does… but while it’s there it traps considerably more short-wave radiation.

  i.e. in the short run, more methane makes things more hotterer.

• Thank you, Douglas, from saving me from looking up all that…
• That was overexcitable journalists, you **$&$^%&!

  [EDIT: damn you threading! That was addressed to the comment above the one above. Obviously.]

• What are those acronyms?

  [EDIT: Thanks for clarifying, Keith. There’s no reply link under your reply, so I’ll pop this in here.]

  Also there is the question of whether there’s sufficient solar energy available. Our current fossil resources were laid down over a LONG time.
  What proportion of fossil transport fuels could practically be substituted?

Recent comments by Stephen Mackenzie

• A83 closed due to another landslide – now reopened
  This is true; it was initially shown as a slip on Loch Fyne side just north of Inveraray.

  I note that TS are yet to master the spelling of the word “Arrochar”.

• A83 closed due to another landslide – now reopened
  That photo looks like the slip is in a different place from normal. Can anyone confirm that?
• A83: Is there a planning issue in Transport Scotland’s intent to revise the old military road below Rest and Be Thankful?
  Is there a source for this story about naming the Rest? I was under the impression the naming was older than the era of the motor car…

  I once walked up the remains of the old road from Butterbridge, and it occurred to me that it would be a very worthwhile part of a long distance route/cycle route into Argyll.

• Transport Minister tells McGrigor A83 emergency route ready in November
  Go for a walk… all you will hear in Glen Croe is traffic noise. And don’t forget it’s full of forestry. So it’s hardly unspoiled. So an appropriately designed road gallery would on the whole, be a benefit. I remain convinced that the best long term plan is to divert the trunk road away from that glen and that hill, though.
• 10 Downing Street to fly Saltire with Union Flag tomorrow for Andy Murray
  It’s to do with the authentication system that WordPress uses. Irritatingly, it uses the name of your blog as your ID. Thus, if I was ever logged into my increasingly defunct WordPress blog, I would be identified here as otan2.

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