Green by Necessity
August 18, 2006 9:55 PM Subscribe
Green by Necessity : Armenia is blazing a trail in the move to cleaner fuels -- but not by choice.
So the cost of oil products has gone up in Armenia, causing businesses to look for cheaper fuels? That seems like a textbook illustration of a basic economic concept. What's the big deal?
posted by Sangermaine at 10:04 PM on August 18, 2006
posted by Sangermaine at 10:04 PM on August 18, 2006
At first I read Armenia as America. It was quite a shock.
posted by wumpus at 10:07 PM on August 18, 2006
posted by wumpus at 10:07 PM on August 18, 2006
They're switching from use of petroleum (from out of the ground) to the use of natural gas (from out of the ground). How is that "greener"? It's still fossil fuel.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 10:51 PM on August 18, 2006
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 10:51 PM on August 18, 2006
Steven Beste, you old greenie.
You're right of course. Switching from petrol to LPG is fundamentally about price, not being clean or renewable.
posted by Jimbob at 10:58 PM on August 18, 2006
You're right of course. Switching from petrol to LPG is fundamentally about price, not being clean or renewable.
posted by Jimbob at 10:58 PM on August 18, 2006
It does go to show, though, that as soon as one fuel becomes uneconomic, the switch to another isn't that painful. It will happen sooner or later with the switch from fossil fuels to green -- it'll be about price, nothing more, nothing less.
posted by reklaw at 5:13 AM on August 19, 2006
posted by reklaw at 5:13 AM on August 19, 2006
It will happen sooner or later with the switch from fossil fuels to green -- it'll be about price, nothing more, nothing less.
...when you find the magic green fuel that doesn't require us to overhaul the fuel-delivery infrastructure.
And there is so much economic information not in the price.
posted by eustatic at 11:52 AM on August 19, 2006
...when you find the magic green fuel that doesn't require us to overhaul the fuel-delivery infrastructure.
And there is so much economic information not in the price.
posted by eustatic at 11:52 AM on August 19, 2006
How is that "greener"? It's still fossil fuel.
Natural gas produces less pollution, I believe. There's still carbon emissions and peak natural gas to deal with.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 2:06 PM on August 19, 2006
Natural gas produces less pollution, I believe. There's still carbon emissions and peak natural gas to deal with.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 2:06 PM on August 19, 2006
Natural gas has a higher hydrogen/carbon ratio than gasoline or diesel. So for a given heat output, burning natural gas releases less carbon dioxide and more water.
Also, an internal combustion engine fueled by natural gas may produce fewer non-carbon dioxide pollutants than a similar engine fueled by gasoline. (But I'm not certain this is true).
posted by ryanrs at 5:51 PM on August 19, 2006
Also, an internal combustion engine fueled by natural gas may produce fewer non-carbon dioxide pollutants than a similar engine fueled by gasoline. (But I'm not certain this is true).
posted by ryanrs at 5:51 PM on August 19, 2006
It does go to show, though, that as soon as one fuel becomes uneconomic, the switch to another isn't that painful.
I would look at this the other way; this changeover is happening in Armenia because its particular circumstances make it relatively painless.
Armenia is small, which makes fuel distribution easier. Armenia happens to be awash in NG, which makes it cheap. Armenia probably has a higher percentage of fleet vehicles (taxis, busses) on the road than richer Western countries, and fleet vehicles are uniquely well-suited to using alternative fuels. And it just so happens that converting a gasoline engine to run on CNG is pretty simple; in fact, many fleet vehicles in the US have been using CNG fuel for years.
Those factors don't all apply to a project like converting a significant portion of US autos to CNG, alcohol, hydrogen, bio-diesel, etc. Unfortunately, the fact that Armenia is having an easy time of this doesn't imply that anyone else will.
posted by Western Infidels at 8:44 AM on August 20, 2006
I would look at this the other way; this changeover is happening in Armenia because its particular circumstances make it relatively painless.
Armenia is small, which makes fuel distribution easier. Armenia happens to be awash in NG, which makes it cheap. Armenia probably has a higher percentage of fleet vehicles (taxis, busses) on the road than richer Western countries, and fleet vehicles are uniquely well-suited to using alternative fuels. And it just so happens that converting a gasoline engine to run on CNG is pretty simple; in fact, many fleet vehicles in the US have been using CNG fuel for years.
Those factors don't all apply to a project like converting a significant portion of US autos to CNG, alcohol, hydrogen, bio-diesel, etc. Unfortunately, the fact that Armenia is having an easy time of this doesn't imply that anyone else will.
posted by Western Infidels at 8:44 AM on August 20, 2006
In California, the residential natural gas network is about as extensive as the sewer network. Is the situation much different in other states?
Natural gas fueling stations in California.
posted by ryanrs at 7:25 AM on August 21, 2006
Natural gas fueling stations in California.
posted by ryanrs at 7:25 AM on August 21, 2006
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