Comments on: An Environmental Dilemma: Using Sunlight to Harvest Petroleum http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2009/08/25/an-environmental-dilemma-using-sunlight-to-harvest-petroleum/ Quirky, funny, and surprising science news from the edge of the known universe. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:04:41 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: ContainsCaffeine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2009/08/25/an-environmental-dilemma-using-sunlight-to-harvest-petroleum/comment-page-1/#comment-25591 ContainsCaffeine Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:42:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2009/08/25/an-environmental-dilemma-using-sunlight-to-harvest-petroleum/#comment-25591 Well, it does seem a bit ironic but since we are a long ways away from replacing oil completely if we can lower the carbon footprint on oil harvesting it seems like a good thing. Also, any project that is testing and proving the usefulness of solar power is a good thing. It seems like Chevron is hedging their bets...still mining for petroleum, but also testing out new energy sources that someday may be the business they are in. Well, it does seem a bit ironic but since we are a long ways away from replacing oil completely if we can lower the carbon footprint on oil harvesting it seems like a good thing. Also, any project that is testing and proving the usefulness of solar power is a good thing. It seems like Chevron is hedging their bets…still mining for petroleum, but also testing out new energy sources that someday may be the business they are in.

]]> By: Gadfly http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2009/08/25/an-environmental-dilemma-using-sunlight-to-harvest-petroleum/comment-page-1/#comment-25554 Gadfly Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:54:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2009/08/25/an-environmental-dilemma-using-sunlight-to-harvest-petroleum/#comment-25554 The fact is that our current superstructure is based on oil to an enormous degree. "Seems like power produced by solar technology could perhaps be used a liiiittle more efficiently." Yeah? How? Until we're in postion to replace cars, trucks, trains, etc with inexpensive practical solar, we'll have to continue to use fossil fuels. I think it's great to be able to process those fuels more cleanly and efficiently. It's a great step and not worthy of dismissal. The fact is that our current superstructure is based on oil to an enormous degree. “Seems like power produced by solar technology could perhaps be used a liiiittle more efficiently.” Yeah? How? Until we’re in postion to replace cars, trucks, trains, etc with inexpensive practical solar, we’ll have to continue to use fossil fuels. I think it’s great to be able to process those fuels more cleanly and efficiently. It’s a great step and not worthy of dismissal.

]]> By: Richard Masoner http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2009/08/25/an-environmental-dilemma-using-sunlight-to-harvest-petroleum/comment-page-1/#comment-25540 Richard Masoner Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:03:26 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2009/08/25/an-environmental-dilemma-using-sunlight-to-harvest-petroleum/#comment-25540 This highlights why oil will never 'run out' -- it just gets increasingly more expensive to produce, to the point that eventually it's not worthwhile to extract. If Chevon is using solar power to extract oil, it's because fossil fuels are too precious to use for the task of pumping oil. Thanks for using my photo and giving attribution. This highlights why oil will never ‘run out’ — it just gets increasingly more expensive to produce, to the point that eventually it’s not worthwhile to extract. If Chevon is using solar power to extract oil, it’s because fossil fuels are too precious to use for the task of pumping oil.

Thanks for using my photo and giving attribution.

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