A crappy energy policy

"Peak oil" theorists -- folks who think we're running out of the black-n-sticky stuff -- are gaining a lot of attention, especially after the collapse of all the official reasons given for the Bush administration's invasion of Iraq, not to mention skyrocketing prices at the gas pump. Back in the 1970s, certain environmentalists would screech about the end of oil only to be shouted down by industry spokemen, who would assure the citizenry that all was well. In the current debate, you hear such assurances much more infrequently.

If the spigot is indeed running dry, what do we do?

A glowing account in Discovery magazine turned much attention to Thermal depolymerization. TD is the proposed technology of deriving energy from our society's plentiful waste -- plastics, styrofoam, nylon, animal products, and even -- well, crap. That's right: In the future, Al Bundy will be considered a patriot, doing more than his fair share to keep America humming.

So, at least, runs the theory. It's an idea that should soon be put into practice, albeit on a limited scale. Changing World Technologies is opening a new plant in Missouri which will take 200 tons of turkey offal and poop and convert this material into 600 barrels of a-bubblin' crude. According to one published report, the process should achieve 85% efficiency.

Critics question such assertions. For a good brief summary of the "pro" position, check out Martin Bento's analysis. For the curmudgeon's point of view, go here and read the back-and-forth analyses. You'll have to wade through a few "Dear-sir-you-cur" posts, plus a lot of skull-bursting science-speak. Even so, some excellent points are raised.

The numbers may be iffy, and claims of high efficiency may be severely hyperbolic. Still, companies paying a fortune for waste disposal will probably appreciate a chance to make money from that garbage. One poster to the afore-linked website suggests that if the entire American poultry industry used this process, our foreign oil dependency could be reduced by one percent. That may not seem like a huge amount. But it's a good start, and there are other industries. Pigs, cows and people could also provide....er, support.

So pass me the tacos! Anything to help my country...