Reply #17: No kidding. [View All]

[Peak_Oil]

You can convert a diesel vehicle to burn vegetable oil fairly easily, and if memory serves, it costs about $1000. Not too bad, considering that once it's done you can use recycled oil from fryers, etc. Most restaurants actually pay someone to come and haul their old cooking oil away. You could charge for coming to pick up their oil, filter it, and run it in your car.

I have a three-month goal to save up for a Mercedes diesel and veggie kit so I can do this myself. An 80's diesel Merc runs about $3K in my area, and the kit's another $650 plus installation. I think I can pull it off.

As far as actually solving the impending Peak Oil crisis, I'm fairly sure than nothing significant will be done by the Powers that Be to help us. I think we're pretty much on our own as far as that goes. 20% renewables in ten years? We'll be extremely fortunate to see that happen. Too many lobbying groups spend too much money on keeping the status quo happy.

For the long term, I expect that with or without biodiesel, ethanol, electric cars, light rail systems (never gonna happen in a big way), solar power, wind power, etc.... we'll see our way of consumer lifestyle degenerate over the next decade until we see early capitalism rear its ugly head again. The few will own the many.

It's very sad.