tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313594.post6104347860900281494..comments2023-11-03T01:24:37.142-07:00Comments on Militant Ginger: Why is 'renewable' energy so damn expensive?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313594.post-14455187100844145012010-07-05T04:28:13.116-07:002010-07-05T04:28:13.116-07:00OSO, I have read quite a bit about thorium. It is...OSO, I have read quite a bit about thorium. It is very promising.Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10945901944078164054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313594.post-665060347726392642010-07-05T01:45:36.471-07:002010-07-05T01:45:36.471-07:00Andy,
Nuclear is a bit too dangerous if we want t...Andy,<br /><br />Nuclear is a bit too dangerous if we want the developing world to use it. Zimbabwe with nukes? <a href="https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Thorium_fuel_cycle" rel="nofollow">Thorium</a> nuclear power sounds interesting though.<br /><br />Clean coal is a mirage, set up by coal companies to encourage business as usual.<br /><br />Natural gas burns less CO2 than coal but still contributes a heckuva lot of CO2.<br /><br /><a href="https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Geothermal_power" rel="nofollow">Geothermal power</a> seems to be the way to go. Like a lot of "Green" power, it is capital intensive but the ongoing costs are very cheap. If we can dig wells reasonably easily 4-8km below the surface, geothermal power can be available anywhere.Neil Cameron (One Salient Oversight)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03143948543305522865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313594.post-84393145917464056552010-07-04T06:53:09.268-07:002010-07-04T06:53:09.268-07:00BTW Roland, OSO, and Eric. I read a thoughtful pi...BTW Roland, OSO, and Eric. I read a thoughtful piece the other day, and had to go back and find it.<br /><br />It's a bit lengthy, but if you're interested...<br /><br />http://depletedcranium.com/greenpeace-seven-steps-to-renewable-energy-future-why-they-are-dead-wrong/Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10945901944078164054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313594.post-41381410820039703332010-07-04T06:25:23.363-07:002010-07-04T06:25:23.363-07:00I'm all for wind/solar/alternative energy.
Bu...I'm all for wind/solar/alternative energy.<br /><br />But let's face it...most of it is currently just a scheme that enriches the developers with taxpayer dollar subsidies.<br /><br />Nuclear, clean coal, and natural gas are where we should be moving in the US. Cheap, plentiful, and right here!<br /><br />Maybe one day wind and solar will be viable. Personally, I don't live an extravagant lifestyle like Eric seems to believe that we all do. And, I am not of a mind to pay more of my hard earned dollars in utility costs, or taxes to fund projects that will raise those costs.<br /><br />I guess that's because I'm "selfish." Sheesh!Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10945901944078164054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313594.post-91771017439062151442010-06-30T15:36:13.395-07:002010-06-30T15:36:13.395-07:00I have to agree with you, One Salient Oversight......I have to agree with you, One Salient Oversight... It may seem to cost a lot for these renewable energy sources on the surface, but in the long run, it's going to make life a whole lot easier for us. We won't have to constantly worry about the tolls our energy usage is taking on the Earth. The disaster in the Gulf is a prime example of this. That whole ecosystem is now destroyed because we can't seem to shake our addiction to oil. It's downright shameful that we, as a community, have let it come to this point. And it's all because humans have become so greedy and refuse to believe that the Earth and it's resources won't last forever.<br /><br />I think people need to get over their egos and start to look at the world as a home for everything that exists on it, not just for us humans. It starts with our energy consumption. If we have to pay more to sustain life in a way that is healthy for the whole planet, then so be it. We are the most advanced organisms on this planet, and we require more form the Earth to sustain life. With that status comes a responsibility to not only preserve ourselves, but to do so in a way that will sustain and promote life for other organisms as well. I'm sure if we cut out all of these ridiculously lavish and extreremly wasteful lifestyles we'll find the money to afford these things that we NEED the most.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06104068389354522775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313594.post-58261534599246393022010-06-30T00:49:14.827-07:002010-06-30T00:49:14.827-07:00Of course the reply to this is that the cost of en...Of course the reply to this is that the cost of environmental damage caused by carbon emissions, as well as the cost of fixing them, is not seen in the price of oil/gas/coal based energy sources.<br /><br />Think of crystal meth. Just how costly is crystal meth? One way to cost it is to simply work out the street value and state "that's how much it costs". But then you need to factor in the costs involved in crime and funding law enforcement and jails to find out its "true" cost.<br /><br />So when it comes to oil/gas/coal based energy sources, remember that all you're looking at is the "street value", not the total cost to society and the economy.Neil Cameron (One Salient Oversight)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03143948543305522865noreply@blogger.com