Your arguments are valid, but kind of missing the point. People are
going to have to change, period, in the way they think of energy
usage. Or we're going to have to pour money and energy (pun intended)
into changing what we use as energy. Very large cities were created
due to trade. These huge cities, due to modern transport are no longer
necessary. They're just a remanent of the past that's struggling to
hold on. How many cities are going broke trying to sustain their
population and infrastructure? Bigger isn't always better. Didn't
computers prove that?
Also, "industrial capacity" is a bit of a misnomer. It's relevant if
you hope to sustain the world with no change. But the world with no
change in its' past structure is becoming less relevant everyday.
We, as a country or world, didn't start using electricity or oil over
night. It's going to take time, acceptance and a means of
profitability for those who help to make it viable for the
industrialized world as a whole. There have been many great ideas put
forth over the years to help jump start this. There has been next to
no $ put forth compared to what's been spent to keep the oil flowing.
And the oil, as anyone can plainly see, is a finite resource. But like
our economy is showing today, we love to put stuff off.
Jeff M
On Feb 13, 2009, at 6:21 PM, Matthew Taylor wrote:
On Feb 13, 2009, at 7:45 PM, b_s-wilk wrote:
One of the problems with Solar and Wind is that at present and in
the coming future (I have heard at least a decade) is that we can
not generate enough power from them.
True - and we have a nimby problem as well when it comes to locating
the collection points and transmitting the electricity.
No, it's not true. You are thinking about renewable energy in a
very narrow way.
No, I am not. I am thinking about industrial scale industry
production.
Around 30% of all energy used in this country is wasted through
lack of energy efficiency.
Probably true.
Efficiency is cheap. It's easy and doesn't require a much of a
change in your lifestyle--energy meter, insulation, timers, smart
switches, replace a broken water heater or refrigerator or AC with
an efficient one; you're going to do it anyway, so get a good one
and reduce your energy bill. Same for other appliances including
transportation.
Been there, done that where I can, will do that where I can not yet
afford when I can.
Increasing the availability and use of mass transportation where
possible also saves energy.
Sometimes, and sometimes at the cost of lost freedom and lost time.
However one of the big misconceptions is that solar and wind have
to be part of the power grid.
They do if they are going to replace industrial capacity currently
provided by fossil fuels.
Passive solar doesn't at all.
Try smelting or running electrified rail off passive solar.
Photovoltaics can be but don't have to be unless you don't produce
100% of your own power.
Which won't help folks living in dense cities where they can not
produce their own power.
The NIMBYs and CAVEs [citizens against virtually everything] are a
small but very loud contingent and often can be tempted by the
money they'll be saving. Offshore wind farms can be several miles
out to sea where they can barely be seen, where the wind is steadier.
Other wind farms are in the mountains, and on private farms where
owners are paid rent by the turbine companies.
And you still have to have transmission lines. if you are not
consuming the energy produced on site.
Turbines run slowly enough that they're not a significant danger to
migrating birds according to recent reports on newer turbines.
Individuals in remote locations can generate their own off-grid
power.
Agreed, and insufficient to our national needs.
Matthew
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