First power station to harness moon opens

New Scientist ^ | 09/22/03 | Danny Penman

[Nick Danger]

This will slow down the Moon, causing it to crash into Earth with devastating consequences for women and minorities.

[Willie Green]

The tidal mill produces 300-kilowatts of electricity - enough to power 30 Norwegian houses or 60-80 British homes

What's the difference between British homes and those in Norwegia?

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Neat......... but does this underground windmill chew up fish? If so, the PETA/Earth First!/Greenpeace people will be all over them.

[.cnI redruM]

Probably the effort required to keep the Norwegian homes warm.

It sounds like a cool idea. If I were on the East Coast, I wouldn't mind having one of these and pulling myself off their power grid.

[MrConfettiMan]

Between two and two and a half. :)

[ffusco]

Heating costs maybe?

[SGCOS]

... but we are going to need all of the renewables and nuclear power we can get our hands on if we are going to meet our Kyoto commitments,"

I didn't realize the key-o-toe protocol called for nuclear power.

[Lazamataz]

This will slow down the Moon, causing it to crash into Earth with devastating consequences for women and minorities

So I read in the New York Times.

And aren't cigarettes evil, too?

[KellyAdmirer]

The best thing about these is that the limousine liberals with fancy estates on the coast won't be able to stop them by complaining they spoil their precious views.

[Lazamataz]

What's the difference between British homes and those in Norwegia?

The addresses.

[KellyAdmirer]

Norwegia?

[Steely Tom]

As Arthur C. Clarke said in 2001, "Nature always keeps her books straight."

This tidal generator takes energy from the moon's orbital angular momentum; the energy thus generated will cause the moon to slowly lose "altitude" and spiral down to an inevitable collision with the Earth.

Of course, the moon is already spiraling downward because Earth's tides are not "lossless." Tidal generators will not cause a catastrope that wouldn't otherwise have occurred; they'll just hasten the day of its arrival.

It would be fun for someone who had the time and knowledge to calculate how much sooner the earth-moon encounter will take place as a result of tidal generators (isn't there one in the Bay of Fundy as well), and then run breathlessly to the press with the story: Tidal Generation Shaves 18,000,000 years off the Future of Mankind!

Or some such.

(steely)

[trebb]

What's the difference between British homes and those in Norwegia?

I would imagine that the Brits, being a fairly socialist society, tax the bejeebers out of power so they use a lot less.

[Poohbah]

Just stick a big ol' rocket motor on the trailing side of the moon and fire that puppy up!

[Willie Green]

Norwegia?

LOL! That's what my college roommate called it 30 years ago, only he was series!

[freeeee]

The moon is slowly moving away from the Earth, not towards it.

[Lazamataz]

Norwegia?

Right next to Georgia.

Unless we are to start referring to them as Georwegians.

[Lazamataz]

The moon is slowly moving away from the Earth, not towards it.

It's probably trying to get away from the second hand smoke.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

This will slow down the Moon, causing it to crash into Earth with devastating consequences for women and minorities....

And it will all be George W. Bush's fault.