Posted on 08/08/2006 7:59:49 PM PDT by Uncledave
Bring it to an end? Why would I want to do that? So I can spend more money on a less effective source?
What I want to end is the dependence on foreign sources, or at least reduce it. The US could power itself if it would prevent liberals and environmentalist from holding us hostage. Alternative sources are fine as long as you don't make non-users pay for them with subsidies. Ethanol, Wind, Hydro, Geothermal should all be part of our solution. Along with oil, gas, coal, nuclear and others. Shale Oil and Methane Hydrates are our long term future. Our royalty dollars on today's oil and gas should help develop them as future sources, instead of funding foreign governments.
Ideally you would want your own non-polluting, non-nuclear energy source in your car and home; and that's PRECISELY what both fuel-taxing governments and big oil/vested interests fight to KILL behind the scenes. Ethanol, shale gas, methane are still CO2 producers and the CO2 effects on climate are clearly measureable, although no one has yet explained why summer's edging out winter globally is all that BAD! Wind, hydro, solar, geothermal...all have their problems, chief amoung them is just $/installed KW vs coal/N.gas plants, plus long term maintenance/pay back periods. In 1972 I bought 10 acres of flat arizona desert to make my own SOLAR FARM. Then it DAWNED on me : 43,560 sf/acre x 10 = 435,600 sf. Then $10/sf for a total system. At the, then, 5 cents/KWH that came out to THIRTY FIVE YEARS to just pay back the initial $4,356,000, with no interest. Now, what IDIOT banker is going to lend me $4,356,000 and wait 35 years(when the solar farm/system is worn out anyway)to see a dime of profit, at NO INTEREST? This is why you don't see solar farms all around Yuma AZ, it doesn't "pencil out".........And it's much the same story with the other "green" energy sources, they still don't "pencil out" compared to CxHx sources. Fission-nuclear? Disposal of waste is a big problem, plus eco-whacko regs, plus terrorists(ie, iran). CTNF gets billions/year, for 50 years now, no closer to surpassing the Lawrence Coefficient now than they ever were. Like communism, a naive socialist dream that will NEVA HOPPEN as the japanese say......There are several truly revolutionary energy breakthroughs, your thinking is too conventional, think outside the box and go looking in the right places...as I've pointed out before....
You bought property for a solar farm BEFORE doing the math?
Yup, sure did. Illustrating the naive folly of youth, a lot of "sun-people" have been down the same path, witness the Solar Power Tower in Barstow, CA. It will NEVER pay for itself but there it is anyway. One idea I had for a solar installation of sorts : a solar crematorium. A whole hillside of mirrors like at Barstow. Decedent expressed a desire to be cremated by the SUN. Ok : a round room like a bunker with shaded windows, reflecting pool inside that; at center is a lift with body down below. Music rises, the mirrors all turn to focus : body is suddenly lifted up to the focal point : KA-WHAMO : plasma : dust settles onto the pond and then washes out to sea in the little stream trickling from it. There's LOTS of people in California who would like to go that way....
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