"Lord, we are especially thankful for nuclear power, the cleanest, safest energy source there is."Your turn: If not nuclear, then what?
Homer Simpson
Sunday, March 27, 2011
QOTD #8 - On nuclear
It was only a matter of time before I tapped into my inner Homer Simpson, whose Thanksgiving-time perspective on the industry that employs him seems particularly misguided in light of the unfolding nuclear mess in Japan:
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Solar, or anything the use of which does not involve a potentially unquantifiable risk.
Definitely solar! Thanks for pointing out!
Currently all of the 'other' cleaner safer alternative receive heavy government subsidies which means higher taxes or costlier heating bills. Until the new technologies can actually provide the cities with power we can afford, we are between a rock and a hard place.
SOLAR,the only way to go. Also, wind power.. The Palm Springs area has hundreds of 'windmills' .. they have had them since way back in the 70's..Kind of eerie looking at them turning in the wind- big Brother-ish.. yet, its serene.
Japans disaster is dune to unfortunate unanticipated events, Nuclear power actually has less background radiation escaping than a coal power station this is a fun but enlightening way of highlighting the amount of radiation from varying sources.
The major draw back from nuclear power is waste.
On re-newable sources they still need considerable development espcially solar panels to become a viable option, which I do hope they will.
If you want to find an unbiased view on the Japan disaster I suggest listening to these interviews
Wind. Sea. Sun.... nature provides us solutions ! If we apply our minds we will get results !
In New Zealand a large proportion is from hydro stations - but we have pretty much run out of rivers to put new hydro stations on. With the current state of technology, wind, tidal power, solar etc can supply only a small portion of demand. If used, these technologies are best local eg solar panels on the roofs of all houses (we saw a lot of that on Norfolk Island where electricity is three to four times the cost that it is in NZ and Australia). Ultimately, finding ways to use less has to go hand in hand with developing new technologies.
We Have a tide that comes in and out twice per day. It boggles my mind no Hydro-electric plants exist here! I see Catherine has mentioned it.
I'm betting new tech n materials could improve the efficiency of that- note: Get a team of scientists on that pronto!
Wind turbines (There's a few here) are very loud, n not good in residential zones. Recently an eagle here had a leg chopped off!
Solar needs constant sunshine to be effective, but is less worrisome, n clean.
We have a waste to energy plant here (burning trash) n were told elec cost would go down back in the 80's- still going up tho!
I'd love to stop paying the elec bill...
solar and wind
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