After being under the weather for the past week, I am proud to say that Fuel For Thought is back, with a full tank of nuclear energy concerns and a suprise investment in solar energy from a source I wouldn't have expected--or wanted.
All this and more, after the bump.
OPINION |
RANT OF THE WEEK |
BIGGEST LITTLE NEWS STORY |
DKOS ENERGY DIARIES|
NOTABLE TRENDS
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OPINION
The Nuclear Option
In last night's State of the Union address, Bush rehashed his supposed intent to reform energy policy, including, in his own words, the development of "safe, clean nuclear energy."
To many of us, there is an inherent contradiction in using the words "safe," "clean," and "nuclear" so close together. Between Three Mile Island here in the US, and Chernobyl in Ukraine, we don't need movies like The China Syndrome to put us on edge. It doesn't help that we are learning more and more about the health hazards of depleted uranium anti-armor rounds. Are we nuts? Is Bush serious?
At the risk of sounding like a supporter of Bush's energy policy--which, no matter how you slice it, does too little and not aggressively enough to solve our future energy needs while minimizing environmental impact--still, we are now approaching a point where we must ask a sobering question. To wit: Which is more dangerous--having a nearby nuclear power plant that might meltdown, or remaining overly dependent on fossil fuels, resulting in global warming and untold destruction of our cities and our ecology?
While alternate energy sources are still being developed, we are--alas--still far from widespread adoption of these technologies. For all the risks, nuclear power is a technology we can use here and now to drastically reduce carbon emissions. But we must insist on safety in every step of the process, from mining and refining to waste disposal. Too many Americans view nuclear power with well-placed distrust, even as they dump excess carbon into the atmosphere with a cavalier attitude. If we must go nuclear, we must do it right.
The International Atomic Energy Agency--the same ones that have worked to make sure Iran is using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes--already helps states that are members of the Convention on Nuclear Safety. Member states allow the IAEA to review the safety of their nuclear reactors, identifies their strengths and weaknesses, share their findings to help improve overall knowlege, and addresses issues such as reactor age, protection against fire and earthquakes, and power plant design. The United States is already a member of the Convention. However, it is yet to be seen whether Bush's blustering foreign policy will hinder our participation.
If we are to take nuclear energy seriously, we cannot afford to blunder our way through it.
RANT OF THE WEEK
Because a little outrage is good for your soul
Not so much because it's ranty, but because it's simply a good read with a couple zingers, I bring you Bill McKibben's communiques from a climate-change conference:
In the end, it doesn't matter what anecdote you choose, what precise parts-per-million figure you pick as the threshold of peril. Here's what we know: The U.S. has wasted the 15 years since climate change emerged as a real problem. Its environmentalists have failed to make measurable progress on the greatest environmental challenge anyone's ever faced. So we better come up with something new.
There's something almost exhilarating in knowing how bad a situation really is. Spared the false hope that maybe things will get better on their own, at least you have permission to think expansively about what to do differently.
BIGGEST LITTLE NEWS STORY OF THE WEEK
If you missed it the first time, look again
FPL, Carlyle Group Purchase Mojave Solar Thermal Troughs
The Carlyle Group is one of the world's largest private equity firms, with more than US$18.9 billion under management.
Wait, wait, wait. That Carlyle Group? The one that employes George H. W. Bush, James Baker, and other conservatives?
So it would seem.
I'm glad to see a major player investing in alternate energy sources. I'm not glad to see these bozos running the show, especially since their primary interests remain oil and the defense industry.
DKOS ENERGY DIARIES
Other Kossacks speak up
Check them out:
Bush goes after Amtrak by Miss Jones: Trains are more environmentally friendly. Bush isn't. QED, bizzyotches.
Nonviolent, Climate-Friendly Reform: The "Geo-green" Strategy by Plan9: Drive down the price of oil, some say, and oil-rich countries will have to earn an honest buck, maybe even take up democracy on their own! My only problem: "Geo" sounds like "neo." What else could you expect from Thomas Friedman anyhow?
For the record, Plan9 has posted a nice selection of energy diaries for the past couple of months. Plus, he sounds like a cool freak sort of like myself.
Want to see a real crisis? A partial counterpoint by Yertle: Wonkiest. Diary. EVER. WHOOOOOOOO!!!
Bush's Leading Climate Expert: Global Warming at Critical Moment by gfactor: "Oops, did I say that out loud? Tee hee!"
A little information goes a long way... by KumarP: Caveat Emptor: Not all biodiesel is really biodiesel--it's regular diesel fuel cut with a little soybean oil. Say, Kumar, why not develop a "100% biodiesel" seal?
Global warming solutions: I. Lawsuits by Scott in NAZ: Repeat after me again--class action law suit.
Environmental future shock: the end of easy answers by Scott in NAZ: It's no longer about good versus evil, but productive versus destructive, and compromises must be made. We best start deciding which compromises we can live with. Still, I shoot for the high end, thanks.
Scott in NAZ also posts to the excellent Green State Blog.
And while you're at it, check out SeattleLiberal's Nerd Network News roundup, which includes coverage of climate change, energy, and more.
NOTABLE TRENDS
It Dares You To Make Sense Of It All
As Green as a Neocon: Suddenly the neo-cons have discovered environmentalism--and, oddly enough, their new rhetoric sounds an awful lot like... geo-green! I called it! Schwing!
Italian town of Vicenza imposes week-long car ban: The pollution got so bad, they are right now going without cars through next Tuesday. As someone who has lived within a short walk of a highway, I envy them, so, so much.
Nuclear Now!: Nuclear power remains a highly attractive option. Sure, radiation sickness and chromosomal damage is pretty nasty, but Waterworld just plain sucks.
Sunlight to Fuel Hydrogen Future: Imagine a solar cell that, rather than converting light to electricity, directly produces hydrogen from water. The British company Hydrogen Solar says their Tandem Cell produces hydrogen at eight percent efficiency, which they claim is enough to make hydrogen competitive with oil. That's nice, but since we are talking about something that depends on the fickle, cloud-swathed sun, is it too much to ask that we raise the efficiency a little closer to 100%?
Alternate Energy Philippines: MicroHydro Power: Filipino communities are building small hydroelectric plants that do not require damming and which can help bring electricity to remote areas.
New energy buoy will record waves: Off the shore of Cornwall, a buoy is being used to measure the power of its waves. Why? Because the next step is to set up a "wavefarm" that can convert that power directly into electricity.
GE Expands Financing to Clean Energy Technologies: This almost became the Biggest Little Story, but, sorry GE, Carlyle Group owns your ass. Not literally, mind you, but... aw, ferget it.
States act to save energy, ease bills:
Bush Urges Congress to Pass Energy Bill
Britain Pushes US on Warming
Wind Doubles Texas Renewable Energy Commitment: Well, Austin, anyway....
Microfabrication: Fuel Cell Cost Breakthrough?
POWER-GEN Renewable Energy Trade Show Gains Momentum with 70% Growth in Number of Exhibitors
Hydrogen Powered Forklifts Viable Before Autos