Currently is there really a universally available electric energy source technology that has no negative effects or are there only best case sources that vary from region to region? I base my question on the premise that the world wide energy demand will continue to increase as large population countries move into what we call a first world status. And although current first world economy populations may be willing to reduce energy use not many are going to advocate returning their country to the 19th century. So what are our solutions and are any of them painless?
The only neutral effect energy source that I can come up with is energy conservation. Wind and solar generation can be competitive for certain locations. There’s a project in my area looking at tidal flow energy generation. There’s hydro power for areas with the needed topography. Each of these have some negative sides. And do these have the potential to replace all the electricity generated by coal fired plants or just a substantial part of it? What is going to be the predominant future long term electric generation system for the world and what do we do until we get there? If it is ever fully developed can "clean coal" power generation be a stop gap source? Although it has nasty end products should the revival of nuclear energy be considered? I do not think there is one right answer but we have to start coming up with some. And we’re going to have to accept things that are less than perfection. Governments will allow the expansion of "dirty" power sources before they will let the power grid go dead. What are your thoughts? Tom
I would prefer to live within a mile of a nuclear power plant, as opposed to a coal burning plant. I might spend a few bucks on a radiation monitor of some sort, and a chart recorder to keep a paper record. With regard to nuclear waste, from power generation, I wonder if it would be possible to store it on site, indefinitely, and put the residual heat generated to some use.
Eric, here's an article I found today from Oak Ridge discussing the radioactive materials released by coal burning and the amounts in coal ash. Pretty interesting. Tom
The "Parade" section of the news today was talking about the transit (trains) in Japan which are run with power generated by the electromagnetic force of magnets. Could it be feasible to develop a source of power for the world by this method?
