Energy Think Tank Topics
As the coordinator for a think tank which operates online, it’s obvious that the discussion often surrounds energy. Yes, we talk about advanced alternative energy technologies, the dependence on oil, and the best management practices for use of fossil fuel and energy production. That is to say clean coal technologies, and better mitigation of excess byproducts and pollution, whether it be in the air or water.
After all, whether you are an environmentalist or not, you still have to drink the water and breathe the air. You still have to eat the fish that swim in the water and eat food produced by the water that helps them grow. It all matters.
Not long ago, I was discussing this with an acquaintance of mine who is indeed an environmentalist, and part of the progressive socialist-liberal movement (I truly believe “movement” is the proper term in this case), which he often denies. He voted for a Green Candidate in the last election go-around, and he often spouts out the typical rhetoric of the environmentalists and those who belong to eco-terrorists groups, although he is not one with their activities (to my knowledge, although with folks such as this, you just never know).
It seems, there is a disconnect between reality and the dream world of environmentalist factions, which are working to propel the dialogue, discussion, and debate on energy. I believe it is quite dangerous to allow this to continue, because most of these folks don’t know what on earth they are talking about. You see, there is a very good amount of talk surrounding the energy sector.
Finally after 25 years a nuclear power plant has finally been approved again. And new physics has shown us that we can’t use some of the spent fuel rods for a much longer period of time, allowing them to decay and collect that energy, rather than having to store them for tens of thousands of years. We also have more geothermal potential for creating energy (electricity) to which we are not using currently.
Also the concept of ocean wave energy is virtually unlimited, and completely untapped the United States, that is a travesty. After all, the ocean waves never stop, they are reliable and constant here on Earth – unlike the wind which only blows sometimes or the sunlight, and which notoriously, does not shine at night, which a Nobel Prize winner jokingly said to me once.
The concept of Cap and Trade will not work in the United States due to the corruption in government, and the people who are behind the push to see that implemented. If you recall Enron would’ve loved to have done that, and probably would’ve tried had the company not collapsed.
We should learn from those things, and not be so nave, and we should also take a look at Europe, because they are now using a Cap and Trade scheme, but it didn’t work, and as soon as it got off the ground, there was massive corruption and fast. After all the carbon trading scheme is really a matter of trading the air. That’s right, the air that you breathe, think about it.
