Darrell Ross

I was going to type up some long bit about my current energy research readings and such but I just could not decide how to format it all. Well, that and I’m lazy.

Enel is in the planning stages of a industrial scale hydrogen burning power plant.
http://powermag.com/coal/Enel-to-build-first-industrial-scale-hydrogen-power-plant_1582.html

Humboldt State University’s Schats Energy Research Center (SERC) is road testing a Hydrogen Fuel Cell powered Toyota.
http://now.humboldt.edu/news/hsu-road-tests-fuel-cell-hybrid-vehicle/

Solar Reserve has designed and tested a way of storing solar energy in molten salt.
http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/molten-salt-solar-plant/
Solar Reserve’s website.
http://www.solar-reserve.com/

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A large part of why I am posting these links is I have spent a great deal of time in a back-and-forth over Nuclear Fission where I have been arguing the side against it. It seems that a large number of Nuclear Fission proponents think that it is a clean, safe, sustainable power source.

MINING
When I bring up mining, they fall back on the “every source has it’s own demons” bull.

ENRICHMENT
When I bring up enrichment, they fall back on the same argument as mining.

RADIOACTIVE WASTE
When I bring up toxic waste, I am offered anecdotal evidence from folks who have visited the radioactive waste storage tanks. Nevermind the fact that above ground storage is only for the least harmful isotopes. The terrible ones are stored hundreds of meters below ground. The key is they are stored. And must continue to be monitored for thousands of years.

FINITE RESOURCE
When I bring up finite resources, I’m sure many haven’t even thought of it. Uranium is finite just like coal and oil. In fact, the US has already tapped out our richest sources. Their response is that, well, we have enough to last 300 years at current consumption and that’s good enough for me! What a lame response. We have enough oil to do that too. They quote websites which profess great sources like this one where Dr. H. Sterling Burnett writes his views. Turns out he has a PhD in Philosophy and works for many conservative think tanks which are often receive generous donations from large oil companies. NCPA Article.

The above four arguments against Nuclear Fission power generation often fall on deaf ears because proponents seem to write the before and after generation off. Solar and Wind have both come of age and are commercially viable and being built. Sure, they take up more space but they do not suffer from any of the above four issues.

INCIDENT (eg: MELTDOWN)
There is a fifth issue with Nuclear Fission, maybe the worst one — the possibility of an incident. However unlikely, it IS possible to lose containment on a nuclear reaction and suddenly dump radioactive waste into the atmosphere and surrounding countryside. Proponents offer their assurances that we’ve learned from our mistakes and it won’t happen again. Assurances cannot be 100%. With wind and solar then can be because they do not rely on radioactive fuel.

In my opinion, anyone who can write off the above five solid arguments against Nuclear Fission power is ignoring the facts. The first three could be ignored as long as carbon footprint is ignored and but the “nuclear is clean” argument fails too. The last two are not possible to provide 100% assurance for.

One person argued that Nuclear was cheap on the grounds of plant construction costs and power production costs which they estimated at 6 billion and $0.05 per kWHr produced respectively.

Wind power, according the the AWEA, has come down to around $0.05 per kWHr produced.

The only true obstacle remaining for intermittent sources is storage and engineers are quickly breaking down that barrier.

Reading a bit deeper on the solar power on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in the mojave desert, it appears only some plants have been scrapped while others will move forward.

This article is (or course) much more informative than the Fox one I linked in my previous post:
http://solveclimate.com/blog/20100104/us-confirms-plans-fast-track-solar-federal-lands-3-western-states

According to the article, it appears Senator Feinstein is still moving forward with designating 1.1 million acres of desert as a national monument thus preventing any construction and preserving the land. This is a win for fundamentalist conservationists. I stand by my previous comments that conservationists should find a way to work together with their newfound environmentalist cousins who have the money and power to take solar energy to the commercial level.

Only in California right? I have only been living in Texas for six months but I can already feel the high-brow Californian-irritation. hehe.

Seems that conservationists have slammed the door shut on solar power in the Mojave Desert:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/21/feinstein-dont-spoil-desert-solar-panels/

What ever happened to cooperation? Why not work with the power companies to ensure they install the panels in a responsible manner? I mean, heck, they’re installing solar! They are installing large-scale commercial-grade solar power plants! This seems like a no-brainer for me.

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has spent several years working on a ocean-wave power testing facility on the Northern California coast. They have worked with the Surfrider Foundation, local fishermen, divers, swimmers, and the local ocean and shore conservationists. After a lot of careful consideration and studies, they are (as far as I know) moving forward with the project.

Come on you desert conservationists! We are on the same team! The power companies want to install renewable energy power sources and you want to save some desert fauna. So work with them. Doesn’t solar accomplish this somehow? I know some desert life is in need of shelter. Add stipulations that require installing shelters and ways for the desert life to be excluded from the power plants or enter and leave them safely if necessary.

Sad days when we bicker amongst ourselves. Come on people!