Where is balance Academic priorities 269
That's actually my only hope. Nobody else talks sense. That's because that piece of the financial market isn't venturesome...
The current development in the oil price is the best thing we could ask for, long term. At $50-barrel many coastal installations of tidal and wind power are clearly profitable; and solar begins to touch profitability in places like New Mexico. At $70 they all kick in to profitability. At $100 even more far-flung greenish ideas have merit.
NIMBY is a problem; who wants a windmill farm there? Well, far more people than want a nuclear reactor; and it does tend to stabilize wind and wave patterns; so coastal communities are getting used to them.
Both. - Bill INSTRUCTIONS FOR GIVING YOUR CAT A PILL 1. Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and...
The biggest structural problem is the high investment cost, and the non-permanent energy output. Hydropower generation will prove to be extremely valuable just because it can fill in for wind-wave-solar when they are not generating. A windmill farm also acts like a hydropower station; after 60 years 3-4ths of the capital is still technically active.
Oscurity is not security, here either.
I am waiting for a slightly larger car built on a hybrid design. I can do around 70% of my car use "on batteries" in such a design; 5 km or less from the base. And I am constantly hauling things around; I am one of the very few that HAVN'T converted the CR-V from a "VAN style" registration to a personal car. I need the loading capacity all the time. (here "VAN Style" registrations require 75% of the space in the car to be used for goods-other commercial use; and they are a lot cheaper than "SUV Style" registrations, to the tune of $10k for a CR-V. After a number of years you can convert old cars for free.).
If someone like me could be able to get 70% "battery mode" out of a Hybrid SUV the average should be closer to 90%.
One very enlightening experience is to try to live on a sailboat. It is an exercise in using less energy. And it is amazing how much home conforts you can retain on a 40 watt energy budget. And you can take civilization's comforts with you for months.
I just tested some new LED fixtures that are coming down in price. The light is a little bluish; but they have the equivalent light of an 8W Halogen or 20W standard incandescant lamp. And they stay cool.
Don't underestimate what all the little companies around the world do. Now they have a niche and a market they can live in, and expand; and do the first bit of organical growth...
-- mrr
Where is balance Academic priorities 270
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