GOP: Alternative energy alone won't meet US needs

[Old Coot]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON – A GOP senator from the nation's leading coal-producing state contends Democrats will increase energy costs and make the U.S. more dependent on foreign oil if they focus solely on alternative energy.

In the party's weekly radio and Internet address Saturday, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said Republicans support a more comprehensive energy plan that would increase funding for energy research, develop U.S. oil and gas resources and promote clean coal and nuclear power.

"Democrats have focused solely on what they call green jobs. Those are jobs from alternative energy. I support green jobs, but why discriminate?" Barrasso said. "American energy means American jobs, which is why I support red-white-and-blue jobs."

He said renewable energy such as wind and solar power is important, noting that Wyoming has world-class wind resources. But Barrasso said wind and solar only account for about 1 percent of U.S. electricity, far below what is needed to meet the nation's energy needs.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090523/ap_on_go_co/us_republicans_energy

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It strikes me that we will need a variety of forms of energy for the foreseeable future. I am all for the "green" energy, but question whether that can meet our needs. I think we need to gradually put all of our eggs into the one "green" basket.

[lapfog_1]

1. Why discriminate?

Because fossil fuels are changing the planet and we are well adapted to the planet we have.

[jamieque]

12. Exactly...

The damage we are doing by not being more energy efficient with alternative energies is going to cost all of us in the long run.

Now, don't get me wrong... There are ways to make fossil fuels pollution free but it will take a team effort and money implement these ways. Hell, there are even ways to make our alternative energy generation tech more efficient.

How?

Simple... think about it. All the current technologies we have if used and put together in the correct ways would change the whole world for the better. In other words... we already have the solution to both of our global warming and alternative energy problems. Yes, we have been sitting on many ideas and ways to do away with pollution and energy shortages that could change the world.

Ion energy generation...
Nuclear Fusion which is currently in development is missing one vital element... the fuel. Think about it everyone. What can we use for fuel for this process? Hmm... I know. We have all this nuclear waste that is not being used. With a little chemical modification and research this waste would make excellent fuel for the process. I know many people think it is impossible but hey the truth is that it is very possible.

Wind turbine technology... This technology is nowhere near as efficient as it should be and I am not surprise. We are using the wrong types of wind turbines and the turbines are made out of the wrong materials. The wind turbines need to be streamlined and made of lighter composite materials that are stronger then the current versions. I know there is some composites currently being used but not enough due to the high cost of said materials. Also, the fans need to be smaller and designed in a different way. Hopefully, I'll be able to get my design ideas to the right people so they can build these upgraded models.

Water aka hydro electrical power generation as it currently exists is an environmental disaster. We are using the wrong kinds of dam types to generate this type of power. We are using dams that cause damage to the environment. I call these dams 'intrusive dams' because they use nature in a forceful way. The type of dams we need to build are what I call 'non-intrusive dams' aka dams that work with the natural flow of the river and they won't disrupt the migration/spawning seasons of many species of fish like trout and salmon. In other words we eliminate 2 problems at the same time.

Coal Fire Plants: Oh boy... this is real biggy. The solution to making coal clean is by changing how the coal is processed and used to make energy. It also involves using other technologies in combination with the current tech to help do away with the carbon/pollution element of the coal. In the end clean coal is doable but it will take a proper balance of using technology and natural sources to make it work.

Geothermal power... Well this technology is already being used but not as efficient as it could be used. The main foundation of the energy generation of this particular technology is heat. Which is very interesting since there is many ways to generate heat energy. Lasers are extremely hot. Boiling water is hot and there is the fact that fire itself is hot as well. The only problem is finding fuel to burn and this burning process creates pollution. However the problems can be easily solved with a little careful thinking and some good ideas. Yes, I have figured out a way to make Geothermal Power Station and I plan to share these ideas in the near future. The ideas would also help make our gas powered cars pollution-free as well as so energy efficient that they can go 100+ mpg on less gas. As for the hybrids and electric cars... the same applies. Forget plug-in hybrids and electic cars. Imagine hybrids and electric cars that can recharge themselves... science fiction... nope. It is actually science fact because it can be done. Really? Yes, really. How? That is something I intend to share with those who are responsible for building these cars. Or if they don't listen then I'll have to find some other way to prove my idea is doable. Either way... pollution would be history and that is a good thing.

Solar power... I like this type of energy generation because there are so many ways to maximize the efficiency of this technology. Making solar panels that can be used 24 hours a day has already been done by one company but my idea goes much, much further. There are ways to generate 5 times or more solar power with the right redesigns and modifications to our current solar panels.

So ultimately, the solutions are already available. They just need to be put together properly.

[truthisfreedom]

2. Wind is enough, alone, to supply our needs.

All that needs be done is build the turbines.

[mikehiggins]

3. If only we could harness the hot air coming from the GOPukes n/t

[Tikki]

4. But filter out the stink...n/t

[droidamus2]

5. Okay

So what he is saying is we'll throw a little money at 'research' no rebates for installing wind turbines and solar panels just some 'research'. In the meantime we'll just stick with the same old crap we have been doing. Now why would he say that? Could it possibly be that a lot of the big time Republican contributors have these resources wrapped up and make their big bucks from them. This is typical conservative bull they fight and fight against turning the USA into a 'green energy' country and then turn around and tells is 'it'll never work'. Sure we won't become energy independent using green technology overnight but if we leave the emphasis on oil, coal and nuclear we will never get there. If green energy is going to work that is where the focus has to be along with a plan to wind down our dependence on the traditional energy sources.

[zbdent]

6. I thought their sole solution was "Drill baby, drill!"

[bertman]

11. This is phase two of that plan, zbdent: Diversify, baby, diversify.

[ixion]

7. balderdash

between geothermal, solar, wind and wave power alone present a massive sea of potential energy unharnessed.

He's just singing for his master, Big Coal.

[jamieque]

14. True

You get no arguement out of me. I agree with you on that point. The only thing holding us back from these limitless energy solutions is the fact that proper funding is always absent... hmm, gee I wonder why.

(Glares at the Republicans and their Democratic and Special Interest friends) I wonder why. Could it be due to greed and stupid on the part of our so-called leaders. Yep, it is definitely our useless leaders who couldn't lead us out of a wet paper bag. That is one of the reasons I feel sorry for our new president. He has his work cut out for him considering he has to work with these people.

[kestrel91316]

8. Abandon alternatives now, because currently we can't figure out how

to use them for 100% of our energy needs.

Right. Brilliant approach.

[Lorien]

9. Tesla's Wardenclyffe could:

http://www.teslascience.org/

\which is why the bankers had it shut down and our government confiscated his papers on it. Of course, it wouldn't mean many jobs because it was just one tower with no power lines attached.

Al Gore says that ten square miles of solar panels could supply all of America's energy needs. Retrofitting EVERYTHING for solar power would require more workers, not less. Over time, however, the costs would be far less than the current system; but all American's would also enjoy huge energy savings and cleaner air.


What it really comes down to: more riches for the usual suspects in the very short term, with the death of most life on earth in the not-so-long term. Or more jobs for Americans in the short term, with (hopefully) an extended period of survival for us in the long term. Seems like a no-brainer but no-brainers are still impossible to grasp for the GOP.

[Occulus]

22. The Polywell design WILL, if it works like Bussard and his researchers expect it to.

The Polywell reactor is an internal electrostatic containment (or confinement) fusion reactor. It's being developed by Dr. Rick Nebel, following in the footsteps of the late Dr. Robert Bussard.

The Polywell, if it works, will signal the end of the oil era. In a stroke of pure genius, Bussard made certain that enough information about the idea, the research, design, and everything else is as publicly available as possible. In other words, this thing can't be shelved by any corporation.

If the Polywell design works, we will have more than enough electricity to satisfy both our existing grid and transportation needs. There are indications that Bussard's power gain and output scaling laws are in fact correct, although Dr. Nebel is being very tight-lipped due to the publishing embargo under which his lab currently operates. However, as I understand it, the Navy has recently again extended their contract to EMC2 (the lab developing the technology), which is a good sign.

[IndianaGreen]

10. More oil, coal, and nuclear

I am surprised he didn't call for more tax cuts.

GOP is so predictable.

BTW, there is no such thing as clean coal or safe nuclear.

[diane in sf]

13. More lies from the smokies

[bertman]

15. What we have now in the Democratic plan is a token effort. If the Republicans get to

water it down, we'll need to invest our next Five Trillion dollars in how to build floating cities.

My remodeling company is trying to get our clients (far fewer than normal due to the "recession") to upgrade their homes with energy efficient features, some of which can gain them a $1500 tax credit. Problem is it's hard enough in a good economy to get people to spend their hard-earned money on short- or long-term investments such as more efficient HVAC units, better insulation, better windows, etc. etc.

If the President wants a REAL stimulus plan, instead of giving away TRILLIONS to the banksters, give grants to American households to upgrade their out-of-date homes so they are truly energy efficient. Include more dollars for solar hot water, solar power generation, wind generation, geothermal also.

I'm not talking about a $1500 tax credit, I'm talking about $10,000 or $20,000 per household. Make it a grant or a very low-interest, long-term loan specifically for energy upgrades. And require a certification that this is done correctly. The structure, the training, the guidelines are already in place. They just need to be implemented. We could put millions of blue-collar and white-collar workers to work almost immediately.

There are hundreds of thousands of small contracting companies that could be quickly trained to make these retrofits. There are already thousands of companies doing this, but we need many many more. The training for workers can be done quickly and effectively and doesn't require a student with a PHD or even a high-school diploma. It's basic building trades technology.

This would be an infusion into our domestic economy the likes of the housing boom of the last fifteen years, except it would help us reduce our energy consumption as it boosted our economy back into a recovery.

As usual, the big money is going to the mega-corporations. This is a mega-mistake. We don't need a national energy grid. We need small, local energy grids and individual home energy production that cannot be brought down by a cyberterrorist hacking into a national system and blacking out the entire East Coast.

We hear President Obama and our Congressional representatives and Senators constantly blathering about small business being the backbone of American productivity, but when the rubber hits the road it's always Big Bidness that gets the funds.

Educating the public is the second part of this equation and could go hand-in-hand with the implementation. Start a massive public education drive to teach people how they WASTE energy and HOW TO STOP WASTING ENERGY. Turn this into an effort like the mobilization for WWII. We can change our country and help the world at the same time.

[surrealAmerican]

21. There's a valid point.

It's funny how you never hear these people mention conservation. We don't actually need to supply the amount of energy that is currently demanded. With more efficient design we could reduce our demand to the point that alternative sources would be adequate.

[quidam56]

16. Appalachia's turning into a toxic waste dump third world America

Thanks to Congressman Rick Boucher ( D VA-09 ) his buddies at the new and improved, clean, green, hybrid coal industry can go on decapitating Wise County, VA and will go on destroying our watersheds, lakes, streams and rivers. 350 million year old mountains are being bombed, blasted and bulldozed putting Appalachia in a 3rd world America atmosphere. www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=138 End Mountaintop Removal !

[DLnyc]

17. Brilliant logic. On a related subject, wheels and spokes are never going to

solve all my bicycle needs, so I'm going to continue trying to ride my old, wheel-less bicycle. (What is that scraping sound?)

[northernlights]

18. because by investing in alternative energy

we can raise those percentages from 1% to 2%, to 4%, to 8%, to 16%...and so on.

We already subsidize the oil industry to an *enormous* extent if you calculate the cost accurately -- that is, to include every war we have fought and continue to fight in the mideast.

If that money had instead been channeled into alternative energy a couple decades ago, we (and earth) wouldn't be in the mess we're in today.

The point is not to continue to throw vast sums of money perpetuating a system that can only lead to our doom. Instead, put our money into the only road that leads away from doom.

[SpiralHawk]

19. "We have faith in not trying, and in general in FAIL." - Fear-driven Republicons

Republicons are a stumbling pack of freaking pathetic faithless FAIL freaks.

[jmondine]

20. "US needs"... specifically, the need of oil execs to spend obscenely

We can't have them getting kicked out of the country club for wearing last month's fashions, now can we?

[4dsc]

23. This is a true statement

Its is only pipe dreams that allow rational people to believe so called alternatives could ever replace the energy we get from oil and coal. People need to realize just how much energy we USE on a daily basis to come to grips with reality here.. There are no solutions that would begin to replace the 22 MILLION BARRELS of OIL we use on a DAILY BASIS!! NONE!

[Thor_MN]

24. Remember that conservatives think in Black/White.

There's only two states. Shades of grey do not exist. If a solution does not solve ALL of the problem, it's useless in their minds.