Quote:
Originally Posted by Caslon
Fossil fuel electrical energy plants aren't being made much anymore.
|
Still doesn't change the fact that electric power generation in the US is split up like
this (2005).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caslon
Not to mention that there hasn't been a gasoline refinery built in the last 15+ years, nor is there one in development.
|
While that is a nice fact, the reason for it isn't the US going "green power", it's the lack of oil and/or cost of refinement.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by mrhahn
Solar-powered AC - it makes so much sense!
|
Please tell me that wasn't meant sarcastic. Take a look at
this article, it describes a concept of a solar plant that could power Europe plus 2/3 of the third-world countries while being only the size of 0.3% of the deserts of the Middle East and North Africa.
My physics teacher actually introduced me to this idea a while back, although he also explained why it wouldn't be implemented yet. In Europe, figuratively speaking, nuclear power and power gained from fossile fuels costs the electricity companies 5 cents per kWh. With this plant, it would be 20 cents. So the power lobby will hold off on that idea until, well, fossile fuel becomes so rare that prices reach 20 cents, making it profitable to switch to large scale solar energy.
Bummer, because by that time it will be too late to reverse most of the effects of global warming.