The Top Two Energy-Related Threats To Humankind

What’s the number one threat to human civilization based on our foolish and corrupt approach to energy?  Most of us who try to keep a watchful and objective eye on the world energy scene would say that it’s our de facto energy policy that favors fossil fuels, and uses the power of enormous amounts of money to maintain the fiction that burning hydrocarbons is an acceptable mode of going forward.

But what’s the number two threat?  I would say that it’s the bickering between those of us who see the imperative for a low-carbon energy future.  To summarize it:

• The nuclear people are relentless in their demonizing of solar and wind.  (Yes, guys, we’re aware of the fact that wind turbines have a non-zero carbon footprint, and that they kill birds and bats; we’re also hip to the fact that solar doesn’t work at night.  And yes, we understand that liquid fluoride thorium reactors show promise for low-cost and safe nuclear energy—some day.)

• But sadly, most renewable energy people are just as unfair when it comes to portraying nuclear energy.  Here’s Thom Hartman, interviewing a fellow from Beyond Nuclear, whose job is alarming us about the level of radiation in the open oceans between Japan and California.  OMG, 2 – 4 becquerels per cubic meter of Cs-137?!  In fact, that’s a negligible amount, but I somehow doubt the average American knows that.

Both groups seem justified in picking “facts” that support their argument, even when they have no real bearing on the matter.

The oil companies love this, btw.  Why should they spend their own resources in a desperate effort to destroy the credibility of low-carbon energy (and occasionally get busted in the process) when we’re doing such a good job on our own?

We sure need a non-partisan voice of reason here.  God help us.