The Pros and Cons of the Major Flavors of Renewable Energy

To my surprise and delight, there has been a decent amount of traffic on YouTube associated with the videos I made a few years ago on “the pros and cons” of each of the major flavors of renewable energy.  My piece on solar thermal (CSP), for example has 70,000 views and 66 comments.

Yes, I know that’s two or three orders of magnitude less than today’s blockbusters, and my loving daughter (pictured here) likes to mock me in this regard.  “Are you aware, Dad, that “bananas” has 28 times as many likes on their Facebook page as you do on your famous 2GreenEnergy’s page?  And they’re a FRUIT!”

Oh well, I’m happy nonetheless.  Baby steps.

In any case, a few minutes ago, “Joel F” wrote:

I don’t agree with the view that human caused CO2 emissions are affecting our climate as it is being preached by many of today’s climate scientists.  So for me, I don’t see the payoff in that regard.  

You’re not alone, Joel, especially in the U.S. For some reason that I don’t pretend to understand, we as a people don’t have a problem asserting beliefs that directly counter those held by tens of thousands of the people who have been studying this subject for several decades, under the most academically rigorous settings imaginable.

And now that the Republicans control both houses of Congress, you’re in especially good company.  These are among the most powerful people in the world, and many of them look at the subject exactly the same way you do.  Of course, they were elected specifically because they were willing to do that, and create our laws accordingly.

I guess I don’t know what to tell you.