The History Channel: Disappointing Coverage of Energy
I just put a piece on Renewable Energy World regarding the History Channel’s coverage of energy. As usual, last night’s show was very well-produced; it must cost a fortune to get all that in place with the wonderful special effects and clips from exotic parts of the world. But I was bitterly disappointed that the show skirted the opportunity to cover renewables — and contained outrageous errors in the coverage it provided.
While the show mentioned the fact that the Earth receives 8.2 million quads (quadrillion BTUs of energy) each year – many thousands of times the consumption of even the most energy-hungry population imaginable, it skirted the practical consequences of the solar energy in its many forms — choosing to inform viewers that harvesting the energy from neutrinos is at best an extremely long-term endeavor, rather than discuss something like solar thermal.
I really hit the ceiling when the program incorrectly pointed out that geothermal is unworkable because it is available primarily at the interface points between tectonics plates. This is completely false. A few minutes later, the voice-over asked, “Are you proposing to put caps on geysers? How practical is that?”
Holy mackerel. I hope Paul Thomsen of Ormat, whom I interviewed for my book’s chapter on geothermal wasn’t watching; he would have had a heart attack.
My point here is that we don’t seem to be trying too hard to plug the huge gap in understanding of the subject of clean energy. It’s almost as if someone doesn’t want this to happen. Hmmmm.
Not true, it’s just that the present administration has decided to pick the winners in the Clean Tech revolution and their current favorite is the EV Automotive gambit. You will see the DOE bend over backwards to support Obama’s re-election by placing all their bets on reviving the dinosaurs of the automotive world. This in their minds shows the quickest return on the campaign promises originally made by our President. That being to provide American jobs as fast a possible.
Sure there will be some token grants to solar / geothermal – but if you watch closely the bulk of the money is going into the automotive and battery industry, because they see it as their best chance to capture the pent-up demands of the American public to get off of fossil fuel and to end the wars in Iran and Afghanistan.
This is political theatre wrapped in a DOE envelope. Nothing more – nothing less.
DH
Geothermal should not be written off. However, until considerably more research has been done, there is no way to predict its potential.
There have been cases where geothermal research has apparently caused tremors resulting in fear that continuing could cause earthquakes severe enough to be destructive. How serious a problem that is I don’t know, but it is not sufficient reason to halt research.
The amount of energy the earth receives annually from the sun or from other outer space sources may be interesting, but it is irrelevant; certainly we will not cover the entire earth with solar collectors. What counts is how practical it is to harvest the energy.
Unfortunately, the producers of TV news programs and other news sources often do not know that they are talking about. If I had my way, it would be impossible to be graduated from high school without studying a year of physics, a year of chemistry, and a year of a life science. For college graduation, those courses should also be required on the college level. In addition, courses should be required so that graduates will know how to make investment decisions. That would, among other things, require understanding internal rate of return, discounted cash flow, and external economic effects. If journalists and the general public understood all that, we would make far fewer bad investment decisions, including decisions related to energy choices.
I tend to lose patience with any show about energy that doesn’t at least mention the HUGE chunk of the puzzle that is solved by energy efficiency. People are dazzled by exotic new technologies, but by far the cheapest and easiest kilowatt is the one you don’t need.
It’s a complex system, so every little bit helps. You are right, though, that misinformation and sloppy reporting won’t get us where we need to go.
Thanks, Julie for the energy conservation reminder. It always blows my mind that people still refuse to use insulating drapes or shutters in houses that are heated or cooled.
Don, please keep your wars straight. We’re not yet at war with Iran. I think you intended to write Iraq.
Rico
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I entirely agree that there is a huge gap in understanding of the subject of clean energy. And research in this area is complicated and hugely expensive. But unless the US and the world gets off the almost bottomless pit of Iraq, Afghanistan et.al, there will never be enough funds to carry out all that research work into areas of clean and efficient energy, where the ROI is years, if not decades, away. So if there is a political agenda to push the world out of fossil fuel and crazy wars, it may not turn out to be such a bad policy after all.
TB
Renewable Energy Solar should be the focus of the world. Since 2006, China has done so well that some of their major companies are having contracts to produce Solar panels less than $1.35 in US. Obama’s strong push for Renewable Energy in US primarily is the best way we can solve the problem by increasing solar efficiency from 18% + at the minimal cost.
US products are reliable and long lasting. Let’s meet the world demand for power shortage in GWs.
To me seams taht every one look att the wrong way to find a sustainable abundant sours of less cost energy, the earth is full of good easy to pick up and use surch power for every body.
Forget the lolar, cost to much to install. befor any big system are redy to be used, the country USA are bancrupt.
Look at Sweden, a small contry but have done enormus good projects, but they also looking wrong WAY.