I just posted a piece to Renewable Energy World, in which I recollect my encounters in airports with other college-aged kids of the 1970s who were vigorously gathering support for nuclear energy. I recall how one self-satisfied young fellow quipped, “More people died in Ted Kennedy’s car than in the sum total of all nuclear reactor incidents.”
Now, four decades later, I’m still wondering about the pro-nuclear people. Who are they? What’s the attraction? (more…)
Here’s another episode of the 2GreenEnergy Report, in which I’m interviewed on the subject of peak oil. I manage to squeeze in references to related subjects as well: the consequences of our addiction to foreign oil, the externalities associated with fossil fuels, long-term environmental damage, the associated costs of healthcare, ocean acidification, and global climate change.
Bill Gates emphasized to policymakers in Washington D.C. the importance of the H-1B visa to companies like Microsoft. “…They celebrate the fact that we’re kicking them out after giving them the world’s best education,“ said Gates about India, who is benefitting from U.S. policy actions. As a case in point, an article by E. Bharali in India believes India’s energy progess will be made partly because of the engineers and others who are forced to come home to work. Another news article stated that India now has more start-up companies due to the H-1B visa ban. India has become a land of opportunity for bright minds that have been making an impact in the U.S. (more…)
Understandably, accompanying the situation in Fukushima is a flurry of discussion of renewable energy. And, where some of that conversation shows a great deal of sophistication and enlightenment, some of it does not. I was amused by Fred Upton’s (R- MI) comments this morning, suggesting that the government should not subsidize wind and solar energy because they represent such small components of the current grid mix. This, of course, is akin to saying in the 1990s that we should not develop the Internet because there are only a few websites or that there are too few users online.
I thought it was a joke when I first heard it, then realized, no, this level of illogical, asinine stuff really does represent the quality of thinking from some of the people we elected to lead us through this very tough time.
Fortunately, the person responding to Upton was much sharper. “Oh,” he said, “I’m certainly not suggesting that renewables be subsidized for longer than oil – 80 or 90 years.” Now that’s clever; I only wish I were as fast on my feet.
India is on the rise in the green energy domain. The country increased its total capacity from 2% in 2003 to 10% by 2010. The market for renewable energy and related technologies and businesses is growing by 25% per year, according to a U.S. Commerce Department report.
Fukushima Nuclear power plant compound has been affected devastatingly by the Japanese earthquake. Latest updates report most problems with Reactors 2 and 3. Radiation at Fukushima Nuclear power plant I, Reactor 3 is the highest. If you are concerned you can find regular and accurate updates and info
renewable energy sources at this time can not fully replace the need for base energy providers such as nuclear, gas and thermal power plants, however if utilized correctly they could lower the negative impact of fossil fuels and with enhanced research and development efforts renewable energy sources could possibly lower the need for fossil based power production in the near future.
First of all let us assure you that according to Tokyo Electric Power Company is still a level four local accident. The dose equivalent on the edge of compound of Fukushima power plant is still about 10-times lower than the dangerous amount but long-term exposure is not advised! If you are concerned about radiation from said power plant you can read more about it here. Right now the highest levels of risk are at the reactors 3 and 2 of Fukushima Nuclear plant I.
As we empathize with all who are unfortunate enough to be in the midst of this horrible event, we should try and learn as much as we can from it. Taking into account how dangerous radiation can be, we generally do not know enough about it. What we do know however, is the fact that we do not use our natural resources efficiently enough. Renewable energy sources at this time can not fully replace the need for base energy providers such as nuclear, gas and thermal power plants, however if utilized correctly they could lower the negative impact of fossil fuels and with enhanced research and development efforts renewable energy sources could possibly lower the need for fossil based power production in the near future. Despite the recent developments at Fukushima one has to be aware of the fact that nuclear power plants are actually very safe and that if Fukushima had been a coal power plant, the devastation to nature and people at this point would have been far worse.
So, our condolences to all affected, and we hope we’ve given you , our readers, useful information.
A reader suggests that we should have a post about the current Fukushima nuclear power plant situation, calling for me to bring this whole thing into perspective.
I reply…
Thanks so much for the note. I deeply appreciate the trust and respect you have placed in me. But the truth is that I don’t have any greater insight into the extent and ramifications of this disaster than anyone else, and thus I feel that I have no value to add here.
Of course, I could point out that the millions of people (of whom I’m only one) who have been warning the world about the dangers of nuclear power were right — as if that makes anyone feel better. It goes without saying that I’m not into that. In the last few days, I’ve had people from all over the world emailing me about this, a few of them obviously in tears as they wrote. The world is in a state of shock and mourning, as well it should be.
I’m reminded of the BP oil spill, where some of my friends simply couldn’t understand why I wasn’t “capitalizing” on it. In truth, there’s nothing to capitalize on. It’s a disaster, period, and I think that more or less everyone understands this.
Like Chernobyl, the radius of the circle we draw around Fukushima will be hotly debated. And like the BP oil spill, industry spokespeople will attempt to minimize their culpability and the damage to the credibility of the nuclear program as a whole.
But, to the point: Does the disaster bring us all closer to an understanding of the imperative to migrate to clean energy? I hope so. Can I explicate it any further or better than what you’re seeing and reading? No, sorry.
In the last year, we’ve had the BP situation, the $8.6 billion judgement against Chevron in Ecuador, the bloodshed in Northern Africa in reaction to the exploitation that was enabled by oil money, and now, the nuclear catastrophe in Japan. If this succession of events fails to make the case for renewable energy, I hate to imagine what will.
Again, I appreciate your trust and friendship. But, outside of offering my most sincere sympathies, I’m out of words. I’m afraid the facts speak for themselves.
