Wind power is a very, very partial solution, as the wind doesn't blow 24/7, and the NIMBY crowd (strangely enough a large % of them are pushing for alternative energy, just not where they can see it)
Solar also is a very partial solution, with one caveat: Fund the hell out of NASA, and give the 10 years to have a solar power satellite system in place. Otherwise, you're limited to powering individual locations with photovoltaic cells, and there are some REALLY nasty chemicals used in manufacturing them. Eventually our house will probably be using them for supplemental power, but they aren't a solution unless you live in Arizona.
The other problem with both wind and solar is that you cannot efficiently transmit electricity over large areas. The loss is substantial Besides, as the recent fiasco in upstate NY shows, even high voltage lines aren't immune from NIMBY. (Unless you get into REALLY high voltages, and then forget even getting a permit to look at maybe possibly building a grid. China has accomplished extremely high voltage grid lines, we have not)
Nukes? TMI gave the residents in the immediate area an extra dental X-ray. It wasn't failure, it was proof of concept.
Chernobyl cannot happen in the US, as we don't use that type of reactor.
Barrels leaking in Yucca Mountain? They can't be. Last time I checked, there weren't any there.
Until people really decide they want alternative energy, it's not going to happen. The one option we know how to implement on a large enough scale to be an impact immediately is Nuclear, but it's so expensive legally that it's practically pointless to even ask for a permit for a plant.
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Originally Posted by Lady's Human
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