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Posted by HeyBub on April 26, 2008, 9:45 am
Nate Nagel wrote:
> Stormin Mormon wrote:
>> How come we can't convince the tree hugers to go jump off a cliff,
>> so we can build some more refineries, and drill the oil that's on US
>> soil?
>
> Because it's not a sustainable plan. It's still cheaper to import oil
> than to produce it domestically. Hence, the search for economically
> viable alternative (preferably renewable) energy sources.
>
> Based on current US policy, though, domestic drilling would be a
> better idea than anything currently enacted.
>
Renewable won't work and can't be made to work. Renewables can nibble at the
margins, but large scale? Nah. Here's why:
The energy received from the sun is about 1350 Watts/sq meter. At the
equator. At noon. With no clouds.
Assuming solar collectors with an efficiency of 50%, and adjusting for
latitude, clouds, and night, we would need a solar collector farm the size
of the Los Angeles basin (1200 sq miles) to provide enough electricity for
just California. The downsides of this plan are obvious: The cost of the
solar farm would be enormous, and it's maintenance equally prohibitive.
Plus, you'd need a battery farm the size of Barksdale to tide Californians
over during the night.
Also, everyone in Los Angeles and Barksdale would be living in the dark
(which might be a plus).
The good news is that the amount of radiation reaching the earth (the
aforementioned 1350 Watts) can be increased by simply moving the orbit of
the earth closer to the sun.
And "renewable" is not always a holy word. Think whale oil.
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