Orr

Wind Power Can Solve the U.S. Oil Addiction

Nuclear power is half the cost of wind ?

Some of the problems with nuclear power is that it has numerous legacy costs that are on-going - so-called waste. I have never received a straight answer on whether or not weapons-grade plutonium can be used effectively in a nuclear reactor. Some articles speak around this but the problem is nuclear power works with material that requires special handling and processing, special technology and has all sorts of hidden costs. It requires heavy government involvement. The other problem is that it requires enormous amounts of water for cooling.

Wind and solar do not generate all these waste problems, can be integrated easily within existing infrastructures (rooftops for solar and farms for wind) and DO NOT USE WATER.

Remember - "water is the next oil".

Electricity is the the next fuel. There is off-the-shelf technology that could be used on our interstates whereby electric trucks could use an electric rail as a power source - just like an electric train on tires. Coupled with a small diesel motor to power the vehicle on/off the interstate would enable very fast transport on existing highways with no need for heavy batteries at all.

The main impediment of both solar and wind is the need for political cooperation between different parts of the country to enlarge the grid. A very large grid with internet-like self routing behavior (matching demand and supply in a dynamic, fluctuating state) would connect the variations in electric power generation from the renewable sources to the variations in power consumption...

The notion that we cannot build a very large grid coupled with concentrated solar and wind within say 10 or 20 years is simply not true. Go visit Germany and see the vast, complex electric train infrastructure already in-place. They will likely be completely oil free within 40 years.

Beware of the Solar Stock Fad

Your comments about Europe are interesting. For a variety of reasons Americans have not been directly exposed to the real cost of energy. Only in the last 5 years have Americans began experiencing an increasing rate in the rate of energy inflation - mostly due to worldwide consistent increases in energy demand (namely from countries like China). It is not that Americans do not care or that Americans are not interested in participating in alternative energy it is that up until recently as a percent of a typical American's financial outlay energy costs have been a relatively small line item. Also, psychologically it is easier to spend a little here and a little there each week or month on energy (gasoline, natural gas, electricity). If these bills were bundled as a single once-a-year annual energy invoice then it would seem psychologically to be a more important aspect of our financial lives. I sit on the board of several local companies. Never do we discuss the cost of energy as a worry or concern. Health care costs for our employees, employee salaries, supply costs and taxes are far bigger numbers then something as small as electricity or gasoline.

Also, do not negate what is happening in the southeast with an insufficient amount of water to cool coal-fired electric generation plants and nuclear power plants. Solar and wind have little water requirements for operation.

As for me I am planning to install a 10,000 kw solar PVC system on the roof of my house. The ROI on this investment will be terrific - I am making a better world for my children. This is the same reason why I drive a hybrid vehicle -- as does my wife.

Why are we importing $400 billion a year of oil when we could all drive plug-in hyrbids connected to a solar/wind energy grid that is disconnected from commodity prices?

And yes, I have most of my portfolio in wind, solar, agriculture and advanced drug companies. Oil is not the future for Americans or for other developing countries with limited quantities of natural oil reserves.

Beware of the Solar Stock Fad

Don't forget about the looming water shortage. It takes a long time to develop a coal plant and a lot of water to cool it. Nuclear is out of the question in the current economic environment. Existing plants are being scaled back, especially in times of drought. Solar produces at peak power - precisely at the highest wholesale generation prices.

Solar and wind require no water for cooling. They are unconncected to commodity prices. There are no coal mining accidents and there are no nuclear waste problems.