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An Energy Policy that Makes Cents (and Sense)

RMax has hit on the source to all of the pollution, global warming, energy shortages, commodity price run-ups etc.

Observe the sudden change in China allowed by that government's limitation on births to an incredible (to most countries) ONE child per couple. Little of the amazing improvements in education, standard of living, etc. would have been possible without that program, and of course, abandoning communism in favor of some free enterprise and capitalism (with a dictatorial government.)

Unfortunately, most people's religious and moral belief's will keep Democracies from ever adopting such a Draconian ,if logical, plan. Our love of freedom of choice combined with the average person's ignorance of the problems we face, let alone what solutions are best, creates a huge dilema.... Hum, that's kind of scary if we are to compete with China.

An Energy Policy that Makes Cents (and Sense)

Most of you have made some excellent points. However,I'm surprised no one talked about CONSERVING ENERGY by not not wasting so much of it in BUILDINGS. ALL of the energy produced by nuclear power plants (about 20%) and 1/4 of the coal fired plants wouldn't be needed IF SO MUCH WEREN'T WASTED. For example, homes, businesses, factories, schools, etc should be much better insulated and sealed, should have low-e glass and double or triple pane glass in windows. A national energy efficiency building code was proposed in the Carter years. Why was it never passed? (See final paragraph.)

Additionally, we should ban or tax incandescent light bulb sales and replace them with LEDs or at least CFLs. Also wasteful is using tank waterheaters instead of small on demand, point of use waterheaters. All buildings should have SOLAR water heaters or at least pre-heaters. They are cheap compared to photovoltaics (but I am a big supporter of PV.) No pools or spas should be heated any other way than solar (OK, also geothermal if available).

The biggest waste of electricity is the resistance generated heat in long power lines between the power plants and the end users. About 50% of what is generated is lost (according to National Geographic Mag). So locally generated energy is always more efficient, especially SOLAR, or in some localities, Wind.

Also, no one mentioned TIDAL or RIVER currents as a source of non-polluting power. Florida Atlantic Univ. scientists estimate the Gulf Stream, right off shore could supply most of the electric power needs of the state. Importantly, TIDAL power can be generated very close to the end users in the big coastal cities.

Finally, I believe the biggest reason the building insulation as well as solar and wind tax credits started in '70s were eleminated by the Repubican administrations that followed, is that once a citizen has an energy efficient home powered by solar or wind, he has been freed from big power and energy companies. Large scale adoption of alternative and locally generated energy would seriously cut profits for big companies (and save individual citizens lots of dollars). Of course, citizens don't make big campaign contibutions and big companies do. Politicians want to get re-elected. Now you see why very little has been done to solve the energy problems we all face.