ENERGY…ENERGY…

What are the Alternatives?What are the Alternatives?

The “Coming Crisis”The “Coming Crisis”

If something is “non-renewable” then it If something is “non-renewable” then it will, presumably, will, presumably, run outrun out..

If you know this then, what should you If you know this then, what should you do?do?

Economists say that change will come Economists say that change will come when technology is driven by shortage, when technology is driven by shortage, reflected in a high price (now?)reflected in a high price (now?)

Ecologists say, why wait for the Ecologists say, why wait for the shortage?shortage?

Our Reaction to the “Crisis”Our Reaction to the “Crisis”

““There isn’t one: no shortages, no There isn’t one: no shortages, no rationing, and the price rise is because rationing, and the price rise is because of manipulation of the market.of manipulation of the market.

Response: Look for more oil.Response: Look for more oil. But, apart from nuclear, which has its But, apart from nuclear, which has its

own special problems, what else is own special problems, what else is there?there?

What are the What are the sustainable, non-pollutingsustainable, non-polluting alternatives, and why don’t we develop alternatives, and why don’t we develop them?them?

The “Alternatives”The “Alternatives”

Geothermal EnergyGeothermal Energy Tidal Energy ( & Wave Energy)Tidal Energy ( & Wave Energy) Solar EnergySolar Energy Hydro-Electric EnergyHydro-Electric Energy But not Natural Gas—why?But not Natural Gas—why? Nuclear Fusion: Someday, maybe.Nuclear Fusion: Someday, maybe. Hydrogen Cells? Maybe.Hydrogen Cells? Maybe.

Geothermal EnergyGeothermal Energy

The core of the Earth is molten, and very quickly as you move down from the surface, the temperature increases rapidly. This (atomic) energy can be tapped by drilling into the Earth’s surface, and sometimes it is near the surface.

It is possible to heat your house by the simple difference between the ground and the subsurface temperatures, using a heat exchanger

Sometimes, the heat reaches the surface and is easily, and cheaply, accessible. Iceland is such a case and is run almost entirely on Geothermal. Elsewhere, you have to mine for it. In the USA, the main potential is in the West.

TidalTidal

Uses the enormous power of the tide Uses the enormous power of the tide coming in, and going out twice a day.coming in, and going out twice a day. Build a BarrageBuild a Barrage

Wave Wave Energy in Energy in CaliforniaCalifornia

Solar PowerSolar Power

Hydro PowerHydro Power

The “Maybe’s”The “Maybe’s”

So What’s The Problem?So What’s The Problem?

If we have all these hopeful scientific If we have all these hopeful scientific alternatives, why don’t we use them?alternatives, why don’t we use them?

The answer is more The answer is more economiceconomic than than technicaltechnical

In the process of becoming In the process of becoming dependent on fossil fuels we invested dependent on fossil fuels we invested billions into an infrastructure for billions into an infrastructure for extraction, refining and distribution: extraction, refining and distribution: Sunk CostsSunk Costs

So What’s The Problem?So What’s The Problem?

On the other hand, alternative energy On the other hand, alternative energy has huge has huge start-up costsstart-up costs

Plus it has to compete with the very low Plus it has to compete with the very low price of, for instance, gasoline, which price of, for instance, gasoline, which includes no monetary recognition of the includes no monetary recognition of the fact that it is a fact that it is a wasting resourcewasting resource..

So, start-up costs, and the low price of So, start-up costs, and the low price of the existing energy base form serious the existing energy base form serious barriers.barriers.

So, What Do You Do About the So, What Do You Do About the Problem?Problem?

You could You could subsidizesubsidize research or research or implementation of alternatives to implementation of alternatives to give them a “kick start.” give them a “kick start.”

The present administration gave $1b The present administration gave $1b to Fuel Cell research, at the same to Fuel Cell research, at the same time as it took away almost all the time as it took away almost all the funding to other forms of alternative funding to other forms of alternative energy.energy.

Why do you think this was?Why do you think this was?

A Case in PointA Case in Point

Think of the solar cell. Think of the solar cell. If you make very few, they will be If you make very few, they will be

expensiveexpensive If you make a lot, they will be cheap.If you make a lot, they will be cheap. But, how do you get from A to B?But, how do you get from A to B? Government could use this for Federal Government could use this for Federal

Buildings, for instance. Or you could Buildings, for instance. Or you could give a tax break to people who install give a tax break to people who install it.it.

What do we make of current gas What do we make of current gas prices?prices? Are these Are these

the the “trigger” “trigger” that that economists economists say we say we need to need to make the make the change? change? They are They are still low, still low, and seen and seen as as temporary.temporary.

Biggest Problem of AllBiggest Problem of All

The public does not perceive an The public does not perceive an energy crisis, gas prices or no gas energy crisis, gas prices or no gas pricesprices

If we are worried about energy, how If we are worried about energy, how do you account for this…do you account for this…