Interesting article on proposed energy policies.

[Napoléon]

If only it were so calculated, Nap.

So it isn't?

[The Grand Nudger]

You know whenever I find myself in a debate over novel technologies, where funding should go, etc....I can't help but mention the gorilla in the room: Might it not be prudent to funnel more of our research/infrastructure dollar into a proven technology ?
My pet being photosynthesis, of course.

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Not to imply that nuclear, or green alternatives aren't proven. Unless one subscribes to the impending energy apocalypse scenario, it would seem that more time and resources spent on cracking the process that's been used to create energy on this planet since, oh I don't know the beginning of life on this planet, would be a no brainer. Obviously just my opinion, subject to revision and all that.

[Anomalocaris]

The whys of paying places like Brazil to drill for oil when we have access to it here in the States bug the shit out of me. While we are in the process of inventing or perfecting greener energy sources, it seems senseless to add insult to injury via debt.

The total proven US oil reserve is about 20 billion barrels. Total us annual consumption is about 7 billion barrels. If we were to rely only on our known reserves, we'll run completely dry in 3 years. Then we can't even squeak should someone embargo us. So We do want to have some ready-use domestic reserves in our back pocket.

There are substantial but unknown new reserves. But we are discovering them at much slower rate than our consumption, and they tend to be expensive to extract, so they won't help much in deferring that date. The arctic national wildlife refuge republicans are so eager to violate, if fully violated, will add but one year to our run-dry date.

We simply don't have the domestic oil reserves to supply oil needs. It's pay the brazilians now, When the Chinese are bidding only to fill a hundred million or so gas tanks, or pay them later, when the Chinese would be bidding even higher to fill their own half billion gas tanks.

[Epimethean]

And what of the offshore drilling moratorium?

[Anomalocaris]

And what of the offshore drilling moratorium?

The historic rate at which offshore drilling has discovered new reserves has been but a small fraction of our rate of consumption. So even if we can immediately recover every barrel as soon as it is discovered, we would still run down our proven reserve in less than 5 years.

The current estimate of total undiscovered reserve around the US is quite large, some guesstimate it at 100 billion barrels, good for about 13 years at current rate of consumption of 700 million barrels a year. The problem is it can't be used until it's discovered, and the rate at which we've managed to discover these have fallen sharply, to much less than the rate of consumption. So even if we allow all drilling and exploration, our consumption would still overtake the aggregate results of discovery long before we've discovered all 100 billion barrels.

[Autumnlicious]

I'm against Nuclear, not on the basis of the technology (post Gen 2 reactors are magnitudes safer), but on the Nuclear Industry's tendency of obfuscate and hinder accurate information.

I think a for profit motive on a power source that has rare but rather dire cockups is a terrible combination. Not investing in safety at a coal plant will cause a large fire. Not investing in safety for Gen-1, Gen-2 reactors is suicide.

If there was a way to disentangle the for-profit motive from the technology, then I'd be a relentless proponent of it.

The actions taken by TEPCO, though, completely put a wet blanket on my enthusiasm for such.

[Epimethean]

I used to know a guy who worked on nukes. He teaches at the University of Pittsburgh these days, I think. He could enlighten you there, Moros. He's not into hiding information.

[Autumnlicious]

And the whoosh award goes to Epi.

The science, engineering is sound -- by extension, the researchers are assumed to be sound as well.

That has absolutely nothing to do with industry, companies, which insist on employing technical staff on an as needed basis, not a "you must be a PhD to work here".

Also, I am judging current events and past catastrophes -- it is of my judgement that when a nuclear plant goes up, the stakes are so high that one cannot tolerate even minor obfuscation and delays in information disclosure. Hence, either the industry makes a substantial commitment to proper disclosure, hard deadlines and consequences or die.

Nuclear power is one of the cleanest sources. It also has one of the most dirtiest and toxic fall out when the shit hits the fan.

[Epimethean]

Right. so you're a nuclear engineer now. The dude worked in the industry, both for the NRC and in the military.

Bullshit meter pegged, Moros. Statistically, nuke power is safer than oil will ever be.

[Napoléon]

Bullshit meter pegged, Moros. Statistically, nuke power is safer than oil will ever be.

It might be statistically, but when a nuke plant goes boom you know about it. For a 100 years after too due to radiation.