Alternate energy sources

snowman · 02-13-2006, 08:21 PM

Back on 2-6 I wrote a response to the lefts views on alternate energy. It was as follows:

Check out todays, 2-2-06, Wall Street Journel, Editorial page on energy sources. Just like I stated there is NO alternate source of energy. And even the most significant source, hydroelectric is only in the 2 percent of the total range, and the tree huggers want to get rid of many of the dams that create that power. Explain that! Point is that source is nearly maxed out. Theres a bunch of other articles in todays WSJ related to Bushes proposed energy solutions. Then theres those famous electric cars. Set back the hybrid car industry over 40 years, politics wins over science. No one bothers to mention the witches brews of the most fowl, lethal, chemicals and elements that go into making all those high tech batteries. I suspect they are a major disaster waiting for a place to happen.

Alternate energy is the lefts version of Intelligent Design. Execpt Intelligent Design is at least theoretically possible, alternate energy sources do not seem to be at this time.

No responses to date so I assume this settles this argument for good/

competentone · 02-13-2006, 08:52 PM

I haven't seen your earlier post, and haven't read the WSJ editorial, but anyone who says "there is NO alternate source of energy" really needs to get something into their head!

RoninLB · 02-13-2006, 09:31 PM

Only high oil costs seriously affect the economy something will happen in congress. Energy policy won't change unless there is a crisis.

I still haven't figured out why we can't just pay off Mexico to develop their oil?

928ram · 02-14-2006, 04:50 AM

Gererators!!! Only 1.59 mil left to go. Free energy for all!

lendaddy · 02-14-2006, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 928ram
Gererators!!! Only 1.59 mil left to go. Free energy for all!

Yes the power of the magnet will save us all.

slakjaw · 02-14-2006, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by snowman
Alternate energy is the lefts version of Intelligent Design. Execpt Intelligent Design is at least theoretically possible, alternate energy sources do not seem to be at this time.

No responses to date so I assume this settles this argument for good/

Are you saying we should just give up? If alternate energy is the love of the left then I commend them. I have a hard time reading your post. It seems like you are totally against alternative energy.

I thank you for posting your sources.
However, if you want alternative energy you are on your own. There are a lot of farms and rural people here in Nebraska that are harvesting Methane, making their own Bio-Diesel, and installing wind and solar power on their property. Apparently, the WSJ is looking for some kind of a hand out?

You have the means to get off foreign oil, as well as create your own energy. In order for this to happen, you have to make it happen.

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

I'm tellin' you guys, wind-powered cars are going to catch on!

Most of central Nebraska is powered with hydroelectric dams, btw.

Quote:

http://www.nppd.com
NPPD's revenue is mainly derived from wholesale power supply agreements with 52 towns and 24 rural public power districts and rural cooperatives who rely totally or partially on NPPD's electrical system. NPPD also serves about 79 communities at the retail level. Over 5,000 miles of transmission lines make up the NPPD electrical grid system, which delivers power to about one million Nebraskans.

NPPD uses a mix of generating facilities to meet the needs of its customers. This includes a nuclear plant (CNS), three steam plants (Canaday, GGS and Sheldon), a combined-cycle facility (Beatrice Power Station), two wind generation facilities, nine hydro facilities, nine diesel plants and three peaking units.

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

See, the beauty of the wind powered car is, the faster you go, the more power you gereate!!!!11

targa911S · 02-14-2006, 05:24 AM

YES GERERATORS! Free energy from the force of the magnet

Joeaksa · 02-14-2006, 05:30 AM

Jack,

Totally agree and we need to start finding other options immediately.

France (my least favourite country btw) gets 80% of their electricity from nuke power plants. Not one mishap that I know of. Why are we not pushing to open a few more plants and do it right this time?

Wind and sun power. Why are we not doing all we can in this area? Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico have millions of acres where you could put solar cells and generate electicity for almost free after installation costs were paid off. Wind farms? Yes, I know that they can be noisy and yes a bird or three does get killed at times but you know thats life.

Hydrogen power for cars? Put some more funds into them and see if we can make it work.

Doing nothing will not work and eventually we will run out of oil. Then the pundits will wake up and ask why nothing was done...

Joe A

gaijindabe · 02-14-2006, 05:42 AM

Solar cells produce about as much energy over their usefull life as it took to manufacture them in the first place!

What is that system that uses the constant temp of the earth? It is something like a constant 57 degrees ten feet below ground. Cooling in summer, warming in winter... I think you need a heat pump..

notfarnow · 02-14-2006, 05:49 AM

Still looking for startup $$$ for my concept:

legion · 02-14-2006, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gaijindabe
Solar cells produce about as much energy over their usefull life as it took to manufacture them in the first place!

What is that system that uses the constant temp of the earth? It is something like a constant 57 degrees ten feet below ground. Cooling in summer, warming in winter... I think you need a heat pump..

That's the problem with most "alternate" energy sources. At best they break even, energy-wise. Most are net-energy losers. It takes more energy to manufacture a gallon of ethanol than it releases when it is burned. Guess where the difference comes from? Oil!!! The sad truth is, a lot of these alternate energy sources make us MORE dependent of foreign oil...

BTW, I've heard that nuclear energy is, at best another break-even. The amount of energy it takes to construct a nuclear power plant is about equal to its power output over its lifetime.

lendaddy · 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by legion
That's the problem with most "alternate" energy sources. At best they break even, energy-wise. Most are net-energy losers.

Don't tell this to Shaun, he's devising a system as follows:

A rooftop solar panel to harness the energy, mated to a garage mounted battery or capacitor array. The array would then charge the battery pack of your electric car at night thereby preparing it for its coming day of service....rinse and repeat

Can't you just see the effiency and net energy savings in that one

schamp · 02-14-2006, 06:11 AM

Geothermal. I have it at my home. It does work and saves a lot on the electric bill. It gets your A frame coils up to temp (50-55) so your heat pump, heater or AC doesn't have to. Well worth the money. Lets say you buy a AC or Heat unit with a SEER rating of 14. Add the geothermal and it becomes 18. Another good thing is the sprayed foam insulation. Great insulation and soundproofer as well. Power Company came out to my house and changed the meter thinking I was up to something or the existing meter was bad. Quite funny. They were thinking that a house this big has to have a higher power bill. Wrong.

Joeaksa · 02-14-2006, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gaijindabe
Solar cells produce about as much energy over their usefull life as it took to manufacture them in the first place!

What is that system that uses the constant temp of the earth? It is something like a constant 57 degrees ten feet below ground. Cooling in summer, warming in winter... I think you need a heat pump..

Then lets fine a cheaper way to make them, and make them more effecient while we are at it.

We have very little choice, its either find another source or die... Most of us prefer the first option.

Have spent a lot of time underground and thats a good idea. Always wondered why more houses did not have a basement. Cooler in summer and warmer in winter, and its free.

NICKG · 02-14-2006, 07:08 AM

they can make synthetic gasoline from the same stuff they make bio diesel from...germans did it in the 40's. if we went to the bio diesel route, we are completely self reliant on energy for our country in fact, we would most likely have excess still. we produce way more grains, corn and soy than we can ever use, why not put it to good use? naaa...Bush is an oil man, can't happen

fastpat · 02-14-2006, 07:09 AM

As soon as there's an alternate energy source that's viable without government subsidy or interference, it will be grasped by the market and succeed.

Until that source is found, we'll have what we have today.

gaijindabe · 02-14-2006, 07:24 AM

I like wood. They say it only takes a few acres and you can grow enough trees in perpetuity to heat a house. And it is a closed loop as far as CO2. Trees grow and lock it up, you burn them and it releases..

But how to run the p-car?? Turpintine?

notfarnow · 02-14-2006, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NICKG
they can make synthetic gasoline from the same stuff they make bio diesel from...germans did it in the 40's. if we went to the bio diesel route, we are completely self reliant on energy for our country in fact, we would most likely have excess still. we produce way more grains, corn and soy than we can ever use, why not put it to good use? naaa...Bush is an oil man, can't happen

It's starting to look like biodiesel is only worthwhile when it's being made from waste oil & grease. As soon as you start growing plants to make oil, it takes more energy to produce then you get from the oil.

http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/002881.html

It's still great stuff on a hobbyist/small business level as long as there's a supply of free or cheap used oil, but it couldn't even come close to meeting our current energy needs.