Global Warming?

[IslandTractor]

Interesting question. I don't know but suspect private land owners pumped their own. Anyone study this?

Wrong (again). The windmills are private, date as far back as the thirteenth century and just powered machinery to grind/mill flour. Not sure how early land reclamation was done but the massive dykes seen today are part of a huge public works project that dates back only to 1918.

 

[houstonscott]

For now it remains you who dream, wind and solar are but less than 1% of power output in this country, I'll concede the point when wind and solar are 99%. Until then you remain the duped. Burning wood produces more than wind and solar combined. LOL It's not really and industry, maybe a cottage industry at best.

HS

Keep dreaming.

 

[IslandTractor]

For now it remains you who dream, wind and solar are but less than 1% of power output in this country, I'll concede the point when wind and solar are 99%. Until then you remain the duped.

HS

Nobody thinks wind/solar/tide etc are going to be 99% ever. Remember we have water and nukes too.

The issue is when the cost of wind, solar etc come down enough to compete head to head with oil/gas and whether the "green" renewables as less polluting energy sources will continue to be favored via regulation. Still, oil and certainly natural gas are going to be a big part of the equation well after our days on planet earth are done. I am well aware that libertarians start foaming at the mouth and having seizures at the thought but it is certainly in the realm of things that many non libertarians think might reasonably be regulated if the financial/eco balance sheet justifies it. I don't know exactly how the math would work but I for one would certainly rather spend a billion upfront developing these renewable sources rather than continuously writing multi billion dollar checks to the Sheik of Araby.

Oil, gas and renewables are all going to be part of the solution. Can't we just get along?

 

[lockhaven]

I vote for tread mills, go on welfare and in order to get your check you must walk the tread mill for a wage. tread mill would be hooked to a generator.

 

[Egon]

I vote for tread mills, go on welfare and in order to get your check you must walk the tread mill for a wage. tread mill would be hooked to a generator.

Now that sounds good.

Hydrocarbons, wood and coal are all derivatives of solar power. So maybe the wind powered devices should receive more serious considerations as they act direct and do not take large numbers of years to develop.

Economics today say wind is not viable. Yet in days long past wind was viable and provided a livelihood for many a family. It also conveyed market goods to the far corners of the world. So it has been economical and provided well for many people's. It's all about local self sufficiency, manufacturing and non instant transfers of good's. :thumbsup:

 

[lockhaven]

does anyone else remember something about an element that is rare as frog fur on earth but abundant on the moon, something like an ounce of it had more energy then a rail car of coal? or was I smoking something at the time?

 

[IslandTractor]

does anyone else remember something about an element that is rare as frog fur on earth but abundant on the moon, something like an ounce of it had more energy then a rail car of coal? or was I smoking something at the time?

I think it was either Maui Wowie or Kaanapali Kickass Weed.

 

[lockhaven]

perhaps but then maybe not
Mining the Moon - Technology Review

 

[IslandTractor]

I vote for tread mills, go on welfare and in order to get your check you must walk the tread mill for a wage. tread mill would be hooked to a generator.

I used to think it would be a great idea to hook up exercycles to generators and get power that way. However, when I looked into it, you would not even be able to power a TV set and light bulb while actually cycling. A cyclist puts out no more than about 100-200 watts over an hour of steady cycling if I recall. Lance Armstrong could probably quadruple that but we won't go there. That means an hour of steady cycling for an adult is worth about four cents of electricity or less than the food energy you'd burn. I think I'll just sit and drink beer myself.

 

[IslandTractor]

perhaps but then maybe not
Mining the Moon - Technology Review

I'm pretty sure Maui Wowie puts out more than He3