What is the most important energy priority for the US?

[XemaSab]

Poll question: What is the most important energy priority for the US?

:shrug:

[krispos42]

1. #2 does all of the above.

Nuclear fusion, baby! :woohoo:

[XemaSab]

2. .

;)

[kristopher]

3. #2 does do it all, but only with renewables.

Fusion is currently pie in the sky, renewables aren't.

Fusion is centralized, renewables are distributed.

Fusion might be great when it gets here, but we are going to have to wait and see what the reality is vs what the dream is, don't you think?

Meanwhile, we have proven renewable energy sources that will do the job just fine.

[joshcryer]

4. The only viable fusion I believe is Polywell, if it doesn't work then ITERs in your backyard...

...won't happen in your lifetime if ever. If it does work then it is a game changer.

Option 2 is the best one, and currently it does seem that wind and solar are going to fill the gap.

In time to stem global catastrophe (sea level rise of 2-3 meters)? Not on your life.

[joshcryer]

5. Also, the current design for Polywell fusion pB11 would be highly decentralized.

Since it would convert fusion energy directly to electricity, you'd have one per town.

[FogerRox]

15. Know it all

Not.

Over the next 10-15 years, Experts tell us Solar and wind might be able to provide 20-25% each, thats 40 to 50% of an energy portfolio. I cant imagine where we can get the rest. Algea, Bio fuels? Nukes? Hydro, Thermal?

If Polywell fusion doesn't work out were truly screwed. Because were going to be building Nukes and burning coal.

[kristopher]

16. The pace of change is a matter of political will.

If we want, we have the physical ability transition to 100% renewable energy within 10 years.

I am an expert.

[depakid]

17. Not without losing your motor vehicle dependence

and your Vegas style waste.

[kristopher]

18. ?

[depakid]

19. You think you're going to replace petroleum and coal

and still run suburbia- its freeways and the interstate highway system AND cities like Vegas?

In 10 years (or 20)?

That's magical thinking.

[joshcryer]

20. "Political will" looks to be the only barrier, the technology can certainly do it.

It just requires investment beyond the markets to make it happen. We're talking New Deal sort of stuff. The US is the only country reducing its emissions at least.

8 1GW coal plant equivalent are built every week (China + India). Until that stops no level of reductions are going to stem the dreaded 2C.

[depakid]

22. Somehow I doubt you have an appreciation of the scale and scope of the problem

Ain't saying it can't be done- but that it can't be done AND still have the energy intensive "way of life" that Americans believe that they're entitled to (as mentioned above).

[kristopher]

23. So you are changing your statement?

Your first claim was that interstates, suburbs and "cities like Vegas" are not possible with a renewable energy infrastructure. Now you are moving to a different argument around the term "energy intensive way of life". Which is it?

While energy efficiency and conservation are significant elements of all plans for meeting our energy security and climate change needs, I don't think most people see that a negative change in our "way of life". Las Vegas, for example, is ALREADY powered by renewable energy; and, moving our personal transportation fleet to electric drive not only conforms with the current geographic distribution of our population, it also represents a huge decrease in primary energy consumption due to efficiency gains.

There is plenty of peer reviewed research that demonstrates your claim is false. So perhaps, instead of merely throwing out a long disproved Republican fabrication that renewables can't meet the scale of the challenge, you could share some of the detailed studies demonstrating *exactly why* it can't be done *if* the political will to make it happen were to exist?

[depakid]

24. Nope- just pointing out (yet again) how ridiculous the cornucopeans are

and using a bit of metaphor which (like other forms of abstract thought) apparently aren't some people's strong points.

[kristopher]

25. You pointed out nothing since you can't support your statement.

All the nukenuts can do is repeat discredited falsehoods.

It couldn't be more simple - if you had the TRUTH and hard DATA on your side, you would use it.

You don't.

[depakid]

26. Whatever- along with being self interested, you're full of it

and anyone with sense in their heads, or can do simple math knows it.

[kristopher]

27. You can't support your statement.

You pointed out nothing since you can't support your statement.

All the nukenuts can do is repeat discredited falsehoods.

It couldn't be more simple - if you had the TRUTH and hard DATA on your side, you would use it.

You don't.

[joshcryer]

21. I'd wait for the IEAs newest report this summer before making proclamations like that.

Wind capacity alone (as in actually produced numbers) should be very close to beating nuclear, if it doesn't tip the scales. Renewables already have.

[tinrobot]

14. We could be "energy independent" and still use coal

[GliderGuider]

6. Other

Stop worshiping the golden calf of economic and material outcomes so much. Stop doing so much. Let your economy stop growing. Promote conservation and efficiency in all aspects of energy and other resource use. Let energy independence (and pretty much everything else on this list) happen as a natural by-product of that shift.

[Nihil]

7. I took your question literally so it was option 1

The answer, as shown to date, is without a shadow of doubt,
"as much as possible, as cheap as possible" with the implicit
follower of "for as long as possible and without regard to
the impact on anyone/anything/anywhere else".

The ideal answer is different, I'll grant you, but that
would have required the question to be:
"What should be the most important energy priority for the US?"

:shrug:

[kristopher]

8. I love people who actually read AND think.

:thumbsup:

[GliderGuider]

9. Nice

:)

[XemaSab]

11. "What, in your opinion, should be..."

is probably closer to what I meant. :P

But thanks for a close reading. :D

[phantom power]

10. Brewing my @#$#! coffee.

[YankeyMCC]

12. Shift to sustainable useage

both through reduction, conservation, smart construction (buildings and urban planning), and increasing the capability and percentage of supply from sustainable energy sources like wind and solar.

[hunter]

13. Other: Ban coal. Ban automobiles.

It ain't gonna happen, but I can dream...