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Posted 3/20/08
Use MORE energy!
Notice that I did not say WASTE more energy. We have gotten to this high order of civilization by finding and using abundant energy. Somehow, using large amounts of energy for the progress of mankind has become synonymous with waste, corruption, and pollution. Duh! The discovery of "black gold" in the late 1800's gave rise to more progress and a much bigger incremental improvement in the human situation in 100 years than in the previous 1000. Easily. Just ask Jed Clampett. Now, as fossil fuel resources are supposedly in shorter supply, we see the beginnings of erosion of some of those gains. If we want to just keep the average level of civilization that we have on this planet, we must increase the availability of affordable energy from the sources that we already know of. If we want to raise the level of civilization, we must discover and use new sources cleverly.
The European and US "greens" who claim that we must shun energy use really have the hidden motive of trying to retard the growth of technology to make the playing field more level for under developed populations in an attempt to bring world wide socialism to power. Probably out of a sense of guilt because they've never actually contributed much to progress. By doing this, they are really hurting those they seek to help. They want to drag us back into more of an agrarian society based on some idealistic concept that such a living standard is better. You know, those wonderful days when the average life span was less than 50 and famine decimated entire nations. Like the idyllic existence in places like Bangladesh or Somalia. Sorry, I don't think so. Spending 16 hours a day behind a plow looking at the south end of a north-bound mule is not my idea of nirvana. Maybe one of those Fred Flintstone cars? "Conservation" means to me don't waste it. It does not mean don't USE it. Use all we can get.
So, in order to progress, we must go after all of the energy sources we can find. We must drill for oil and gas in many of the areas that are now prohibited. There should certainly be strong controls and severe penalties for poor pollution control. The market will drive those needed improvements. Why is it okay to pepper the Gulf of Mexico with rigs, but not be allowed to drill for known reserves off California, Florida, and the east coast of the US? Not to mention in Alaska. We must build new and better nuclear fission power plants (no greenhouse gases for you Al Gore fans), while getting serious about high level waste disposal solutions that are in reach. We must move to find the next big source of energy. Unfortunately, there is nothing really imminent. Fusion has some promise, but is years away. Solar is at best spotty and small scale. The same with hydro, wind, geothermal,and tidal. Perhaps the most promising is hydrogen for replacement of non-renewables. But it still takes a concentrated energy source like a high temperature gas reactor to produce it.
If mankind is to conquer poverty, disease, and war, abundant energy is the key. Someday, we will need to be able to leave the planet to find and exploit other resources. (That is probably somehow politically incorrect since we may be depriving some ET microbe of its rights, but whatever.) The amounts of energy needed to do this are almost beyond comprehension now, but one thing is for sure...it won't be possible unless we get on with using the sources we have presently to the fullest so we can buy the time to develop those sources we need. We must couple this with more efficiency in energy use, but that only makes good sense and is not the ultimate answer.
Use MORE energy!
One of these days, and it won't be long, you'll look for me, and Baby, I'll be gone.... Led Zeppelin, "Your Time is Gonna Come," Led Zeppelin I
Note: The sentiments expressed in this blog are strictly the personal opinions of Ken L.Walker and refer to no specific person or entity.
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