A question about alternative energy?

Question

To meet his 10-year goal of making the U.S. independent of foreign oil and to head off increased climate change, Gore said nuclear energy output would continue at current levels while the nation dramatically increases its use of solar, wind, geothermal and so-called clean coal energy. Huge investments must also be made in technologies that reduce energy waste and link existing grids, he said.

If the we (U.S.) fails to act, the cost of oil will continue to rise as fast-growing China and India increase demand, Gore said. Sustained addiction to oil also will place the nation at the mercy of oil-producing regimes, he also said, and the globe would suffer irreparable harm. The indicators seem to be there. What do you think about his plan?

Answer 1

yes, i do belive that in a matter of short time oil will definitely run out. almsot 50% of the world's oil has now been consumed and the problem is even if we know that it will run out aside from the fact that its casuing devastation through its pollution they(oil companies) still DON'T GET IT. one way to go, that is GREEN.

Answer 2

i truly think this world is doomed.

Answer 3

Let me start off by saying we (my family and I) live 100% off of the grid and are completely self-sufficient with a 0% Carbon footprint. I believe this is the first step anyone can make “help the environment”. Once you convert your own life style to a greener more eco friendly route, you can start helping others.

Alternative Fuels, also known as non-conventional fuels, are any materials or substances that can be used as a fuel, other than conventional fuels. Conventional fuels include: fossil fuels (petroleum (oil), coal, propane, & natural gas), & also in some instances nuclear materials such as uranium. Some well known alternative fuels include biodiesel, ethanol, butanol, chemically stored electricity (batteries & fuel cells), hydrogen, methane, natural gas, vegetable oil, biomass, & peanut oil.

Now alternative (or renewable) energy is a little different…

Renewable energy flows involve natural phenomena such as sunlight, wind, tides & geothermal heat. Each of these sources has unique characteristics which influence how & where they are used.

Short but sweet that’s the specifics of it. If you’re interested in using some form of alternative fuel or renewable energy in your vehicle or home, feel free to contact me. I live 100% off the grid on alternative energy and have converted many vehicles to run on biodiesel, ethanol, hydrogen and EV.

In fact I currently run 2 trucks, my home hot water heater, home stove and home generator on hydrogen and one car is EV. I offer step by step DIY guides to walk anyone threw the process if you’re interested. You can find them at

www agua-luna com

Hope this helped, feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions if you’d like assistance in making your first self sufficient steps, I’m willing to walk you step by step threw the process. I’ve written several how-to DIY guides available at  www agua-luna com on the subject. I also offer online and on-site workshops, seminars and internships to help others help the environment.

Dan Martin

Alterative Energy / Sustainable Consultant, Living 100% on Alternative & Author of How One Simple Yet Incredibly Powerful Resource Is Transforming The Lives of Regular People From All Over The World... Instantly Elevating Their Income & Lowering Their Debt, While Saving The Environment by Using FREE ENERGY... All With Just One Click of A Mouse...For more info Visit:  

www AGUA-LUNA com

Stop Global Warming!!!

Answer 4

The reason the price of oil has gone through the roof is rather simple.

#1 - Oil speculators! When Clinton deregulated oil it allowed for oil prices to be controlled by the open market. The end result you see today

#2 - China has been buying millions and millions and millions of barrels of oil to ensure that they have enough gasoline available for the olympics. Once the olympics are over their demands will fall drastically and you will see the price of oil fall. The price will not drop below $90 - $100 per barrel since the speculators make more money at those levels.

As far as Al Gore and his "changes" go. Solar, wind, geothermal and the like will not fill your gas tank.

Another thing you might not know, but have bought into hook, line and sinker. Biofuels produce more CO2 than gasoline. The "goal" of biofuels is to be carbon neutral, but so far that hasnt happened or even come close to happening.

If you want to remove US dependancy on oil, then I suggest using coal to liquid fuel. You still have the same carbon problem, but the cost to produce 42 gallons of that fuel is about $0.50 per gallon. as opposed to the $3.25 it takes to make a gallon of gas.

Lets face it, the only real solution is hydrogen and thats not a solution the people of the US are willing to pay for since it would require an average of $5000 - $10000 in upgrades to make the average vehicle run on hydrogen.

Answer 5

If we reactivated our nuclear "waste", would could reuse it many more times then we do. The US government has policies in place that stop us from being able to do that. Every other country in the world that uses nuclear power recycles their waste and recharges their plutonium.

Everything should be electric, plan and simple. Cars, lawnmowers, trucks, anything that requires motion for operation. Of course would should harness wind, solar and water as well.

This problem isn't going to be solved with a very narrow mindstate like: "X is going to solve the problem." We need to think creatively and diversify our solutions.

America is already going down the drainpipe. Please show me an industry that is actually bringing in large enough amounts of money to offset our debt.

Answer 6

I only partially agree with Gores analysis of our energy situation.  Firstly I agree that we need to expand our use of wind, solar, and other "alternative energy sources."  However I think we should also take a serious look at increasing Nuclear power production.  Most people have the idea in their heads that Nuclear power plants are dangerous to have around and that nuclear meltdowns happen all the time.  These stereotypes are completely false.  Nuclear power is actually extremely safe as well as incredibly productive.  Worldwide their are currently 439 Nuclear Power plants in use and in world history their has only ever been 1 serious accident caused by a Nuclear power plant which was at Chernobyl in Russia before computer safety protocols were put in place.  There is also a huge amount of Uranium (the fuel source of Nuclear reactors) spread out across the world.  And on top of that, Nuclear power produces no unwanted by- products excluding used up Uranium.  The main issue with Nuclear power is the difficulty in disposing of radioactive waste material.  However compared to the pollutants we are currently pumping into the atmostphere via coal, natural gas, and oil power production, this radioactive waste is a sinch to dispose of safely where as Airborne pollutants are almost impossible to get out of the air once they are there.

Answer 7

Gore is absolutely correct in his analysis if "we fail to act" and instead politicians continue to use to make political "Hay" without providing any real solutions.

Gore is among them. Any belief that wind and solar can substantially effect our energy problem is pure fantasy.

There a number of promising new technologies that are being researched.

Nuclear is a viable alternative however still only a partial answer. Alternative fuel research has some new concepts that may be a major future contributor toward solution.

Food crops for ethanol is a bust. We cannot produce enough and it is consuming our food production capability.

Celuosic ethanol shows some hope however redesign of engines will be needed to make ethanol a viable fuel.

There is also research into non fermenting processes of producing ethanol like fuels from wood fiber.

Automobiles need to be made more efficient. The Otto cycle is about 25% efficient and dumps 75% of the thermal energy it creates. The Braton cycle is 60% plus but too complex and expensive for automobiles so it is used only in utility applications.

MIT has developed an engine called "The little engine that could" that has about a 30% increase in thermal efficiency on ethanol fuel.

The Crower six stroke increases the thermal efficiency by 40%

Many have sain that there is no "Silver Bullet" meaning no new invention that can substantially provide a solution. I personally don't believe it.

New promicing research needs to be supported instead of farm subsities for ethanol that diminishes our food production and makes corn farmers rich.

That is about as intelligent as those that that thought the  US patient office should be disbanned in the 1800's because all the "Good Ideas" had already been thought of.

Answer 8

Like most that answered your timely question, I agree that we must act or we will pay the consequences. It used to be that "Believers" of Global Warming said that "our grandchildren" will pay for the consequences of inaction. No longer, the results are moving faster than expected and even Penguins are beginning to die-off, as predicted, but much sooner.

The use of Nuclear Powerplants is best to simply ignore. Those that make the decision to build know that they have two problems: Nuclear Power electricity is far more expensive than electricity produced by Windmills, that should be enough. They also know that there is no legal way to dispose of the Nuclear Waste, anywhere in the world.

And, finally, and this will put the issue in the waste bin, there is NO insurance available for new Nuclear Powerplants.

They want the nation to take all the financial risks but they want to keep the profits -not about to happen, no way, no how.

If Nuclear power is as "SAFE" as they say, why is it that no Insurance company in the world will insure them?

Could it be they know something we ought to study and learn?

Somehow, I rather watch TV or read my new book about Matteo Ricci.

Answer 9

Your memory is faulty.. After Gore's movie that was full of lies and now U want to hear hem...

Answer 10

not bad

Answer 11

ridiculous. Until the larger corporations find a way to profit from alternate forms of energy, it won't happen.It is true that oil use has to change, but power must come from new physical laws and techniques for causing energy to become horsepower. With the vast world population and need for energy, some things will probably happen.War over resources is most likely. It has always come to that.Death of large populations by plague, or intentional germ warfare, a breakdown in societies, we are already experiencing that. look at the american society and how it has changed in the last 50 years.Without new ways to provide energy, and sustain our people, there won't be a need to worry about the next hundred years, we will be living like animals.

Answer 12

I do not think coal, natural gas or nuclear are the answer. there is enough wind and solar radiation to power US many times over. Many water pumps in Africa are powered by solar.

Some guy that I read about in west coast has 100% power and water from solar & wind. just has to pay the local cable bill though! LOL.

Just think we all need to get together on this issue.

Great to know people care!!

Thanks Mark S.

Answer 13

Sounds stupid to me.

Answer 14

In CA we are ahead of the curve. We are already building our infastructure of renewable energy. We have a geothermal plant in N. CA that was built several years ago then shut down, it's back online now. We have a huge solar farm underconstrution in S. CA it will provide electrcity for 1 million homes. The utilities are subsidising solar panels on homes and businesses across the state, with a goal of 1 million homes. We've had wind farms for years and they are growing.

CA passed a law to reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2012 (I think). This year all polluters are required to report levels then there are deadlines to reduce emissions. The state will not allow dirty energy to be imported, so an energy provider in CA can purchase energy from other states, but their overall portfolio has a maximum emission standard.

We have to ask the federal government for permission to increase fuel efficiency and emission standards on cars. That is wrong.

So, to anwer your question I think it is absolutly doable and necessary. We need to quit letting the oil tycoons convince us that it will kill the economy. We are having a lot of growth in the renewable energy sector in this state. Our demand will also help develop the technology and bring down the price.

I looked into solar PV a few years ago and it was going to be over $40K, I just signed my contract and with rebates my out of pocket is $12K, it isn't as large of a system as I had looked at before, but I can double dip into my rebate and add a second system in a few years so my total out of pocket will be just about $24K.  My system will pay for itself in about 6 years, less if energy prices go up.

Answer 15

I think we can do it!

Answer 16

Nuclear energy can never be considered green because it leaves behind it a toxic waste product which can never be  rendered harmless.

We will solve our own problems at the cost of leaving all the generations to come a huge nuclear waste dump.This is immoral.

Answer 17

100% of our TVs are now imported, yet we have to problems with TV shortages or TV embargos.

But in 1973 when I had to wait in long lines at the few open gas stations to buy gas during the Arab oil embargo, we imported 35% of our oil. Today we import 58% of our oil. Imagine what an oil embargo would do now. So I have to agree that we need to do something, even if you don't care about global warming.

Answer 18

I have worked of the federal government. And I have seen the way they do things. What I'm saying is they spend more time trying to cover there backs and stab each other then really working on any problem. So OUR government should stop talking and start doing ....  It's costing me money and I'm running out of $$$$$  God Bless America

         My question is HOW do we as average people fix this problem ----  ???????????

Answer 19

Ya know......

All this concern and scare about global warming is from the long haired tree huggers.

Cut your hair off and your body temperature will easily drop 2 to 3 degress.

Stop frying your brian and it will drop at least another 5.

Answer 20

Yes, something obviously must be done to get away from oil. I have 2 cars that run on natural gas (methane), which is much cheaper and much cleaner than gasoline. The technology already exists, it's just a matter of making it more available to everyone. T. Boone Pickens (an oil guy) has presented a great plan for getting off oil; I'll post his website below. I'm with him 100% because he's a billionaire and has the power and influence to get the job done. I'm not sure if Al Gore does anything but talk about it, but that's a start. Other countries are way ahead of us in coming up with alternatives to oil, and it's embarassing. You know, they NEVER say anything about the oil supply running out, but there isn't an endless supply...

Answer 21

Continuing nuclear at current levels won't do because ground based solar, wind and geothermal just can't scale up enough to take over the rest of fossil fuels.

Clean coal is also looking more like a heap of PR bulls*** than an actual future power source.

Energy efficiency whilst it may be able to make a small contribution (less than its proponents claim because fo the rebound effect) is a bit risky due to the possibility of Jevons paradox (which means that improvements in energy efficiency may actually result in energy use increasing).

To head off increased climate change you're going to have to build a lot of nuclear power plants, aim to add another 450, 1 GW reactors in the US (or less bigger reactors or more smaller reactors) and you'll be able to solve the problem of electricity production.

But this won't do anything about oil since pretty much no one uses oil to generate electricity.

Answer 22

The problem is over the next 10 years we give away another 10 trillion dollars of our wealth. We have to do better. We have known of these problems since I was 1 year old-1957, but done nothing. We are in a hole, look up the opiate wars or look at Spain after discovering the new world. They gave away their money and China is just now recovering. We were the energy supplier of the world up to 1970. We have failed to plan. This may not sound strange to you, but I am a pro-libertarian, and we are not being responsible! the problem with libertarians.