ohbw

Sandy is an E.E. specializing in alternative energy systems and she says at current technology/pricing, wind alone can provide in perpetuity the electrical power necessary to run every home, business, and vehicle in America, leaving all American oil deposits to fuel D2 A8s, which by decree of ze Audi gods and Pope PaulW shall never die.

This, however, would require a massive Apollo program-like commitment on the part of our society, because it is capital-intensive to build wind farms (can anyone say <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Works_Progress_Administration">WPA</a>?), and wind power can't be transmitted all the way from Wyoming to Florida.

When JFK said in 1961 "In 10 years, we're going to land a man on the moon", the engineers in the know said, "Huh? We can't do that." But they, and the society as a whole, rose to the occasion (and beat the deadline) because it was such a cool and tangible goal. I think energy self-sufficiency is a similarly cool goal (look at what Brazil has achieved in this regard), and should be discussed enthusiastically everywhere, especially in Washington, which is presently wholly owned by Exxon and Halliburton.

I'm no enemy of technology or nuclear power, which we've only begun to explore. Doug is right that nuclear fuels are dramatically under-refined and have vast unexploited potential. It's hard to know the real science on any energy technology without a wide-open debate, which is hard to have when financial interests tied to dinosaur juice have so completely taken over a government which is supposed to be by and for the people.

I think we need that kind of debate badly. And I think Sandy should moderate the discussion because she's good at keeping people focused. I find her easy to focus on, anyway...

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/84266/sandy.jpg">

skiracer

exceeds, by a fair amount, the cost of other sources of energy if the entire life-cycle costs per KWH produced are considered. The cost is not just $, but in the energy required to extract, refine, manufacture, and install/maintain the turbines- not an insignificant number. Then, as you mentioned, getting the electricity from the windy states to the power-using states is very expensive. The only way that wind power is currently cost competitive is through government subsidy. Building nuclear power plants is also very expensive, but the cost per KWH of electricity produced (life-cycle) is much better. I'm all for alternative energy sources when and where they are viable, as well as continued research into all manner of energy sources. I'm personally rooting for cold fusion ;-)

And did I mention, I LIKE Sandy?!?

ohbw

...to all conservative members of the forum who donate a week's wages to <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/">Sea Shepherds</a> to support the scuttling of another whaling vessel. Rainbow flags tossed in free.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/84266/censored.jpg">

OneLong8

NANOTECHNOLOGY WILL BE THE NEXT INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION!!

audisowner

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/41959/image001.jpg"></center><p>We've been using fuel cells since the beginning of the space program. Figure out a way to get hydrogen cheaply and the internal combustion engine is finished... We're currently getting hydrogen from Methane (CH4) which is plentiful around the globe, think about getting it from H2O...

GM is making large investments in the technology...<ul><li><a href="http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/adv_tech/100_news/fc_fleet_launch_091806.html">Chevrolet to Launch World's Largest Fuel Cell Vehicle Fleet</a></li></ul>

ohbw

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/84266/alien1.jpg"></center><p>

PaulW

Was there words in that post?

PaulW

<img src="http://img1.qq.com/digi/pics/3131/3131986.jpg">

<img src="http://img1.qq.com/digi/pics/3131/3131991.jpg"><img src="http://img1.qq.com/digi/pics/3131/3131989.jpg"><img src="http://img1.qq.com/digi/pics/3131/3131990.jpg">

ohbw

I didn't see any words there either, Paul. I'm going to go check again. A couple of times, just to be sure.

BrianC72gt

Perhaps a business posting eye cady on the web forums