Looking at the World of Energy and the Environment Differently
The paradigms that govern our explorations in science function as both flashlights and blinders. They help us to peer into previously dark areas that are most likely to yield results, but they prevent us from looking in new directions. That’s why we’re so amazed at the great figures of history who somehow escaped the confines of the viewpoints of the day and looked at the world in bold new ways. Certainly, this is what we so deeply much admire about the work of people like Newton, Darwin, and Einstein.
Obviously, this discussion is not limited to science; it applies equally to art, architecture, and music. Here’s a good example, using a song most Americans know: Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” released in 1963. In the years since Cash’s recording, many dozens of people covered the song – each one mimicking the basic hard-driving rhythm and pace of the original. But then along came Ruthie Foster (pictured), who totally rethought the song from the ground up, and, in her own inimitable way, reinvented it as an expression of love, rather than a twisted image of violence and hate, somehow springing up from hell-fire. I hope you’ll give it a listen, and, as you do, realize how beautifully innovative this is. At the same time, please take the moment to consider that it’s often the process of throwing away the rules and the strictures of conformity that allows great things to happen.
Yes, we could use some out-of-the-box thinking in clean energy to take us over the top. Though, truth told, we don’t need a technological breakthrough to put an end to the damage that is, day by day, being inflicted on this planet and its people from the process of generating energy from fossil fuels. The costs of renewables are steadily declining, and the efficiencies rising, to the point that the only thing standing in our way is a messy confluence of money and politics. But that’s a minor detail for people of compassion and innovation. Best of all, you’re one of them.
We have experienced some “out-of-the-box” thinking in government lately. but not of the noble variety. Seems we have the problem of determining who will govern the government if the laws are re-written and the constitution is ignored in corrupt proffiteering and revolving-door corporate/govt circles of massive payoffs for favors. Very little is exposed to public scrutiny any more. Perhaps we would benefit from second choice voting to end the “two party” sameness and looting.
Liked!
Closed cycle nuclear, possibly advanced geothermal and definitely FUSION are some out of the box applications concerning the potential to power complete (and growing) planetary civilizations. Why? Because they are the only non fossil sources that are capable of providing even MORE baseload energy than the fossil fuels.
But what’s really out of the box is the potential to REDUCE REGULATIONS (down to some obvious but minimum safeguarding of public lands from preventing nuclear meltdowns, etc). This should be easy to do… just FIRE most all (not all, just most all) the government regulatory type of people (which really do get rich quick at the expense of every one else)! If we don’t fire these fleas (or remove them from office), then we WILL be sorry!
I really do believe that OVER HALF of all nuclear (and utility scale solar) electricity costs is JUST to pay for excess regulations and permitting. That means a bunch of college folk are preventing these awesome technologies because, through their own selfish greed, choose to get rich via excess upon excess of regulations on these already scientifically proven inherently SAFE technologies. Thus capacity builds skyrocket in cost. Instead, a max of like $100 per hour TOTAL should be allocated to such (because we do need some safeguards). But most all of the EIS have already been done in the past. They should not be allowed to “do it again” in totality, i.e. we already know how many turtles reside in the desert (big solar) and we already know how to prevent nuclear meltdowns using liquid fuels (non conventional nuclear).
I’m afraid “they” will do the same to FUSION (once it is “allowed” to be fully developed on the commercial level) because they have already done it to closed cycle nuclear (you know, the already proven, decades old melt down proof designs such as PRISM and LFTR). They have also, unfortunately, done it to big solar ($2 billion for just .25GW)!
http://www.nrel.gov/csp/solarpaces/project_detail.cfm/projectID=23
What’s worse? The U.S government wants to tell India not to make (cheap) solar panels!
http://online.wsj.com/article/AP86029bcd41614eea8a3ed440b0c2f12f.html
We the people would like our government to understand and vote our majority views in.
It is hard,with a left and right 2 party system, that mostly work to make the other look bad.
A third party will always split the majority vote and allow the minority to win.
We could embrace computers as our personal voting booths. With proper registrations,
S.S.# ‘s, photo and security to prevent fraud, We could vote once a month on major issues.
Answering 5 questions at State level and 5 questions at the national level. …We could shrink government to half its size,make lobbying illegal as it is our most corrupt avenue of influence. If you don’t have access to computers you could go to libraries or schools and get assistance if you need it. It’s way out of the box ,
but the majority would get a voice.
Then the left and right would have to start walking down the middle,
on the sunny side of the street. I know I’m daydreaming,just saying it on print.
Ed I have held the same thought, I believe it is an excellent way to proceed. I would add that you would include three to four perspectives from respected view points democrats, republican, independent, green party and they would be paid to really dig into the issues and legislation as this is one of the problems in mass public voting is discernment.
I also agree,and it;s nice to hear from other daydreamers,maybe one day ,soon,I hope,
The way my company looks at the world of energy and the environment differently is to look in a different direction and think objectively and ask ourselves why not;
Why not develop a novel new biomass and waste conversion tech that can be easily shifted between the three basic conversion processes we often refer to as combustion, gasification and pyrolysis, like shifting gears in a truck’s transmission between 1st, 2nd and 3rd to get to the best gear ratio? Not all fuels are the same just like not all road levels are the same but if control techs at a bio-refinery can shift gears depending on the grade they can get far better results.
Here is the notice I’ve been posting on Facebook and on Linkedin;
STRATEGIC ALLIANCE OR INVESTMENT NEEDED FOR LATE STAGE NEW CONCEPT WORLD CLASS REPOWERING TECH ONLY MONTHS FROM MARKET ENTRY.
Greetings, I would like to introduce Advanced Alternative Energy Corp.
AAEC has developed a new concept low-carbon energy technology we’ve designed for serving as the basis for tens of thousands of cleaner renewable energy production systems and energy efficiency improvements across the American landscape and around the world. AAEC’s new concept technology consists of a thermal and fuel gasification-conversion technology that can provide an on demand heat and power source for stand-alone use or to back up solar and wind energy systems and in this way help double the deployment of biomass, coal, waste, solar and wind energy projects in the coming decades.
We believe humanity needs to repower human activities urgency and with cleaner energy on a much wider scale, and that innovation is our key to a better future and we aspire to offer home and business owners, towns, cities, counties and utilities our new concept low-budget, low-carbon pathway to greater energy efficiency, energy security, cleaner energy and economic development. We believe now that President Obama is moving the climate issue to the front burner will be a big boost to what I’m offering an increasingly stressed planet.
AAEC’s product lines can be manufactured in the US and in most any locality on any continent for the local and regional market. This AAEC believes could create licensing opportunities and more jobs and these are among the things we propose offering to an alternative energy hungry world.
I’m in hopes of finding others who will join and/or support this effort. Contact me for further details.
Les Blevins, President
Advanced Alternative Energy
1207 N 1800 Rd., Lawrence, KS 66049
Phone 785-842-1943 Fax 785-842-0909
Email LBlevins@aaecorp.com
For more info on what my firm offers see
http://aaecorp.com
http://aaecorp.com/ceo.html
http://www.linkedin.com/profile/edit?trk=hb_tab_pro_top
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Advanced-Alternative-Energy/277213435730720