PV Gap

Veronica Said:

Why is Obama so anti-nuclear?

We Answered:

Perspective here - throw out what works, close the disposal site for the next logical step and try to bankrupt the coal industry with "cap & trade" That's Obama logic!

I just left a cruise ship where the captain told the passengers it took 45,000 horsepower to push the ship along. An Obama enthusiast was eager to drill him on this point with "Wouldn't it be much better for the environment to run the ship on solar panels, batteries or wind power?"

I expected the captain to shout "Unfurl the sail! Maties." But he politely told her they weren't efficient enough.

Eric Said:

What do you think of the Republican Congressmen participating in 'energy protests'?

We Answered:

It shows how much power the oil lobbyists have over the Republicans and I think it's shameful. I voted against Bush both times and I will continue to vote against all politicians who place the wants of the oil companies ahead of the needs of America as a whole. Giving preferential treatment to the oil companies doesn't benefit anyone but the oil companies. All other industries suffer from the burden of higher transportation costs.

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To those who believe the Republican Congressmen are actually accompishing something by doing this, it's nothing but an election-year stunt attempting to turn voters against the Democrats. They keep insisting the solution to everything is more oil, completely ignoring the fact that it's a non-renewable resource and dismissing all renewable alternatives. All they're proving is how narrow-minded they are and how devoted they are to Big Oil.

Melvin Said:

Problems with the space elevator concept?

We Answered:

I read the article (I am a member of IEEE). The main thought I had was "this will never happen". The main reason is that such a large scale project will never pass worldwide approval because of the fear of the returning cable if it should fail. In addition, we seem to have so much environmental red tape and bureaucracy in general that it seems 10x harder to get anything done than in times past.

I don't want to come across as pessimistic, because I would root for such a project's success. It just doesn't seem like something that will actually come to fruition in today's business environment.

We could work to harvest solar energy now without the expense and risks of a space elevator. I think we all would agree that research and development of alternative energy sources and technologies is extremely important...perhaps in 50 years of research we could develop a better source of energy to outmode chemical rocket technology and negate the need for a space elevator?

Jeffrey Said:

What is the term for th eamount of sunlight reaching an area?

We Answered:

Solar Irradiation flux.

Also, the standard maximum amount of solar irradiation flux is 1367 Watts/meter^2.

This is reduced upon passing through the atmosphere, and it is also reduced when striking solar panels at angles of incidence not perpendicular.