PV Gap

Ruben Said:

Questions aimed at cons/reps, but anyone can answer. What is wrong with looking for other means of energy? If?

We Answered:

The biggest issue here is that we have been encouraging solar, wind and other types of energy for 30 years. And in all of that time we have yet to see them become economically viabile.

As a result of this track record it would be foolish to bet our economic future on alternative energy.

Remember that in 1998 Clinton banned offshore oil production because it would take 10 years to show result and 'alterative energy' would be ready by then. And if you remember that just over a year ago we had high energy prices - and still no large scale altentative energy.

BTW - have you noticed that the 'promise' of alternative energy has been '10 years in the future' since 1975?

IMO we need to concentrate on developing 'clean coal' technology and nuclear power as out 'plan A.' Plan B should be continued research into alternative energy in hopes of a breakthrough. However until alternative energy demonstrates that it can provide plentiful and inexpensive energy - we should not bet our future on it.

Alvin Said:

Halp! Need info on solar stuffz...?

We Answered:

pros of solar energy is its a safe and efficient way of gathering and storing energy. The cons of solar energy is the price.

The bad thing about fossil fuels and coal is once they burn they release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide and co2

Jo Said:

what are the pro and cons of solar power?

We Answered:

The problem is harnessing the power. We don't have solar panels that can transform 100% of insolation into usable commercial power, so solar energy cannot yet be used in the way you've described. Once the technology improves to the point that solar energy can be harnessed and sold for a profit, it will start to happen.

The pros of solar power are that it is non-polluting, has an ultimate source that is free of charge, and can be used on a small scale by private individuals. The cons are that a private individual's power generation is unlikely to satisfy his or her energy requirements in many cases (locations where there is not much sun and heating requirements are high due to cold, for example), the equipment used for power generation can be expensive and is not highly efficient, and the storage capacity of solar cells is insufficient to offset unlit periods such as nighttime or cloudy days.

Your concern about the validity of solar cells as the method for harnessing solar power is not without merit. But even though photovoltaic cells are not yet effective enough for wide-scale usage, I believe that they are fundamentally a viable technology. They just need refinement. Consider the automobile. When Bertha Benz made the first long-distance trip by car in 1888, from Mannheim to Pforzheim in Germany, it took her from dawn to dusk to drive the sixty miles. She had to stop numerous times to refuel and to improvise repairs from her possessions, using a hairpin and her own garter! The fundamental technology of the automobile was refined and developed over many years, and now a trip of this length can be completed by any casual driver in an hour without visiting a gas station or repair garage , and a racecar driver travels equivalent distances in about 20 minutes (though the vehicle does require maintenance in this case). This demonstrates that it is normal for a nascent technology to exhibit shortcomings that are eventually overcome through research and development.

Rita Said:

Energy con questions for discussion argument?

We Answered:

with regards to solar energy, you are forgetting another type of solar energy which is passive, not active like photo voltaic cells, or PVC. passive solar can be used to reduce the energy demand for cooling/heating in buildings. all passive solar does is block the sun in specific ways that allows more sunlight in the winter and less during the summer. it is old technology that is not receiving the type of attention it deserves, and at this point, really requires. i would use this as a counter argument. ( I think solar will be a big chunk of our energy pie chart in the future, as well as other important sources)

--what are the costs of running on Hydro power in places such as Australia or places that do not have reliable water or live near the ocean? Is it efficient enough to be done on a global scale?

--coal is out of the question due to environmental factors

--Are biofuels really the answer when agriculture is one of the most fossil fuel intensive industries in America? can Organic biofuel be enough to power the State's demand for energy? what effects will this have on growing food and imports from other countries?

--Is wind technology up to date with other innovations to capture wind energy? ie turbines being inefficient and unimaginative. are wind farms pleasant to look at? (I think they look cool but others disagree) what effect do they have on bird migratory patterns?

--How much Uranium 235 would be required to power the world's energy demand? How can we know for certain that the building of multiple nuclear power plants will not be done half-heartedly? (will meltdowns and "accidents" be more common?) what are the effects of a nuclear meltdown?

--What types of Geothermal energy are there if not all places have geothermal hotspots? how can passive geothermal be used to make/conserve energy?

good luck!