PV Gap

Lydia Said:

How is mankind going to overcome the lack of oil in the future? Is solar power the best answer to replace oil?

We Answered:

Fusion power would be wonderful, but right now the US is looking at 30 conventional nuclear power plants that generate tons of depleted uranium. From a pure economic perspective and a risk perspective, conventional nuclear power is not a viable alternative. It will make some people filthy rich and most of us in danger of radioactive poisoning. The only way this could happen if the US government decides to take the risk and allow the investors to get a pay back risk free (and probably subsidized in other ways).

Right now, hydroelectric in the Northwest competes favorably on a cost basis with everything. As the cost of oil continues to soar, wind power, tidal power, geothermal, solar water heating, and other renewable alternatives can easily be justified.

We can save enormous power by just building things that are more efficient. The waste of the average SUV is gargantuan. The average household wastes tremendous amounts of energy.

The answer will be conservation, efficiency, and new renewable sources of energy.