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Originally Posted by Paul Markham
There is no such thing as "clean energy" yet and maybe never. The only thing we can do is to cut down consumption.
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I disagree.
We can reduce consumption like you said but its hard to change peoples habits. An easier and better way is to make appliances and cars more energy efficient, and make the ways we harvest energy more efficient too. All of this should be IN ADDITION to deriving energy from cleaner sources such as solar and wind.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Markham
There is something wrong. It harms the profits of the 1% and we cant let that happen, that would help the 99%.  |
For sure some 1%'s will say that, but of course the opposite is true. It would mean more jobs and more money for everyone, which means more money for spending, more money for taxes, and hopefully more general happiness for everyone.
Quote:
Originally Posted by crucifissio
oh really? pray tell how a hydro electric dam pollutes? solar?
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I'm a greeney I promise, but Hydro electric means big changes to the land and water. Increased biomass in the water could mean increased methane. The manufacturing of solar panels pollutes too. Of course the damage these cause are small compared to the gains, but everything everywhere, pollutes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jsmih
Hydro - flooding large areas, displacing towns, changing the river water flow in a way disruptive to wildlife, silt backup behind the dam, etc.
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All very true, though hopefully everything adapts. The benefits though really outweigh the costs, and most importantly, the energy you get from the damn is renewable.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jsmih
Solar - large amount of toxic materials used to produce the panels, huge land use per megawatt of power, impact on wildlife, disposal of the toxic panels after they loss too much efficiency to still be of use.
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True, but like Hydro, the benefits are huge and the costs relatively low. And also, Solar Panels last an average of 25 years before losing only 20% of their efficiency.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jsmih
Every energy technology pollutes over its life cycle.
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Gasoline and other fossil fuels do, but things like solar and wind do not.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jsmih
Most studies show hydro and nuclear as the cleanest overall (smallest overall environmental impact).
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Correct. And even though Nuclear scares alot of people, it is actually very clean with a very small overall impact, especially if the new modern power planets replace the old ones.