Gregg Easterbrook in an op-ed for the NYT describes our government's failure (do they ever produce a different outcome) to implement a "clean coal" policy. I do like the idea of "gasification" if it was implemented quickly, which is a must.
But I'd rather take a look at why we need more efficient power. The equation for this is:
more people+more gadgets+24x7 = greater need for power
If we were able to reduce our need for electricity requiring gadgets, unplug unused gadgets, use cfl's and leds, turn off the lights and not worry about getting McDonald's and it's glowing megawatt sign at 1am then worrying about jamming more electricty into the grid wouldn't be such a huge deal. We should strive to change the paradigm. Use less, need less.
Even more pressing will be the maintenance needed to do all this. Machines that can transform coal into natural gas and then harnessed into energy by a giant jet engine sound pretty cool but how will they be built, transported and maintained in a world of increasingly scarce oil. The investments made towards these facilities would be better spent creating a world built to run off little oil.
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