Ted Re...Three oil shale plants were built in the US and abandoned by the 90s. It took huge amounts of shale to make just a little oil. The process is hardly cost competitive. In addition, it left big gaps in the landscape and large mounds of crushed rock after the kerogen had been squeezed out.
Which is why I said nuclear is the better alternative. There is enough uranium in seawater, to last us forever, you don't make a worse mess mining it, carbon dioxide levels are reduced,and in the end, there is less radiation in the seas, all at competitive costs. Nonetheless, shale oil and tar sands will guarantee we won't run out of oil, it just costs more environmentally.
The facts don't support your position re nukes
What facts?
Yes, all of those are do able but we need to really focus on them now. Japan and other countries continue to be way ahead of us on alternative fuels. They know what its like to be short. Ford should not have to buy its hybrid engines from Toyota.
First off, the toyota hydrids, aren't alternative fuel cars, they are alternative power supply. They all use gas, just more efficiently. They are cars which specialize in conservation of energy, and efficiency of energy. Secondly, if you read my article on uranium, from seawater, Japan leads the world in that research. While not cost effective now, it will be, and unless the US gets going, we will let Japan have the lead in the next big thing.
PS As a side note to the seawater article, Cohen states that the seawater is saturated to its maximum concentration now, and the excess floated to the bottom. Mining uranium, won't actually lower uranium levels, just release a comparable amount sitting on the bottom, to stabilize the uranium at a certain parts/bln level, what ever that is. Just as taking uranium out, won't make a difference in radiation levels, putting radiation in won't raise that level either. Therefore the sea bottom could be a good place to dispose of waste, as that would just add a minute amount to the uranium already there, on the bottom. |
