I have been following Thorium for energy for a few years and I agree, it is THE real option for displacing fossil fuels. Safe, cheap, short half-life for waste, and not weaponizable - a true alternative that could change the world if allowed to...
Unfortunately, there is so much riding on the continuing use of fossil fuels for those who hold real influence on the world, switching to an alternative energy in a meaningful way will be hampered on every turn.
We have been allowed to explore token alternative energies such as wind, solar, etc, but notice that we always still need fossil fuels as backup. The possible move to electric vehicles isn't going to take us away from fossil fuels - but just move it from being burned in the vehicle to the power plant.
Notice that some feel-good green technologies have been allowed to be implemented - but storing electricity (which is key to supplant fossil fuels) has been put on the back burner. Truly viable, cheap and clean battery-free options for storing power have been tested/proven - but ultimately swept under the carpet.
Significant changes will require a massive re-balancing of wealth and power. In our heavily manipulated world I think we are only allowed expensive, feel-good alternatives that really can't put a dent in our reliance on fossil fuels.
For those reasons, I think oil sands development will continue in the long term and ultimately Alberta will be producing bitumen for decades to come. I do think there will be moves in the near future to refining the bitumen in Alberta (value added) vs. piping it several thousand miles with the required dilutant, separating the dilutant and piping it back to be re-used. It it so inefficient, and why not do the value-added processing in Canada? |
