Excerpt
In spring of 2007 the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the results of their most recent studies. They predict vast changes in the climate from our venting of carbon dioxide, the waste product from the combustion of fossil fuels. With climate change, the twentieth century will pass into history as the century that started to change the climate. In the twenty first century, humanity can choose to preserve or destroy the climate. To preserve earth’ climate we need a new energy system. If you agree with the new energy system outlined in this book, press your government to instigate action to get this plan under way as soon as possible. If you do not agree, come up with a plan of your own and promote it with gusto. We owe future generations action in our time.
In 1800 no one foresaw a need to predict long-range effects of fossil fuel use. The gaseous combustion waste products were spewed into the air. The solid waste was poured into the rivers or dumped on unexploited land. With few people, and a modest level of energy use per person, slow geological and biological processes repaired some of the environmental damage; the remainder was simply lost in vacant land. Since 1800 the population has grown enormously and the use of fossil fuels has grown even faster. Today, if you calculate the amount of energy used per person in the United States, and equate that energy to the 2500 Calories needed to sustain a single individual, each of us has about 90 servants working for us every day.
Today, our energy system is indispensable; yet, it appears hazardous to the health of life on earth. If we fail to adopt a carbon dioxide free energy system, by 2050, we will pass a damaged world to our descendants. Some say that reducing carbon dioxide levels by 80% by 2050 is all that is required. This is irresponsible thinking. Being satisfied with a reduction of the emission carbon dioxide, without complete elimination, is simply pushing out the time when the ice melts submerging farm lands, the rain forests and cities.
In addition to the threats from climate change, current oil experts predict that the world production of oil will peak some time before 2020. The Chinese and Indian economies and their consumption of fossil fuels are growing at high rates. This will lead to fierce competition for oil. Fierce competition can lead to war. Small nations with large supplies oil will exert undue influence on world affairs. There will be movements to develop fuels that are even more polluting than petroleum. These fuels will come from shale oil or synthetic oil made from coal. For a healthy, conflict free world, humanity needs to develop a new energy source that will be kind to the environment and will allow most nations to achieve energy independence and thus, control of their own energy supplies.
Our current difficulties are not with technology. The difficulties are with the selection of methods and systems exacerbated by lack of foresight. To preserve space ship earth we must replace our impromptu fossil fuel system with an energy technology based on environmental concern, close coupled to excellent science and engineering. This new energy technology must be configured to serve us today and protect future generations.
A new energy system is outlined in this book. Chapter 1 reviews the impact of the contemporary energy infrastructure. This review provides concrete reasons why fossil fuels must be replaced. In Chapter 2, alternative energy sources are examined to determine those most suitable for a benign planetary energy system. Chapter 3 describes this author’s selection of the optimum energy sources. Chapter 4 shows that a portable and storable fuel is required because the optimum energy sources will only provide heat and/or electricity. Chapter 5 describes the optimum portable fuel. In Chapter 6, the energy generation and the portable fuel are integrated into an energy system with the robust distribution technology. The manner in which this system will provide zero pollution transportation is described in Chapter 7. Chapter 8 shows how a by-product of this system will be of great value in eliminating several sources of pollution that are not derived from fossil fuels. In Chapter 9, a path for implementation is sketched. This path will lead to abundant clean energy and energy independence for most nations.
The Renewable-Fusion-Hydrogen (RFH) system outlined in this book has the potential to provide humanity with plentiful energy for hundreds of years without damage to the environment. If implemented, the RFH system will simply replace the current system because it will better serve humanity’s needs.
Critics will argue that implementation will cause the decline of current energy industries, modify financial structures, influence worldwide society, and the change the balance of power among nations. The critics will say that the costs will be large. They are correct.
The alternative to these voluntary disruptions will be disagreeable and possibly devastating. They will involve the same or greater levels of disruption and cost. These disruptions will be forced on us by environment degradation, escalating energy prices and international conflict over dwindling fossil fuel reserves. These forced disruptions will come when the when the world’s ability to respond will be enfeeble by shrinking energy reserves and escalating prices. However, if we accept the disruption and costs associated with implementation of a new energy system it will be accompanied by certain knowledge that we will have plentiful energy from a system that will not harm the earth.
The critics will say that the existing "political/economic system" cannot accommodate this level of change. This criticism is only an excuse for inaction because we are the "system". We will do these things on our own volition or be forced to do them by nature. If we volunteer to do these things the results will be pretty, if nature forces us to do them the results will be ugly.
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