Speaking of solar
I'm just going to rant here about this stuff. Austrailia has a cool new project using solar power. Wow. Very cool. I admit it seems a bit wasteful, but these kind of experiements need to be done so people know whether or not that line of thought is a good idea. I like that they're doing it. But here's what i really wonder: why isn't the U.S. really gung-ho about projects of this magnitude (maybe smaller in size, but broader in deployment such as home wind/solar or haha home nuclear). Why isn't there a strong push to make American Industry and American homes more resilient to any form of disruption, natural or man made. If I had a few small power plants in my house, say a solar panel or two, and a small WARP wind generator, and I was hooked up to the grid, I would save a bit of money and I would be less vulnerable to problems from either my power plants, or the grid.
And these new areas represent economic/industry sectors in which the U.S. is falling behind. We're stagnating in a vulnerable system designed in the, what, 40s? A power grid is great and all, but just like software design, like natural organism design, components in the system should be as independent as possible. An ant functions all on its own without a queen, or a nest. It can find its own food for energy. Other countries are booming ahead in these areas and I worry that we're losing jobs and advantages because of it.
Enh, anyway. It just tweaks me that we've got the smarts and the capability, but we just don't have the leadership. I guess people just don't like change.
And these new areas represent economic/industry sectors in which the U.S. is falling behind. We're stagnating in a vulnerable system designed in the, what, 40s? A power grid is great and all, but just like software design, like natural organism design, components in the system should be as independent as possible. An ant functions all on its own without a queen, or a nest. It can find its own food for energy. Other countries are booming ahead in these areas and I worry that we're losing jobs and advantages because of it.
Enh, anyway. It just tweaks me that we've got the smarts and the capability, but we just don't have the leadership. I guess people just don't like change.
2 Comments:
Oh, darling, it's not a LACK of anything that's preventing the development of alternate power sources--it's the power of the current energy magnates that desire to maintain the status quo to further fill their pockets--even more so as the price of fossil fuels goes up and the number of "players" dwindles. The U.S. will not give up on fossil fuels until there is a catastrophe that forces it to. At this time, money and power are still too strong in the hands of those in control.
You're probably right. Either a catastrophe, or some individual or a group with luck and savvy that manages to sneak something cool in.
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