quote:
Originally posted by Magness:
Hi Silver Cheetah,
I think that's a great positive step and I applaud you for it. The only issue/problem with such a project/scheme (sorry, couldn't think of the appropriate nuetral word) is that, at least in the USA, it would need to be at least price competetive with the standard electric companies to have a chance.
Furthermore, windpower, specifically, doesn't come without it's own downsides. Uses up a fair amount of real estate. Some environmentalists would probably bitch and moan ... I mean complain about building windmills from time to time. Requires wind, which while free, isn't always available. No everybody likes the low level of noise that the windmills generate. There are probably some others.
Obviously, a definite upside is that the "fuel" is essentially free and is readily available. I'm not actually arguing for or against windpower. I think that the research and innovation is wonderful. And futhermore, I'd suggest that it should probably be government funded. Why, you ask, since I am fairly conservative and fairly anti-government? As you mentioned Exxon (among others) is out to make a buck. The responsible thing for Exxon to do is continue to produce oil and make profits for their shareholders. However, their self-interest doesn't necessary agree with the longer term self interest of developing energy alternatives. They have very little interest in doing the reaserch and I don't want them buying up any patents. Were the government to do or contract out the reseach (with the understanding that the fruits of that research is PUBLIC PROPERTY), I think that we could keep the power companies from burying a perfectly good new technology.
Like your positive stance on this issue. I totally agree with your last point. (We agree! Hurrah! Cheetah dances round maypole happily, and then calms down, after reading her other posts to Magness, and considering the number of points we are going to disagree heartily on.... Luckily, neither of us is thin skinned!! [img]smile.gif[/img] )
In Britain, it is perfectly possible to buy sustainably generated energy that costs the same. I don't know what the situation is in the US. If we can do it, why can't American companies??
Re your windpower point, I have one word to say 'offshore'. Hehe, more than a word, of course, me being me...
Windmills are being raised in British seas, where it is possible and appropriate to do so. On the 'unsightly on land' argument. Well, currently the land is covered with electricity pylons. It's not like they are particularly lovely to the eye, and they also make a interesting sort of humming noise (I used to sit under them, and write poems. No-one said that was potentially dangerous and a bad idea until much later. Oh well. I survived [img]smile.gif[/img] ..)... But off shore is a better idea.
What with the fishing industry giving up the ghost due to massive overfishing, we may as well utilise the sea for something a tad more positive than massively polluting, filthy, pesticide and other chemical ridden fish farms....