[Az-Geocaching] energy

[Richard E Holmes Corporation]

Hybrids are certainly the environmental darling de jour. But, with 10 billion cars worldwide at a median age of four years, if we attain a 50% mix of hybrids we will be disposing of over a billion very large very toxic batteries every year. Well, we could try "glassification". Or, how about developing disposal sites? Yeah, Yucca Flats--great idea.

I rented a Chevrolet Aveo about a month ago; I got over 50 MPG. So, if I were looking for a new commuter car would I buy an $9k Aveo; no, I buy a hybrid that cost at least 3 times as much, gets half the mileage, but gets a $4k environmental rebate, no vehicle tax, gasoline tax rebate, gets to use the HOV lanes, and best of all I get to change out the $2k battery every 50k miles.

I guess those in the current "political know" would say I just don't get it.

Creepin' Jeepers 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: William Noll 
  To: listserv at azgeocaching.com 
  Sent: Saturday, August 13, 2005 10:04 PM
  Subject: RE: [Az-Geocaching] energy


  Actually, most Americans now support Nuclear Power. The accident at Three Mile Island, PA was almost 30 years ago (and no one died because of it).  The way plants are built and operated, makes them literally the safest source of energy today. And the most secure. More radiation is released in the form of radon by the burning of coal than any nuclear plant has ever put out. What has really put the damper on new construction is the permitting process. In the past, a utility / government would first get a construction permit, then go through the process again for an operating license. New rules in  the pipeline will allow for a combined construction / operating permit, and still have all the required hearings and public input. Investors (the people who crave evil profits by putting up the money to build stuff) are leery about the two-phase permitting process, because of the possible stranded investment. 

  Interestingly enough, ALL of the new power plants built in the last six years or so (excluding the little solar and biomass projects) run on Natural Gas. Don't think for a moment that all this extra demand has not had an effect on Arizona natural gas prices. A tremendous impact!

  The future of energy will be nuclear power plants, with solar and hydro as the supplemental sources. Cars will run on batteries, probably with very small gasoline generators onboard for an emergency power source. There really is NO alternative that is safe, reliable, and cost-effective

   


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  Subject: RE: [Az-Geocaching] energy

   

   

  Nuclear power is an excellent option, but fear of the unknown has caused Americans to reject it.  It is widely used in Europe - France is mostly nuclear powered - but we can't get it past the environmentalists here.  Too bad, as it is a much cleaner and safer option than coal or oil fired plants.

   

   

   



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