Understanding is the Essence of Intelligence

If we want to reduce pollutions, we have to set this as a goal. Some think that the Energy Independence Act of 2007 is a good thing  because it could enable clean energy production, and it could, but it does not because energy independence can be easily achieved with environmentally damaging solutions.

A recent study led by Duke University recommends to not use land to grow corn for biofuel production using current technologies because it is inefficient to address greenhouse gas emissions although the government already subsidizes corn biofuel production under the Energy Independence Act of 2007.

Conserving energy and other measures are much more efficient at addressing both climate change and energy independence.

The rate of capture of solar energy is around 1% to 2% with biofuels whereas a typical solar thermal plant can convert 20% to 30% of that same solar energy into electricity which can be converted to mechanical energy in high efficiency (85%) electric engines whereas the best diesel internal combustion engine have efficiencies around 40%.

Furthermore, biofuel production competes with food production, and if generalized would prompt a global food crisis, whereas solar thermal plant are typically installed in deserts.  Electricity can also be produced very cost-effectively with wind power over  lands which can be used simultaneously for agriculture.

Energy independence in the end is a protectionist measure aiming at starving the middle east from oil revenues in the hope to address terrorism. This also is wrong because terrorism might actually increase if the pro-western governments of middle-eastern countries such as Saudi-Arabia are destabilized and replaced by Islamic regimes. Instead we need to promote sustainable development in the middle east to prepare for the times when the revenues from oil will dramatically decrease in the middle-east.

Wrong policies lead to the wrong results.

The policies we need must be based on sustainable development and aim at reducing all pollutions, not just addressing climate change. The pollutions of our cities and the increased rates of cancers and respiratory diseases will not be addressed by any protectionist measure.

The technologies to produce clean energy exist, we know how to produce efficient electric cars. Planes could fly using synthetic fuels from renewable energies. The only thing stopping us from getting there are the appropriate policies.

 
Another demonstration of the power of renewable energies.
 
Renewable energies only require brain power.

Within 10 years, Repower America with 100% renewable energies while creating new stable, local, American jobs:


And for those who think this is impossible, check out this article of an American town producing more electricity than it consumes today:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/04/home-residential-wind-power-rock-port-missouri.php

We need to add Carbon Capture to the list of false solutions promoted by polluters for the sake of short term profits.

Carbon Capture-ready is nothing more than an excuse for the oil and coal industries to continue to pollute forever.

Carbon Capture facts:

• Not available before 2020 at best, 2030 more likely
• Removes only 65 to 79 percents of CO2
• Reduces power plants efficiency
• Increases the cost of power plants by 30 to 50 percents

True renewable energy power plants are less expensive and the technologies are available today, we don't need to wait until 2020 or 2030.

The new debt created by the $700 Billion bailout plan is not an investment and will therefore not generate any cash return to any future government resulting in the necessity to raise additional taxes and/or devaluate the dollar.

What we need, to avoid the recession, is to quickly create the conditions to reimburse the new debt with sustainable growth and returns.

This can only be achieved with a massive plan to set the USA on renewable energy such as the $4.4 Trillion plan proposed by Clean Energy 2030.

This plan will create many jobs while providing the USA with sustainable and limitless energy independence. The technological advance resulting from the plan will maintain the USA as the premier technology provider in the world.

On the other hand, not adopting such a plan right now would signal the end of USA as we know it, much like the USSR collapse 20 years ago. This also would mean a serious setback for democracy and the emergence of China as the new and sole superpower.

The $700 Billion could represent a rounding error on a $5.1 Trillion plan to set the US free from oil in 20 years or it could sink the USA in 2 years, it will be up to the next president to make this decision.

What other investment plan with guarantied returns could save the USA right now?

The Zephyr flew 3.5 days non-stop.

I'm not saying that this is the future of air-transportation but it shows that flying a plane does not require kerosene.

I am reacting today to research showing that Miscanthus Shows Great Potential as Ethanol Feedstock.

We have to stop this non-sense of using arable land at 1% solar efficiency when we can use desert land at 20% efficiency or more with existing solar technologies.

Biofuels cannot be part of the solution to global pollutions and energy independence until we can grow plants in deserts at efficiencies of 10% and more. Because this is obviously impossible, then biofuels will always remain part of the problem, and never will be part of the solution.

Biofuels have an amazing list of cons, they:

• Use arable land and push farmers to destroy forests worsening the problem.
• Put upward pressure on food prices worldwide threatening to starve billions.
• Pollute when used (burned), not just by emitting CO2, which is a non-toxic gas, but with CO, NOx and other deadly cancer-causing pollutants.
• Require oil and phosphate-based fertilizers, which are not renewable. Fertilizers eventually pollute water sources.

Food production is already becoming a worldwide problem today with decreasing fossil-water resources, depleted soils, pollutions, decreasing arable land in general due to over-exploitation and irrigation, expanding cities and growing populations worldwide.

Brazil is gaining energy independence at the cost of the destruction of the Amazon rain-forest, 40% of which will be destroyed in the next two decades according to National Geographic, January 2007.

The target energy source must be:

• Non-polluting when used
• Truly Renewable
• Not interfering with food production, forests, and biodiversity in general

The alternative energies that meet these goals exist today and are plentiful:

• Solar thermal
• Concentrating Solar Power for electricity production
• Geothermal
• Wind
• Photovoltaic cells for small scale electricity production
• Green buildings using direct solar energy, conserving it, and not requiring air-conditioning

The non-hybrid electric engine is the solution to ground transportation. Less expensive to produce, less parts, lower maintenance cost, and fast contrary to what many people think. Range issues are solved with new infrastructure such as battery replacement stations and electric plugs in parking lots. Batteries are 100% recyclable and can be financed to reduce upfront capital costs as Better Place has shown.

I am not affiliated, nor have any financial interest, own any stock, with any company or organization mentioned in this article.