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Energy Discussion

sevenhelmet said:
Don’t forget replacement parts and whole units every so often. It’s not a one-and-done forever type of thing.

Alternative energy just relocates the carbon footprint. It’s very difficult to eliminate entirely.
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As taxi already points out, the claim that you just 'relocate the carbon footprint' grossly understates the biggest advantages of renewable energy like solar that don't require a constant supply of literal fuel to keep them running and instead usually rely on stuff like the sun or water that don't have to go through some distant strait to get here.
 
How do you math whizzes account for the energy cost of mining, since many of these power sources rely on virgin materials?

I'm not disputing the advantages of using wind or solar for some applications, I'm merely pointing out that you're trading one supply chain frustration for potentially several more- rare earths, plastics, copper, lithium, and the manufacturing to turn them all into high-end products. Solar panels and wind turbines still have to be repaired and replaced eventually, and widespread use guarantees need for more materials (unless we can close the loop with a good recycling program, but I haven't seen that yet.) There is an environmental cost, and that is routinely whitewashed by proponents of "renewables".

I think alternative energy has its place in a basket of solutions that includes (gasp!) nuclear and petroleum based energy, at least until/unless we get some kind of commercially viable fusion power. While it would be amazing, I'm not holding my breath on the latter. In the meantime, wind and solar have their place, but they aren't a panacea for energy production. Far better to have several solutions, and match each use case with the best energy source for efficiency and best use of raw materials.

Final point: this latest oil supply frustration was entirely self-induced by POTUS. Poor leadership is going to cause problems, no matter what power source you pick. Yeah, the middle east sucks, but it sucks more when you have an egotistical moron in the White House.
 
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sevenhelmet said:
Solar panels and wind turbines still have to be repaired and replaced eventually, and widespread use guarantees need for more materials (unless we can close the loop with a good recycling program, but I haven't seen that yet.) There is an environmental cost, and that is routinely whitewashed by proponents of "renewables".

I think alternative energy has its place in a basket of solutions that includes (gasp!) nuclear and petroleum based energy, at least until/unless we get some kind of commercially viable fusion power. While it would be amazing, I'm not holding my breath on the latter. In the meantime, wind and solar have their place, but they aren't a panacea for energy production.
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I am not saying renewables are a panacea, but I don't have to fill up a solar panel every week to drive to and from work.

No matter how skillful politicians may be oil is much more vulnerable to shorter and longer term disruption than most other energy sources.
 
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