I'm an engineer at Oregon State University.
I'd like to point out a few crucial facts that will give John McCain a better hand come the general election, unless Barack Obama reverses current energy policies.
I recommend that Barack have my blessing for flip-flopping on these issues.
I am and continue to be an advocate for renewable energy implementation.
More below.
In no particular order:
Nuclear Energy: As much as I wish this had never happened-it is a reliable and safe alternative that France has implemented with amazing success.
Current nuclear reactor design (Gen 3 and 4) are stable and reliable.
Ultimately, plutonium and it's refined uranium are a finite source that was chemically born in the hearts of stars that grew billions of years ago. That's a fact.
Coal Reclamation: Ultimately, possible, but unlikely. Definitely worth research dollars.
Petroleum Mining: Offshore actually works theoretically, but needs a massive commitment of engineering investment.
Some reserves lie almost 2 miles below sea level, and could only be harvested by robots. Understand, I'm not kidding.
Re-purposing/adding shale deposits native to North America (USA/Canada) to harvest more expensive production means-It'll give us another 10 years, maybe.
Any short term fixes involve allowing payoffs that only your grandchildren may see-it really is true.
Renewables: Solar has made particularly great leaps recently owing to the investment of countries like Germany, Japan and Australia.
Wind as well has shown to be a significant player that this great nation could benefit from-particularly given T. Boone Pickets eloquent speech about a plan to harvest it.
There are others, and many good ideas.
The short term problem with renewable involves updating an electrical power infrastructure that would cost billions to upgrade in the short term.
To summarize:
The world has to upgrade to renewables in a time frame that will play out over the next 30 years, but in the short term food production and economic revitalization are far more important.
As much as I am a fan of rosy pictures of a Manhattan Project for Renewable Energy, this country is not ready for it at this time.
I am not a Republican troll-but I had to say something because the Democrats will lose if they come face to face with these facts.
I am stating this to make people think for real, and that may be controversial.
My best,
-LB