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A question about alternative energy?
To meet his 10-year goal of making the U.S. independent of foreign oil and to head off increased climate change, Gore said nuclear energy output would continue at current levels while the nation dramatically increases its use of solar, wind, geothermal and so-called clean coal energy. Huge investments must also be made in technologies that reduce energy waste and link existing grids, he said.
If the we (U.S.) fails to act, the cost of oil will continue to rise as fast-growing China and India increase demand, Gore said. Sustained addiction to oil also will place the nation at the mercy of oil-producing regimes, he also said, and the globe would suffer irreparable harm. The indicators seem to be there. What do you think about his plan?
Correction: If we fail to act...
Continuing nuclear at current levels won't do because ground based solar, wind and geothermal just can't scale up enough to take over the rest of fossil fuels.
Clean coal is also looking more like a heap of PR bulls*** than an actual future power source.
Energy efficiency whilst it may be able to make a small contribution (less than its proponents claim because fo the rebound effect) is a bit risky due to the possibility of Jevons paradox (which means that improvements in energy efficiency may actually result in energy use increasing).
To head off increased climate change you're going to have to build a lot of nuclear power plants, aim to add another 450, 1 GW reactors in the US (or less bigger reactors or more smaller reactors) and you'll be able to solve the problem of electricity production.
But this won't do anything about oil since pretty much no one uses oil to generate electricity.
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