The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[scaeagles]

In terms of solar and nuclear power, what if we decided that, yes indeed, starting today we are going to go all out to, as France does, get 70% of our power from nuke plants. How long would that take? I really don't know. I'm guessing 20 years?

Let's say in 2 years someone has developed an electric car that can go 400 miles at 75mph on one charge. How long until even 50% of the cars on the road are that? Maybe 5-10 years.

Let's say in 2 years an affordable hydrogen cell automobile is available. How long until the infrastructure is there to support that? Even with all out effort, 15 years? I think that's optimistic, really.

So, yeah.....I do think it's decades away. This doesn't mean we shouldn't be pushing toward those goals. It isn't the difficulty of the projects that I find to be daunting, it is the sheer mass of the change over.

[BDBopper]

It's primary day in Indiana and North Carolina. What's going to happen? I think for the Dems it will be very close in both states (with Clinton and Obama splitting the two states and the delegates). Meanwhile I think McCain's problems will continue as about 30% of the GOP electorate refuses to vote for him even though he will be their nominee (I don't blame them...I don't like him either). I think that in one state (of the two) McCain won't garner 70% (if I had to guess where I'd say North Carolina).

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

In terms of solar and nuclear power, what if we decided that, yes indeed, starting today we are going to go all out to, as France does, get 70% of our power from nuke plants. How long would that take? I really don't know. I'm guessing 20 years?

Let's say in 2 years someone has developed an electric car that can go 400 miles at 75mph on one charge. How long until even 50% of the cars on the road are that? Maybe 5-10 years.

Let's say in 2 years an affordable hydrogen cell automobile is available. How long until the infrastructure is there to support that? Even with all out effort, 15 years? I think that's optimistic, really.

So, yeah.....I do think it's decades away. This doesn't mean we shouldn't be pushing toward those goals. It isn't the difficulty of the projects that I find to be daunting, it is the sheer mass of the change over.

That's all I'm talking about.

Delelope an Electric/hydrogen/warp/whatever car that can go 300 (hell even 100) miles at highway speeds and costs no more than a civic.

Create solar panels and efficient appliances so that I generate 80% of the power I need off my roof.

Use other green energy (wind/solar, etc..) to generate that other 20%.

Get that done in the next decade and you can take as long as you want to revamp the infrastructure. Once the technology is market ready in terms of price vs benefit the change over will take care of itself.

Oh and yes, I am not waiting for "them" to do all this. I am already investing in green mutual funds (note that link is not an endorsement, it's just an example) and I'm looking at the feasibility of leaving the moonie-minivan in the garage during the day and switching to a hybrid bike.