XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.sf.science   
   From: rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com   
      
   Robert Bannister  wrote   
   > Rod Speed wrote   
   >> Robert Bannister  wrote   
   >>> Rod Speed wrote   
   >>>> Sea Wasp (Ryk E. Spoor)  wrote   
   >>>>> Doc O'Leary wrote   
   >>>>>> Greg Goss  wrote   
      
   >>>>>>> Modern North Americans just cannot fathom the scale of a horse-based   
   >>>>>>> society.   
      
   >>>>>> s/horse-based/sustainable   
      
   >>>>>> And, sadly, the problem isn't just limited to North American.  The   
   >>>>>> majority of sci-fi hand waves abundant energy into the future, but   
   >>>>>> the reality is that, so far, that appears to be the hardest hurdle we   
   >>>>>> have facing us.   
      
   >>>>> Only hardest in a political sense. There are designs for (relatively)   
   >>>>> inexpensive and easily-manufactured safe nuclear reactors which   
   >>>>> wouldn't require the super-billions of dollars or the many, many years   
   >>>>> to construct, but NOOKYOULAR PHEEER! pretty much kiboshes those.   
      
   >>>> I doubt it will if energy does become hard get.   
      
   >>>>> Solar power has come a **LONG** way in the last 20 years, and the   
   >>>>> ONLY real hurdle it has left is storage.   
      
   >>>> That is no hurdle now with national and sub national   
   >>>> grids and others that are close to that like the EU etc.   
      
   >>>>> If someone figures out a high-density storage medium,   
      
   >>>> We already have, pumped water.   
      
   >>>>> or is willing to install 2-3x base capacity so that the "storage   
   >>>>> medium" is synthesized hydrocarbon fuel of some sort,   
      
   >>>> I doubt that will ever make sense.   
      
   >>>> The most that is likely is that for the most convenient   
   >>>> transport fuel once natural gas and coal seam gas is   
   >>>> no longer economic as a transport fuel.   
      
   >>>>> the energy issue would be settled pretty well.   
      
   >>>> It already is if you don't mind using coal and brown coal.   
      
   >>>>> Farther into the future you have SPS, which has the advantage of no   
   >>>>> interruptions of service and no losses due to atmosphere or clouds.   
   >>>>> And the standard designs avoid the MICROWAVE DEATHRAY!!! problem.   
      
   >>>> Cant see solar power satellites being viable myself.   
   >>>> Bet we use safe thorium nukes instead. MUCH cheaper.   
      
   >>> Denmark and Spain now produce well over 25% of their total electricity   
   >>> with wind power and that is set to increase.   
      
   >> Pity about the cost of doing that and the need to have all that coal   
   >> fired power to handle the situation where the wind isn't blowing much.   
      
   > Pity there are no working thorium reactors anywhere either.   
      
   There will be, you watch.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)