Renewable Energy

I believe that Global Warming (aka anthropocentric climate change) is rapidly changing our world on a much faster than geologic time scale.  When I moved back to Seattle from Santa Barbara 28 years ago, I was counting on it so I could live in a warmer place.

Either global warming is happening or not happening (according to the deniers).  Either way, reducing reliance on fossil fuels is a good thing.   For years, the ultimate dream was fusion power.   That is still a pipe dream.   Solar power as gain efficiency and cost reduction on a similar trajectory at Moore’s Law which states that integrated circuits double in density every two years.  That is a lot like as being twice as powerful or half as expensive.  Whatever the curve, it is extremely rapid progress.

The price of coal has plummeted in the last five years from $200/ton to $40/ton.   Likewise the local demand to make ports for shipping coal overseas has plummeted along with fossil fuel train traffic projections.   I sure don’t want that toxic crap polluting our region so that some rich guys living elsewhere get richer.

I am pleasantly surprised by the “sudden” increase in solar power since the days when President Reagan removed Carter’s solar power unit from the White House in the early 1980s.  That was like 3 or 5 oil wars ago depending on how you count your battles.  Those oil wars will hopefully soon be a thing of the past.  Thank god.

I am grateful for all the enormous possibilities for all mankind that cheap renewable energy will make possible.