Tesla Model S Voted "Car Of The Year" By Motor Trend

[Jim Jeffries]

Or the Germans and expand wind and solar.

I took a bus to Berlin a year ago, and as you approach the city you drive through many 'windfarms' (actually they are normal farms, but they also have wind turbans. One of the advantages of wind, you can still use the land).

Even Germany produces more electricity from nuclear than us (23% vs 19.6) and their combined wind and solar still makes up only 12% of the total. Like us their main source is still coal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_Germany
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_..._United_States

[MindBat]

[Drunken Cat]

Even Germany produces more electricity from nuclear than us (23% vs 19.6) and their combined wind and solar still makes up only 12% of the total. Like us their main source is still coal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_Germany
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_..._United_States

I know, although the US probably produces more from nuclear in absolute terms (or the US may well do so, I say without looking at the data).

And I am also aware that the Germans rely very heavily on coal.

12% is certainly a very notable proportion though, considering the technology is still very young.

In fact, Germany is in the process of phasing out nuclear entirely, it seems.

The main point was that there is a lot that can be done to expand wind and solar.

[Drunken Cat]

And wind power is apparently much safer than nuclear energy at the moment ...

10 Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/cu...lear-power.htm

Tell me about it. I live in Japan after all. What are the dangers of wind power? That a turban might fall over and hit somebody?

[MindBat]

Tell me about it. I live in Japan after all. What are the dangers of wind power? That a turban might fall over and hit somebody?

Lol! Probably swallowing a wayward bug or something.

[Jim Jeffries]

12% is certainly a very notable proportion though, considering the technology is still very young.

Electricity from wind isn't that old, the first multi-megawatt wind turbine was constructed in Denmark back in 1978. Well that and this electricity generating windmill from 1888:



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_wind_power

In fact, Germany is in the process of phasing out nuclear entirely, it seems.

Looks fairly even to me over the last 37 years or so.

The main point was that there is a lot that can be done to expand wind and solar.

Absolutely. My point was we could replace all of our coal plants with nuclear today. Then as wind and solar technologies begin to become cheaper, safer and more reliable, we can gradually phase out nuclear.

Tell me about it. I live in Japan after all. What are the dangers of wind power? That a turban might fall over and hit somebody?

Actually wind farms are responsible for the deaths of over 100 bald eagles annually in California alone and many other eagles around the world.

http://savetheeaglesinternational.org/
http://www.iberica2000.org/Es/Articulo.asp?Id=4242

[MindBat]

Electricity from wind isn't that old, the first multi-megawatt wind turbine was constructed in Denmark back in 1978. Well that and this electricity generating windmill from 1888



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_wind_power





Looks fairly even to me over the last 37 years or so.



Absolutely. My point was we could replace all of our coal plants with nuclear today. Then as wind and solar technologies begin to become cheaper, safer and more reliable, we can gradually phase out nuclear.





Actually wind farms are responsible for the deaths of over 100 bald eagles annually in California alone and many other eagles around the world.

http://savetheeaglesinternational.org/
http://www.iberica2000.org/Es/Articulo.asp?Id=4242

You would think that after the first few bald eagles got propelled out of the sky by a wind turbine that his buddies would suggest flying just a bit higher than normal in those areas?