Re:Mapping how the United States generates its electricity
by ZeroGravitas on Monday August 03, 2015 @02:46PM
(#9998769)
Every dollar of electricity generated from coal costs several dollars worth of health problems, its a net negative for a nation before you even consider climate change. Basically anything else is a better and cheaper option.
The only current problem with wind and solar in the US is the lack of it. There will need to be changes as it gets to a higher percentage of the grid but we already have various solutions for that, the main reason for not rolling out the solutions is the lack of problem to solve.
Re:Mapping how the United States generates its electricity
by shoo on Monday August 03, 2015 @07:56AM
(#9995096)
> we have technology in place to dampen most of the pollutants from burning it
Could you please go into a little bit more detail here? Which pollutants are you referring to? By "technology in place" do you mean "deployed in the field and being used", or something more speculative?
(not disagreeing with you, i am ignorant and curious!)
Re:Mapping how the United States generates its electricity
by hga on Monday August 03, 2015 @08:36AM
(#9995261)
The two big ones I know about are sulfur dioxide (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur_dioxide#As_an_air_pollu...) and fly ash (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly_ash).
Re:Mapping how the United States generates its electricity
by fataliss on Tuesday August 04, 2015 @08:28PM
(#10007324)
How about we use other types of Nuclear like LFTR? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK367T7h6ZY)
Hydro is likely going in reverse as many rivers were returned to original condition for environmental reasons. I don't know of any large hydro under way other than expansion of current installations.
Solar and wind, larger foot print for the same power, and to top it off storage for when needed is not simple. I am still not keen on bunkers of lithium batteries so hopefully other solutions for storing the power to when its needed come along.