245
Transferring operations from the Earth into space that involve energy production,
mining, minerals processing, materials refining, chemical manufacturing, smelting,
metal plating, and other pollution-intensive heavy industries is one way to keep
human civilization moving ahead technologically, without sacrificing the environment in the process. Earth could become a park-like world, with large nature preserves, clean cities, and jobs that have a low-impact on the environment. How is that
for a vision?
12.3 Recommendations
So where does this leave us? There is a lot of information to digest in terms of fossil
energy, fracking, and the environment. Fracking does indeed have some environmental issues, but most of these are no better or worse than any other form of fossil
fuel extraction and use. The point is that ALL forms of fossil fuel extraction and use
are bad for the environment. We must, as responsible stewards of this planet, use
fossil fuels for no more than another decade or two at most to maintain the technological level of our civilization high enough to develop more sustainable, less
impactful forms of energy. If we fail to do so, all of humanity will suffer the consequences. In fact, the entire ecosystem of the planet may suffer the consequences.
This book has attempted to lay out in a logical, understandable manner the issues
we are facing and the steps that must be taken. We must use the technology we have
on hand, and not sit idly by waiting for a miracle of hot or cold fusion, zero point
energy, harnessing a black hole, or some other exotic energy source to solve our
problems. We have the technology available to do this. It requires the political will
to implement it. It must be done in a methodical, logical manner to minimize disruption, but we must move forward.
The recommendations below are from a geologist who has spent a 45-year career
working on issues related to energy, water, and the environment. I have a lot of
experience with these issues, and maybe I’d be classified as an “expert.” But there
are a lot of other people, many of whom are much smarter than I am that have been
thinking about this. Everyone needs to come together and work together to solve
this problem. We need ideas, but more importantly, we need the will to implement
these ideas. And we can’t put it off much longer. As Theoprastus (371-286 BCE),
Aristotle's student and the founder of botany once noted, “Waste of time is the most
extravagant of all expenses.”
It was stated earlier that energy use is controlled by three factors: technology,
economics, and policy. The technology is out there and continually improving. But
the economics of established energy giants like big oil, cheap coal, and abundant
natural gas are difficult to overcome. Renewables are more expensive, period.
Despite 40 years of technological improvements to wind, solar, and geothermal,
they are still only marginally cost-competitive with fossil fuel. New nuclear is
almost not even on the table. So we have the technology, and we have done all we
can with the economics. All that is left is policy.
12.3 Recommendations
Transferring operations from the Earth into space that involve energy production,
mining, minerals processing, materials refining, chemical manufacturing, smelting,
metal plating, and other pollution-intensive heavy industries is one way to keep
human civilization moving ahead technologically, without sacrificing the environment in the process. Earth could become a park-like world, with large nature preserves, clean cities, and jobs that have a low-impact on the environment. How is that
for a vision?
12.3 Recommendations
So where does this leave us? There is a lot of information to digest in terms of fossil
energy, fracking, and the environment. Fracking does indeed have some environmental issues, but most of these are no better or worse than any other form of fossil
fuel extraction and use. The point is that ALL forms of fossil fuel extraction and use
are bad for the environment. We must, as responsible stewards of this planet, use
fossil fuels for no more than another decade or two at most to maintain the technological level of our civilization high enough to develop more sustainable, less
impactful forms of energy. If we fail to do so, all of humanity will suffer the consequences. In fact, the entire ecosystem of the planet may suffer the consequences.
This book has attempted to lay out in a logical, understandable manner the issues
we are facing and the steps that must be taken. We must use the technology we have
on hand, and not sit idly by waiting for a miracle of hot or cold fusion, zero point
energy, harnessing a black hole, or some other exotic energy source to solve our
problems. We have the technology available to do this. It requires the political will
to implement it. It must be done in a methodical, logical manner to minimize disruption, but we must move forward.
The recommendations below are from a geologist who has spent a 45-year career
working on issues related to energy, water, and the environment. I have a lot of
experience with these issues, and maybe I’d be classified as an “expert.” But there
are a lot of other people, many of whom are much smarter than I am that have been
thinking about this. Everyone needs to come together and work together to solve
this problem. We need ideas, but more importantly, we need the will to implement
these ideas. And we can’t put it off much longer. As Theoprastus (371-286 BCE),
Aristotle's student and the founder of botany once noted, “Waste of time is the most
extravagant of all expenses.”
It was stated earlier that energy use is controlled by three factors: technology,
economics, and policy. The technology is out there and continually improving. But
the economics of established energy giants like big oil, cheap coal, and abundant
natural gas are difficult to overcome. Renewables are more expensive, period.
Despite 40 years of technological improvements to wind, solar, and geothermal,
they are still only marginally cost-competitive with fossil fuel. New nuclear is
almost not even on the table. So we have the technology, and we have done all we
can with the economics. All that is left is policy.
12.3 Recommendations