AWKWARD ZOMBIE

I think the point of this short discussion on fuels was that each one has their downsides.
Wind and water are about the best fuels you can have, but they don't produce near enough to power a country.

Geothermal operates on the same principles as nuclear power - superheated steam, and IIRC those plants are pretty much on a par with nuclear power stations.

Hydroelectric is pretty good too, but wind power is a joke, honestly (if only because of the maintenance required weighed against the power produced).

I often wonder why solar energy isn't a bigger thing. I know the materials to produce solar panels are expensive, but wouldn't it save a shitload of cheddar in the long run? Some maintenance here and there, and you've got energy for the next few billion years.

Expensive to produce, and you need a LOT of them to make a difference. Also you need sunny weather.

It's a cheddar sink at first, but it's free forever afterward.

Like wind power, it's kind of dependant on the whims of nature, and I don't know what kind of surface coverage you need to provide enough power to run a household, and I think the panels themselves are still fairly expensive to produce.

If manufacturers got serious about it though, I'm sure they could produce solar panels as cheaply as they can produce LCD screens now.

If you could invent that, you would become the richest (wo)man in the world.

I'm interested in nuclear fusion at the moment, but I should really read up on it again.




Solar plants are being built, but the downside is that they take in way too much space, and as with all power sources dependent on the forces of nature, they are subject to extreme fluctuation and are incredibly bad for the power network. They are also quite expensive to maintain actually.

daisies, got ninja'd again.

Also Solar Power is inefficient and well

bad.

A bit late into responding to this, but whatever. Everything being taken care off is a bit of an overstatement, since it's not sure the cooling system will work properly, even if power gets restored. Also, they'll probably make it tsunami proof, since that's what did most of the damage.

There's also a problem inherent in all energy equipment. Namely, no one wants that stuff in their backyard.

Case in point, I live in the Antelope Valley. We joke about how our byproduct is wind because it's windy every daisies day of the year. A really good spot to put up a couple windmills. After about a decade we have one, singular. Why? Because a bunch of jackasses on the hills whined about how it ruined their spectacular view of the city.

Ah, yes. That reminds me. The new fighter, the F-35? The base near my house was supposed to be getting a shitload of them. Except a few people in the next town over didn't want to deal with the noise pollution of the new jets. I'll admit, these planes are loud even for fighter jets, but this means new jobs and an economic boost for every city the Air Force base touches. But no, who wants to raise their kids in a neighborhood where kick-booty fighter jets are constantly flying overhead?

Strangely enough no one here raises objections to that sort of thing with Edward's Air Force Base here. Probably because the base was here before the whiny pricks. Good thing, because now I get to see and hear everything from B-52's to touch and goes for jets I don't know the name of. And when it was active, the shuttle touching down from space after it was flown from here to Florida for its launch. Also, sonic booms. Sonic booms all the time, to where no one even notices them anymore.

I am really tired of all "will we be next?" paranoia bullshit. And this is coming from someone who lives on Vancouver Island, which is smack dab in the middle of two tectonic plates.

Mortal Kombat is banned in Australia. Any copy found (those who are obtained illegally or online) will be seized and import will be fined up to 110 thousand dollars.

Cool.