Interesting Weather Record Set Today

[Wayne SW/MO]

If you think that's eye opening, wait till you hear about all the species imperiled by oil spills, gas fracking, mountaintop removal, acid rain, and strip mining.

Not to mention climate change.

So it's alright then?

[Tim Smith]

So it's alright then?

The farm where I've seen the data has virtually no bird or bat kill. Put it on top of a mountain pass or a flyway and you get hawk sausage. Put in in the middle of an arid plain and there are no problems at all.

It all depends on siting.

And yes, in a lot of cases wind farming has virtually no impact.

[Justin Spencer]

And yes, in a lot of cases wind farming has virtually no impact.

I think the wind farmers are using up all the wind, seems like we haven't had as good of a breeze lately as usual.

[Tim Smith]

I think the wind farmers are using up all the wind, seems like we haven't had as good of a breeze lately as usual.

Government wind farmers no doubt.

[Justin Spencer]

The government makes the wind the farmers use.

[jeb]

Here's why I think the government should subsidize...and LEAD...in the development of alternative energy. This is not just an environmental problem. This is an energy problem that affects not only the environment (in many different ways, not just probable climate change), it affects our economy, jobs, national security, in fact every facet of our lives. And there are entrenched power bases that are dependent upon the status quo and will always be working against anything that diminishes their power, influence, and profits. The free market will work within industries, but in this case I don't think that expecting the free market, without government influence, to produce viable alternative energy in the time frame we need it to happen is realistic.

Yes, there are problems right now with every alternative energy source being developed. Would you expect anything else? These are developing technologies that are attempting to compete with long established technologies with very powerful interests behind them. You can't wave a magic wand and expect wind, solar, or any other alternative energy source to spring upon the scene full blown and ready for prime time.

That's true. And I support some publically funded development. But you can't force fit the technology, either. If it's not clearly economically viable on it's own within a forseeable amount of time, all it does is makes us less competitive on the world stage.

That's why they are DEVELOPING. And the choice is between letting them develop on their own, in constant competition with fossil fuel energy that, because it is so entrenched in our entire economy, will have the upper hand until it finally becomes so scarce and expensive that the alternatives will be able to compete.

It looks like that is a LONG ways off. An interesting development of increased oil prices is that it's also driving development in the oil extraction world, like oil sands in Canada. The long term outlook on oil supplies, given the newer technologies, is very good!

Hey, I hope we do make some technology break throughs that make so called green energy sources viable. I'm looking for the day when a car battery storage capacity can be put in a watch battery sized package that will never need replacing. But until then, oil and coal makes the most sense, especially in our economically challenging times.

[Chief Grey Bear]

That's true. And I support some publically funded development. But you can't force fit the technology, either. If it's not clearly economically viable on it's own within a forseeable amount of time, all it does is makes us less competitive on the world stage.

It looks like that is a LONG ways off. An interesting development of increased oil prices is that it's also driving development in the oil extraction world, like oil sands in Canada. The long term outlook on oil supplies, given the newer technologies, is very good!

Hey, I hope we do make some technology break throughs that make so called green energy sources viable. I'm looking for the day when a car battery storage capacity can be put in a watch battery sized package that will never need replacing. But until then, oil and coal makes the most sense, especially in our economically challenging times.

Green energy is already working in other countries. It is even being exported to other countries. I have yet to figure out why "big oil" in this country does not take the lead since we all know oil will not last forever.

I just roll my eyes and shake my head every time I hear we a long ways off in green development. The US use to be the leader that all countries looked to for technology. As soon as we quit being led by the green and start leading the green, we will again be leaders.

[Jerry Rapp]

we have enough oil for 300 years. In that amount of time we will have an alternative, probably hydrogen, but who knows solar and wind are not the answer. 100 yrs ago, Model T's were the in thing, much less one man canoes. What do you think another 100 years will bring? I vision a world where people ride around in vehicles like the Jetson's cartoons. Hover crafts delux.. You can bet we won't be driving around in F 150s.

[Chief Grey Bear]

we have enough oil for 300 years. In that amount of time we will have an alternative, probably hydrogen, but who knows solar and wind are not the answer. 100 yrs ago, Model T's were the in thing, much less one man canoes. What do you think another 100 years will bring? I vision a world where people ride around in vehicles like the Jetson's cartoons. Hover crafts delux.. You can bet we won't be driving around in F 150s.

When they opend the coal fields in Wyoming in the late 70's early 80's, they said there was a 600 year supply. That is now down to 200.

There is no reason we can't be driving F150's. We already have tech and have had for 30 years to make it a go.

[ozark trout fisher]

It looks like that is a LONG ways off. An interesting development of increased oil prices is that it's also driving development in the oil extraction world, like oil sands in Canada. The long term outlook on oil supplies, given the newer technologies, is very good!

Ever see what's happening to the environment in the Canadian Oil Sands area? It looks like a moonscape up there, once beautiful, pristine north-woods wilderness now completely barren. Think that's the answer to our energy crisis??? I sure don't. Same story with gas fracking, except the impacts of that are not quite as obvious yet.