Solar power

Our current solar tech doesn't even pay for itself in any quick fashion. It outputs so low compared to its construction cost. Wind Farms take up so much fucking space even as they look pretty cool. Nuclear output is really fucking high when done right and is extremely safe when proper safety protocols are in place. There is, however, no reason not to use hydroelectric along side the nuclear.

We do with the Hoover dam. It powers a good chunk of Nevada, right?

Variety is life

Everything has its use on some scale. Wind and solar are both good for the consumer to use themselves or for powering individual things. Hydro and nuclear both give good power outputs. Until wind and solar have advancements to make them more cost/output efficient and less space requiring neither are good options for powering large areas.

Of course even as crappy as solar is right now there are many places using it help subsidize their energy needs. Except that one town in NC that convinced themselves the solar panels would absorb all the suns energy leaving none for plant life and also cause cancer. I kid you not it actually happened. http://www.discovery.com/dscovrd/tech/town-rejects-solar-panels-that-would-suck-up-all-the-energy-from-the-sun/

I bring facts. Despite popular anti nuclear sentiment- the USA has more nuclear power plants than any country in the world, and actually provides 30% of its power from nuclear. In perspective though- #2 is France. With 58 to our 104 reactors, but a population of 67 million versus 326 million, and Frances 249 thousand square miles to our 3.8 million miles of territory, the US may have the most reactors total, but not by population or land mass. Asides being uniquely suited to certain use cases we also must remember all power generation technology poses environmental impacts. Large solar, wind, or hydroelectric projects can cause or require devastating habitats and migratory territories of wildlife. Used components and the sourcing and creation of new components can create or release toxic waste. There’s no single magic replacement to fossil fuel (or likely not in our lives at least,) but we can make smart choices for suplimenting with sustainible means where feasible.

Geothermal would be useful it's just that it's really location-based and the only one I can think of is Yellowstone which is a national park.

We just need zero point energy in every town and boom problem solved.

@bethorien- careful. Post that a few more pales and you might end up with a nobel prize. It’s like the herpes of prizes.

But it's herpes that comes with a shot ton of money

Hydroelectric can screw with the natural environment some, but it makes a pretty good output. For worrying about cloud cover and things, grids can also shared with other countries and regions.

Just force everyone to make their own power. Put a hand crank in every house and say if they want something better build it ya damn self.

Even with those problems, hydroelectric is great. It almost singlehandedly powers some countries. And the USA could definitely make use of solar power, seeing as they’ve got more available land and sun than other places like Germany. Geothermal isn’t a large scale option, but Hawaii can use it and other locations in the USA as well.

Maybe we just have all the prisons/jails be forced to maintain the power requirements for the towns it's near having all it's inmates on crank bikes.

That is cruel and unusual punishment

And I'm a cruel and unusual person that plans to take over the world with the help of Ew. Seems to fit.

But that's unconstitutional...

But if me and Ew take over the world then we can write out own rules and force all of y'all to follow them and crank bikes will be my first proclamation.

Sorry bruv, but that ain't happening

Damn right it isn't. I'll conquer the world, and MY laws won't be stupid. Nuclear power for everyone!

@dr_richard_ew I thought I said to stab this guy? You had him confused and everything man. We can't be having competition in this dude.

I offered to spilt with y'all, but you fucked my Doombot, so nah.

I offered to spilt with y'all, but you fucked my Doombot, so nah.

Can't be splitting the world yo, it's all or nothing. Can't be wasting the people in prison. If they wanna continue being treated better than old people they gotta get on them bike cranks.

They actually did used to have inmates walk on a large wheel as punishment- a “tread wheel.” They then realized since inmates were walking- they could attach devices to the wheel to perform work such as pumping water or working grain etc- a “tread mill.” I’m not advocating it- just as a fun fact.

I thought we came to an agreement that we get this world and famous one gets a different world

I wouldn't know, that's something my Doombot was supposed to tell me.

Oh be quiet about your little robot, you can make another one

It's the principle of the thing

*pushes the mute button on your remote*

*gesticulates wildly*

Ah, that's much better

“Half of Eastern Europe” The US is virtually the same size as Europe.

The distance from Madrid to Moscow is less than the distance from Miami to Anchorage.

In the UK last weekend it was sunny, our solar farms provided 26.9% of the country’s power. A higher percentage than gas and we used zero coal. We’re a small island where it rains a lot! America has hundreds/thousands of square miles of dessert where it’s sunny every day.

It is good to note that the US doesn't control everything from Miami to anchorage

True. A better one is Miami to Seattle. Still almost 700 miles longer.

Hell, New York City to Vegas is comparable. The US is huge.

The US is 3.8 million square miles. Europe is 3.93 million square miles, including the portion in Russia. The European Union is 1.71 million square miles.

Also most European solar statistics only cover consumer energy use which is roughly 1/3 of a first world countries' energy consumption. Until someone makes affordable electric carnes, you're not getting of diesel and coal.