obvious Child

Oh I realize that. It's one of the last great problems of electricity we have yet to solve.

As I understand, most hydroelectric plants aren't used constantly. The bonnie ville locks and dams on the Columbia is only used when the corp of engineers gets a call. Otherwise they are essentially sitting on potential energy. If we could simply harness that energy 24/7 instead of when we need it, that could go a long way, especially since we have thousands of dams across the nation.

And we should use nuclear. Nothing short of fusion is going to solve the problem by itself. Therefore we'll need a large basket of power sources.
Also, are nuclear plants being run constantly?

__________________
"They are the key to my eventual rise to the throne. Why would I abandon them?"

"Because I have asked you. And because your loyalty to our people should be greater than your ambition. And because I have poisoned your drink."

UtahBill

Fusion isn't likely to work for another 50 years....
Nukes are run flat out all the time, shutting down only for required maintenance. Most utilities have a mix of power sources, and running nukes 100% saves on buying coal, NG, etc. for the other plants.
I was under the impression that hydro plants are run the same....flat out, as long as they have the water behind the dams to do it...

__________________
The Age of Reason doesn't have to be a thing of the past.
Being judgemental is the prime directive of some evangelicals.
Love people and use things, not love things and use people.

WI Crippler

I just like his name.

__________________
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obvious Child

Well we need to get started.

That's what I thought, but largely due to the problems of shutting it down and starting it back up again. It's easier to simply just leave it running.

Nope. Well, not on the Columbia at least. Hoover may simply due to the demand from Las Vegas aside from when it is releasing sediment for the wildlife.

UtahBill

I think they started 40 years ago....

obvious Child

I heard that someone produced a nanosecond of cold fusion in a lab. Any word on that?

DeeJayH

my brother told me he heard on the boob tube that Pickens is recommending Gore to be Energy Czar?
say it ain't so
please

__________________
These days it seems that the deadliest place on earth for an American to be is inside the womb. - Joshua P. Allem

UtahBill

There is more reliable energy to be had from cow farts.....