Phillip Batson wrote:
> And you get those cool 3 eyed fish from the cooling
> pond too! :)
> They are going to build a prototype fusion reactor
> soon. Either France or Japan. (personally, I hope
> Japan gets it as they seem more technology savvy than
> the frenchies) ;) Our administration needs to worry
> less about getting to Mars (although a moon base would
> be ok in my book! :P) and developing better technology
> for alternate energy sources.
>
> I'm sure the big 'ol oil companies have a lot to do
> with the bad exposure of nuclear energy. With all the
> damn money they make, you'd think they'd be dumping it
> into R&D so they can be the "heroes" of alternate
> energy. Who knows, maybe they are, and they are just
> trying to maximize their profits before the oil wells
> dry up. <shrug>
>
> With the 100mi I drive every day, I am seriously
> thinking about a much more fuel effiecient car. I love
> my Dakota, but $200+/mo for gas is getting steep. What
> I'm paying in gas alone right now would probably cover
> the loan payments. <sigh>
>
> Anyone see any of those VW GDI diesels around? They
> look kinda nice....
Actually, the cooling water never mixes with the lake next to the
reactor, here in IL, there's a lake called Lake Heideke (hide-a-key, i
think the spelling might be wrong) that's great for fishing, and it's
got a nuclear powerplant right next to it that uses its water.
There are already several fusion reactors around the world, and the
theory that they're based on is sound. However, they have yet to be
able to create a self sustaining reaction, and thus far (IIRC) haven't
been able to generate more energy than what is used to sustain the reaction.
IMO, nuclear energy gets its bad rap because people are afraid of
another big accident like the one at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island.
You hardly hear about TMI anymore because it's since been cleaned and is
habitable again, whereas Chernobyl is not. Fear of this technology
comes because knowledge is very limited, and I feel that with greater
public knowledge, the fear would subside and we could start phasing out
the dirtier forms of energy generation, and use that extra savings to
further research potential ways to increase efficiency of nuclear power
plants, while at the same time furthering research into alternative
energy sources.
I too drive > 70 miles every day during the school year, and with the
relatively poor (by comparison) mileage that I get in my truck, I can't
help but think that I should be looking at more fuel efficient
transportation. I was actually hoping to purchase a motorcycle for
summer usage to help offset the fuel cost, since bikes get in excess of
40mpg.
Sorry that I've derailed this thread so far...
-- - Josh Lowered 2000 Dakota CC 3.9L www.geocities.com/lenny187/dakota.html www.omg-stfu.com
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