ML103620060
| ML103620060 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Davis Besse  |
| Issue date: | 12/28/2010 |
| From: | Scientific American |
| To: | Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel |
| SECY RAS | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML103620058 | List: |
| References | |
| License Renewal 2, RAS 19321, 50-346-LR | |
| Download: ML103620060 (2) | |
Text
A Solar Grand Plan: Scientific American http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=a-solar-grand-plan[12/27/2010 4:52:23 PM]
Image: Schott AG/Commercial Handout/EPA/Corbis Today's Alternative Energy Promising technologies to wean the world from fossil fuels, including offshore wind, solar, geothermal and hydrogen cars, among others >>
October 20, 2008 High prices for gasoline and home heating oil are here to stay. The U.S. is at war in the Middle East at least in part to protect its foreign oil interests. And as China, India and other nations rapidly increase their demand for fossil fuels, future fighting over energy looms large. In the meantime, power plants that burn coal, oil and natural gas, as well as vehicles everywhere, continue to pour millions of tons of pollutants and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere annually, threatening the planet.
Well-meaning scientists, engineers, economists and politicians have proposed various steps that could slightly reduce fossil-fuel use and emissions. These steps are not enough. The U.S. needs a bold plan to free itself from fossil fuels. Our analysis convinces us that a massive switch to solar Home >> Scientific American Magazine >> January 2008 Feature Articles l More Science A Solar Grand Plan By 2050 solar power could end U.S. dependence on foreign oil and slash greenhouse gas emissions By Ken Zweibel, James Mason and Vasilis Fthenakis l l December 16, 2007 l l 717 See Inside Share Email Print A massive switch from coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power plants to solar power plants could supply 69 percent of the U.S.s electricity and 35 percent of its total energy by 2050.
A vast area of photovoltaic cells would In Brief THE PRINT EDITION View Latest Issue >>
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A Solar Grand Plan: Scientific American http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=a-solar-grand-plan[12/27/2010 4:52:23 PM]
power is the logical answer.
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have to be erected in the Southwest.
Excess daytime energy would be stored as compressed air in underground caverns to be tapped during nighttime hours.
Large solar concentrator power plants would be built as well.
A new direct-current power transmission backbone would deliver solar electricity across the country.
But $420 billion in subsidies from 2011 to 2050 would be required to fund the infrastructure and make it cost-competitive.
The Editors Infographic Photovoltaics Infographic Underground Storage Infogra Concent Solar Supplemental Material Post a Comment l Read Comments (717)
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