Forever Earthbound
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

UnCommon Sense

10/5/2019

0 Comments

 
       Common Sense perched on the shoulder of ancient humankind and whispered in its ear, “Obviously, the sun revolves around the Earth.”  During the Renaissance she murmured to doctors, “Draining out the diseased patient’s bad blood by bloodletting will drain out the illness as well.”  In the 1800s, Common Sense basked in America’s abundance and practically shouted, “Limitless resources, such as the passenger pigeon, can’t possibly be exhausted.”

        In recent times Ms. Common Sense pointed to the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear accidents and convinced most of us (this writer included) that nuclear energy as a power source is incompatible with a healthy environment.  “It’s just too risky, a possible catastrophe!” she’s warned.

        But Common Sense sometimes gives way to further analysis, scientific advancement, or actual demonstration as in the case of the now extinct passenger pigeon.  Today’s challenges over energy use and climate disruption may give us reason to question Common Sense’s former message about nuclear energy.  Could it be that catastrophic consequences would be more likely if we DON’T include sensible use of 21st century nuclear technology in our energy mix? 

       Consider a recent quillette.com article by Michael Shellenberger.  He explains that  the energy density of any fuel determines its environmental and health impacts.  Fossil fuels, for example, have very low energy density.  In contrast, uranium can produce one million times more heat per its mass than fossil fuels.

        Renewables also have weak energy flows, so they have to be spread over enormous areas.  It’s understandable that those concerned about the negative effects of fossil fuels have looked favorably toward renewables as the only and best alternative. They seem natural.  However, even in sunny California, a solar farm requires 450 times more land to produce the same amount of energy as a nuclear plant.

        What about safety?  Nuclear is arguably the best energy from an environmental perspective because it produces so little waste and its residue is contained.  Since the 1960s, every major study finds nuclear is the safest way to make reliable electricity.  (Maybe the least environmentally destructive also?)  Nuclear plants already save lives that would have been lost to air pollution.

        Wow!  Shellenberger’s argument is one big kielbasa to chew on!  In today’s energy and resource hungry world Common Sense advises, “Let’s wisely examine ALL options in building a healthy and prosperous future because this is the only home we’ll ever have.  We’re all forever… Earthbound.” 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I'm interested in the topics of sustainability and climate change especially in regards to our local area in southwest Wisconsin.

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013

    Categories

    All
    Carbon Fee And Dividend
    Carbon Sequestration
    Climate Change
    Extreme Weather
    Health
    Local Food
    Lymes Disease
    Mercury Pollution
    Renewable Energy

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.