US Climate Debate

[Monroe]

Plain ol' fission is fine as a stopgap before fusion.

Good luck getting public support for that though

[Tsukiyumi]

Just tell them its a biofuel plant. Or a toy factory; whatever. Most people wouldn't know the difference.

[Aaron]

If only we could harness the apathy and general ignorance of the voting public, we'd never want for energy again.

[Tsukiyumi]

[Vic]

What gets me about such arguments is the all or nothing aspects, why does it have to be that way? So, when does Peak Power Usage occur, daytime, as in when the Sun shines? Whoa, no way, can't use Solar then ! Oh, but what about night, well I guess we use fossil fuels at night.

All it takes is actual use of that thing we generally use for a hat rack.

And then there is the infrastructure argument, "we don't have one in place, therefore we can't do it." Utter drivel, did the original oil barons give up because of no infrastructure? No, they built the necessary infrastructure, created a whole hell of a lot of jobs doing it too.

[Aaron]

What gets me about such arguments is the all or nothing aspects, why does it have to be that way? So, when does Peak Power Usage occur, daytime, as in when the Sun shines? Whoa, no way, can't use Solar then ! Oh, but what about night, well I guess we use fossil fuels at night.

All it takes is actual use of that thing we generally use for a hat rack.

And then there is the infrastructure argument, "we don't have one in place, therefore we can't do it." Utter drivel, did the original oil barons give up because of no infrastructure? No, they built the necessary infrastructure, created a whole hell of a lot of jobs doing it too.

I guess folks never heard of batteries?

[Tyyr]

What gets me about such arguments is the all or nothing aspects, why does it have to be that way? So, when does Peak Power Usage occur, daytime, as in when the Sun shines? Whoa, no way, can't use Solar then ! Oh, but what about night, well I guess we use fossil fuels at night.

Actually you're just wrong. Power usage peaks from approximately 6 to 10 am and 4 to 8 pm. Solar produces its peak output between about 10 am and 4 pm. Early morning and evening as the sun starts to set power production from solar panels drops off sharply. That's part of that 15% CF.

And then there is the infrastructure argument, "we don't have one in place, therefore we can't do it." Utter drivel, did the original oil barons give up because of no infrastructure? No, they built the necessary infrastructure, created a whole hell of a lot of jobs doing it too.

It's not an argument. Its information. It's an example of how underestimated the true cost of "going green" is. Try and keep up.

I guess folks never heard of batteries?

[Aaron]

We should just totally put a bigass solar station in Sol's orbit and run an extension cord to Earth. Don't bother with any transformers, batteries or anything else, just plug the sucker right into the household grid.

We'll all be firefighters within the month, instant employment!

[Graham Kennedy]

I'm sorry, but you have no idea what you are talking about. There is no such thing as a "proven theory" in science.

Yes, I mis-stated. However it doesn't change the spirit of what I've said. That even if the planet is heating up there's insufficient evidence that humans are the cause to start putting massive sweeping legislation into effect.

A rather large majority of those who are experts working in the field say you are flat wrong.

[Tyyr]

A rather large majority of those who are experts working in the field say you are flat wrong.

And I've seen quite a few who wouldn't.

[Sionnach Glic]

Okay, since I think I'm the only mod/admin who hasn't weighed in on this subject yet, I'll keep out of it in favour of moderating it without bias.

So, how about both sides present sources from credible, peer-reviewed scientists to back their cases?

[Graham Kennedy]

A rather large majority of those who are experts working in the field say you are flat wrong.

And I've seen quite a few who wouldn't.

Depends on what you mean by "quite a few".

This source says that a survey showed 97% of climatologists believe the evidence points to global warming, and 82% believe the evidence shows that it's caused by humans. Since 2007 there hasn't been one single scientific body of national or international standing in the whole world which rejects these conclusions.

In February 2007, the IPCC released a summary of the forthcoming Fourth Assessment Report. According to this summary, the Fourth Assessment Report finds that human actions are "very likely" the cause of global warming, meaning a 90% or greater probability.

Frankly, at this point I think anybody who claims global warming isn't happening is in a place where they are ignoring the evidence because they don't want to believe it.

[IanKennedy]

Most scientists were also once in agreement that the world was flat,

No you are wrong that has never been a scientific theory. Even the ancient Greeks knew that the earth was round. For example Around 330 BC, Aristotle provided observational evidence for the spherical Earth.

[Captain Seafort]

Plus, IIRC, calculated it's diameter to within a few hundred km.

[IanKennedy]

I wasn't sure it was him, but yes one of them did. Damn accurate for a man with a well and a compass.