RE: Energy Policy / Junk Science Environmentalism

To minimize the number of contributions, I've commenting on Peter Cook's and
Jack Syme's questions.

Peter Cook asks where we will get the hydrogen.

As many on this forum have pointed out, hydrogen is not a primary energy
source but an energy carrier and has to be generated using fossil fuels,
solar, wind, hydro, or nuclear. Since no conversion process is 100%
efficient, any hydrogen produced contains less energy than it took to make
it in the first place. Therefore, we have to consider the advantages of
hydrogen over that of other energy sources. Portability is one advantage,
but energy density is pretty low.

Peter Cook also asks about the "energy costs" of a hybrid car.

Presumably, there's not all that much difference other than perhaps the
batteries. After all, the frame/body, tires, wheels, seats, windows, etc.
are the same for both hybrids and "normal" cars. If the batteries can be
recycled, even better. What I think is a false energy economy is for people
to rush out to replace perfectly good appliances and cars with energy
efficient models. I see little point in replacing a less energy efficient
dishwasher with the latest energy efficient model unless said dishwasher is
on its last legs. Think about it: how much energy needs to be saved to
offset the energy needed to make the more efficient appliance?

Jack Syme asks about energy needed to extract uranium deuterium, and lithium
from seawater.

The costs of extracting deuterium from water are well known in the nuclear
industry. Canada's CANDU nuclear reactors used heavy water as moderator.
There are a couple of heavy water extraction plants in Ontario that extract
deuterium from surface waters (~170 ppm deuterium). The production costs
are probably proprietary information.

The energy cost of extracting uranium from seawater most likely is much less
than the fission energy of the uranium. Some experts feel that there is
enough uranium in seawater so that it can be considered to be an infinite
supply.

Chuck Vandergraaf

-----Original Message-----
From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On
Behalf Of jack syme
Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2006 7:28 AM
To: Al Koop; glennmorton@entouch.net; dfwinterstein@msn.com
Cc: asa@calvin.edu
Subject: Re: Energy Policy / Junk Science Environmentalism

----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter Cook" <pwcook@optonline.net>
To: "Al Koop" <koopa@gvsu.edu>; <glennmorton@entouch.net>;
<dfwinterstein@msn.com>
Cc: <asa@calvin.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2006 10:56 PM
Subject: Re: Energy Policy / Junk Science Environmentalism

<snip>
Received on Wed Jan 4 11:46:10 2006