Is our energy economy stable and safe? Many are saying
the world’s economy is in the toilet! Some are predicting the
“recession” will last from 2 to 15 years.
Sure we have problems, most of which are caused by dumb
people doing dumb things. When I speak of dumb things, one of the
things I refer to is the housing real estate debacle we have just
experienced. I might add, we are about to experience an even greater
debacle in commercial real estate!
Please consider this:
Smart people do not finance
property for 110% to 125%
of it’s value, unless of course, they are merely greedy and don’t
intend to fulfill the obligations promised in their note.
Smart people do not lend money
on property for 110% to
125% of it’s value, unless of course, they are merely greedy and intend
to foreclose and own the property.
Smart people do not issue blank
checks without reading
the fine print, unless of course, they are merely greedy and don’t
intend to fulfill the obligations promised in their note. (I’m
referring to the adjustable rate mortgages many flocked to because they
were not solvent enough to qualify for conventional financing.)
Smart people do not lend to
unqualified buyers, unless
of course, they are merely greedy and intend to foreclose and own the
property.
I reckon that’s enough door slamming. Regardless of the
cause, we do have problems.
A series of things contributed to those problems. After
the real estate debacle, the excessive price of fossil fuel, the lack
of economic production in the generation of hard goods, among others.
At this juncture, I would like to have us think about a new term, a
buzz word perhaps, Alternative Energy Economy.
For many years, we have used water, wind and solar
sources to produce the power to operate many different applications.
Our primary source for "energy production", however, has been fossil
fuel; oil, coal, etc.
"Alternative Energy Economy" in itself states an economy
based on some alternative form. I will address some of those alternate
sources.
Water
Historically, we have used water to drive turbines to
generate electricity. In the process, flood control was achieved,
together with irrigation systems. According to Encarta Encyclopedia
2008, the first hydrothermal vent was discovered in 1977. Since that
time research has progressed in the cause and function of this
phenomenon. Current technology is developing hydrothermal sources that
may result in practical "energy" production.
Solar
More solar sources are being generated rapidly,
particularly those in conjunction with wind. This natural source is one
of the most abundant on our planet. It does present problems due to the
unpredictability of lack of sunny days, resulting in difficulty in
storage. Encarta Encyclopedia 2008 has numerous articles which give
pros and cons related to solar power.
Wind
In Encarta Encyclopedia 2008, wind is defined as air
in motion. We have used that source since inception (or thereabouts).
Wind has been used to move land vehicles, ocean going vessels,
recreational vessels, drive water pumps, drive electrical generators
and many other functions. T. Boone Pickens, of Texas oil fame, has
currently launched an effort to couple wind generators with natural
gas, as an alternate to gasoline, as a viable alternate to our current
use of oil.
Magnetic Power
The most recent breakthrough is in Magnetic Power
Generators.
Magnetic Power Generators are an amazing technology, for a few key
reasons:
They create free energy by
harnessing harmless
magnetic waves in a frictionless environment;
They take very little space
and can be conveniently
place virtually anyplace in the building;
They can help relieve the
"weight" of the monthly
energy bill ... and when scaled properly, can even eliminate it
entirely;
They can be built with
easily
accessible, very
affordable materials;
Plus, with the right
blueprints, even an elementary
school kid can build one!
It appears that alternative energy will in fact produce
a new economy. If that is true, the prudent entrepreneur should be
about his research and development now. The advice I see in the
marketplace is to get on board. This is a fast moving train and one
bound for success if handled correctly.
Here are a couple of good info sources:
Encarta Encyclopedia 2008 has
some comprehensive
articles;
