On Fri, Aug 15, 2008 at 9:08 AM, J R <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > --- In [email protected], "Susan Hogarth" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >> On Thu, Aug 14, 2008 at 6:46 PM, Lorraine DeNardis >> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> > ... I was just at an energy meeting, and they are >> > planning a bio-fuel energy plant in Nacadoches county that will > burn wood >> > chips instead of coal as fuel. While I was there I was thinking > that Hemp is >> > a lot more renewable than wood, and to burn wood to help off set > carbon >> > emmissions kind of defeats the purpose. ... >> >> Hemp as a fuel takes a lot of processing, wouldn't it? Are the wood >> chips the byproduct of some other use of wood? Wood is a perfectly >> fine fuel source, it seems to me. > > Wind and Solar are far far superior methods of generating electricity.
That depends. If you live in a forest near a stream, you'd do better with water and wood than with solar, it seems to me. Also, wood can be converted to electricity using far lower tech (steam engine connected to generator) than solar PV panels, which makes it much better for certain places and applications. For context, I should mention that my husband and I live entirely off-grid, using mostly solar for generating electricity. We also have a backup diesel generator, which can at need burn vegetable oil. We are considering adding steam generating capability to utilize inexpensive and scrap wood (well, and because the DH is in love with steam engines, but who isn't?). We heat water using either solar water panels or a wood-burning stove (depending on season). House heat is wood. Cooling is electric. > If enough wind/solar is installed, the costs and effects of > hydrocarbons would diminish drastically. Of course, the utilities and > the governments that tax the krap out of them are opposed for some reason. There is seldom one optimal solution for something as complex as power generation, storage, transport, and utilization. That's the beauty of a free and unhindered market - all options can be explored, and can be tailored for individual and area-wide needs and preferences. Wind and solar are wonderful things, but bear in mind that solar carries heavy costs in terms of technology and manufacturing of PV panels. Better technology will certainly help, but there is still a place, I think, for burning hydrocarbon fuels. To fill that. renewables like wood, corn, veggie oil, and other possibles should all be considered as part of an overall energy mix. -- Susan Hogarth | Get Free! Libertarian for NC State House 38 http://hogarth4house.com/
