On Nov 13, 2008, at 12:46 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
In reply to Horace Heffner's message of Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:58:46
-0900:
Hi,
[snip]
(11) subsidizing and
cutting the red tape required to build a nationwide underground HVDC
backbone power distribution system, a project similar in national
defense significance to the construction of super highways in the
1950s, and one that might best be accomplished by the government
directly using bid contracts.
[snip]
If some form of fusion energy is developed, then this could turn
out to be a
wasted investment, since it assumes that energy distribution is
most cheaply
accomplished when that energy is electrical. However distribution
of fusion fuel
is far cheaper, because of the extreme energy density (well, that's
what my
intuition says anyway ;)
Furthermore, distribution of fusion fuel is much more flexible.
Changes to a
HVDC grid are expensive, while redirecting a truck carrying fuel costs
essentially nothing.
Regards,
Robin van Spaandonk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
You don't gamble your country's security on pie in the sky. If cold
fusion is developed commercially all energy infrastructure will
become obsolete. If it is not developed then the prudence to focus
on power infrastructure will have paid off. That is the only win-win
scenario, to develop the power distribution and renewable energy
generation infrastructure, promote conservation, and to invest a
small portion of the gross national product in cold fusion and other
new energy technologies. A new power infrastructure can be developed
much faster than most people think, provided there exists the
political will to do whatever it takes to cut the Gordian Knot and
make it so.
Best regards,
Horace Heffner
http://www.mtaonline.net/~hheffner/
