Comments on: Waiting to be impressed by the candidates — and the media http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/08/waiting-to-be-impressed-by-the-candidates-and-the-media/ The Latest on Climate Science, Solutions, and Politics Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:52:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: Kirk Sorensen http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/08/waiting-to-be-impressed-by-the-candidates-and-the-media/#comment-12230 Kirk Sorensen Thu, 08 May 2008 16:05:18 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/08/waiting-to-be-impressed-by-the-candidates-and-the-media/#comment-12230 After your recent post, I want to vote for Newt Gingrich, a man with a plan to build 1400 nuclear reactors and actually DO SOMETHING about US carbon dioxide emissions! After your recent post, I want to vote for Newt Gingrich, a man with a plan to build 1400 nuclear reactors and actually DO SOMETHING about US carbon dioxide emissions!

]]> By: Earl Killian http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/08/waiting-to-be-impressed-by-the-candidates-and-the-media/#comment-12231 Earl Killian Thu, 08 May 2008 16:28:31 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/08/waiting-to-be-impressed-by-the-candidates-and-the-media/#comment-12231 Kirk, building reactors does nothing about CO2 emissions unless the candidate has a plan to close coal plants. That's tricky, because no investor (stock or bond) wants their investment suddenly valued at zero. Does McCain have what it takes to navigate such treacherous waters? I think not. Kirk, building reactors does nothing about CO2 emissions unless the candidate has a plan to close coal plants. That’s tricky, because no investor (stock or bond) wants their investment suddenly valued at zero. Does McCain have what it takes to navigate such treacherous waters? I think not.

]]> By: Joe http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/08/waiting-to-be-impressed-by-the-candidates-and-the-media/#comment-12233 Joe Thu, 08 May 2008 16:36:06 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/08/waiting-to-be-impressed-by-the-candidates-and-the-media/#comment-12233 Sorry, Kirk. He's got no plan for action. He's just got rhetoric aimed at stopping the rest of us from getting anything done. Sorry, Kirk. He’s got no plan for action. He’s just got rhetoric aimed at stopping the rest of us from getting anything done.

]]> By: Kirk Sorensen http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/08/waiting-to-be-impressed-by-the-candidates-and-the-media/#comment-12236 Kirk Sorensen Thu, 08 May 2008 16:59:12 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/08/waiting-to-be-impressed-by-the-candidates-and-the-media/#comment-12236 <i>Kirk, building reactors does nothing about CO2 emissions unless the candidate has a plan to close coal plants.</i> Agreed, but TVA has 15 GW of coal plants that they have to close down soon (in the next 10-15 years). I've tried to pitch that thorium is the way to do this with the least pain and suffering to the rate payer and the grid: http://thoriumenergy.blogspot.com/2007/04/how-tva-could-go-fossil-free.html http://thoriumenergy.blogspot.com/2007/04/letter-to-tva.html Kirk, building reactors does nothing about CO2 emissions unless the candidate has a plan to close coal plants.

Agreed, but TVA has 15 GW of coal plants that they have to close down soon (in the next 10-15 years). I’ve tried to pitch that thorium is the way to do this with the least pain and suffering to the rate payer and the grid:

http://thoriumenergy.blogspot.com/ 2007/ 04/ how-tva-could-go-fossil-free.html

http://thoriumenergy.blogspot.com/2007/04/letter-to-tva.html

]]> By: Joe http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/08/waiting-to-be-impressed-by-the-candidates-and-the-media/#comment-12237 Joe Thu, 08 May 2008 17:49:28 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/08/waiting-to-be-impressed-by-the-candidates-and-the-media/#comment-12237 Kirk: "15 GW of coal plants that they have to close down soon" I'll believe that when I see it. And don't forget that most of the 100 GWs of nuclear running today in this country will have to be shut down by 2050. So we'd need 100 GWs replacement + 50 GWs for Demand growth ( if we don't get serious about efficiency) built by 2050 just to keep nuclear at 20% (and that's assuming we don't make a big transition to plug ins, which we will). Plus I don't see how it's possible that a power source that is complicated from both a technological and regulatory perspective that does not have a single commercial facility in existence today could be generating many cost-effective kwhs before 2020. P.S. New coal now costs >$5000/kw. Kirk: “15 GW of coal plants that they have to close down soon”
I’ll believe that when I see it.

And don’t forget that most of the 100 GWs of nuclear running today in this country will have to be shut down by 2050.

So we’d need 100 GWs replacement + 50 GWs for Demand growth ( if we don’t get serious about efficiency) built by 2050 just to keep nuclear at 20% (and that’s assuming we don’t make a big transition to plug ins, which we will).

Plus I don’t see how it’s possible that a power source that is complicated from both a technological and regulatory perspective that does not have a single commercial facility in existence today could be generating many cost-effective kwhs before 2020.

P.S. New coal now costs >$5000/kw.

]]> By: Susan K http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/08/waiting-to-be-impressed-by-the-candidates-and-the-media/#comment-12238 Susan K Thu, 08 May 2008 18:28:59 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/08/waiting-to-be-impressed-by-the-candidates-and-the-media/#comment-12238 Clinton's SEC reporting requirement would shut down coal plants because once publicly traded corps have to report to the SEC what their climate change loss risks are, they will avoid climate change risk. Like they now pursue profitable over all other consideration because they have to report risk of loss. Clinton’s SEC reporting requirement would shut down coal plants because once publicly traded corps have to report to the SEC what their climate change loss risks are, they will avoid climate change risk.

Like they now pursue profitable over all other consideration because they have to report risk of loss.

]]> By: Kirk Sorensen http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/08/waiting-to-be-impressed-by-the-candidates-and-the-media/#comment-12240 Kirk Sorensen Thu, 08 May 2008 18:43:05 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/08/waiting-to-be-impressed-by-the-candidates-and-the-media/#comment-12240 <i>Plus I don’t see how it’s possible that a power source that is complicated from both a technological and regulatory perspective that does not have a single commercial facility in existence today could be generating many cost-effective kwhs before 2020.</i> Are you talking about light-water reactors or liquid-fluoride thorium reactors? LFTRs are far, far simpler and safer than LWRs. Plus I don’t see how it’s possible that a power source that is complicated from both a technological and regulatory perspective that does not have a single commercial facility in existence today could be generating many cost-effective kwhs before 2020.

Are you talking about light-water reactors or liquid-fluoride thorium reactors? LFTRs are far, far simpler and safer than LWRs.

]]> By: Joe http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/08/waiting-to-be-impressed-by-the-candidates-and-the-media/#comment-12242 Joe Thu, 08 May 2008 20:28:35 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/08/waiting-to-be-impressed-by-the-candidates-and-the-media/#comment-12242 Thorium. Thorium.

]]> By: Kirk Sorensen http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/08/waiting-to-be-impressed-by-the-candidates-and-the-media/#comment-12243 Kirk Sorensen Thu, 08 May 2008 20:57:42 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/08/waiting-to-be-impressed-by-the-candidates-and-the-media/#comment-12243 <i>Plus I don’t see how it’s possible that a power source that is complicated from both a technological and regulatory perspective that does not have a single commercial facility in existence today could be generating many cost-effective kwhs before 2020.</i> Well, I can't make you believe something if you don't want to believe it, but I would welcome you to learn more about the technology and make your own judgments. It's very different from light-water reactor technology, though, so be careful in making too close a comparison. Join our discussion forum, read the papers, ask questions... Plus I don’t see how it’s possible that a power source that is complicated from both a technological and regulatory perspective that does not have a single commercial facility in existence today could be generating many cost-effective kwhs before 2020.

Well, I can’t make you believe something if you don’t want to believe it, but I would welcome you to learn more about the technology and make your own judgments. It’s very different from light-water reactor technology, though, so be careful in making too close a comparison. Join our discussion forum, read the papers, ask questions…

]]> By: Mike http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/08/waiting-to-be-impressed-by-the-candidates-and-the-media/#comment-12299 Mike Fri, 09 May 2008 20:28:55 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/08/waiting-to-be-impressed-by-the-candidates-and-the-media/#comment-12299 John McCain has announced plans for a climate change tour. If he makes this a top priority, I will support him. I've always said to myself that I will support whichever candidate, regardless of party, takes the strongest approach to this issue. I don't see either Democratic candidate saying much about climate change. What's everyone else's thoughts on this? http://www.examiner.com/blogs-73-Yeas_and_Nays~y2008m5d9-McCain-planning-climate-change-tour John McCain has announced plans for a climate change tour. If he makes this a top priority, I will support him. I’ve always said to myself that I will support whichever candidate, regardless of party, takes the strongest approach to this issue. I don’t see either Democratic candidate saying much about climate change. What’s everyone else’s thoughts on this?

http://www.examiner.com/ blogs-73-Yeas_and_Nays~y2008m5d9-McCain-planning-climate-change-tour

]]> By: Joe http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/08/waiting-to-be-impressed-by-the-candidates-and-the-media/#comment-12317 Joe Fri, 09 May 2008 23:17:59 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/08/waiting-to-be-impressed-by-the-candidates-and-the-media/#comment-12317 Mike -- it's the media that ain't covering this. Obama's the one with a plan for climate, not McCain, who won't solve the problem. See http://climateprogress.org/2007/10/09/obamas-excellent-energy-and-climate-plan/ http://climateprogress.org/2008/02/08/no-climate-for-old-men-why-john-mccain-isnt-the-candidate-stop-global-warming/ http://climateprogress.org/2008/04/15/mccain-reveals-cynicism-hypocrisy-with-call-for-summer-gas-tax-holiday-energy-budget-freeze/ http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/04/mccain-calls-for-700-new-nuclear-plants-and-7-yucca-mountains-costing-4-trillion/ http://climateprogress.org/2008/03/15/could-a-president-obama-or-clinton-stop-global-warming/ Mike — it’s the media that ain’t covering this. Obama’s the one with a plan for climate, not McCain, who won’t solve the problem. See

http://climateprogress.org/ 2007/ 10/ 09/ obamas-excellent-energy-and-climate-plan/

http://climateprogress.org/ 2008/ 02/ 08/ no-climate-for-old-men-why-john-mccain-isnt-the-candidate-stop-global-warming/

http://climateprogress.org/ 2008/ 04/ 15/ mccain-reveals-cynicism-hypocrisy-with-call-for-summer-gas-tax-holiday-energy-budget-freeze/

http://climateprogress.org/ 2008/ 05/ 04/ mccain-calls-for-700-new-nuclear-plants-and-7-yucca-mountains-costing-4-trillion/

http://climateprogress.org/ 2008/ 03/ 15/ could-a-president-obama-or-clinton-stop-global-warming/

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