Open The Pod Bay Doors, HAL (Digest #487)

RE: 1) Global Energy Strategies. I submit that any serious discussion in
this topic area is negligent without a critical analysis of Rifkin's new
"The Hydrogen Economy": http://www.gristmagazine.com/books/books091802.asp "

Dear SSI List;
I don't get the connection between the caption, Open The Pod ... and
Global energy, but I want to insert into the discussion a very useful and
short but precise article on energy from Science magazine. The article,
Advanced Technology Paths to Global Climate Stability: Energy for a
Greenhouse Planet, by Martin I. Hoffert, et al, including 17 others, one of
whom is John S. Lewis, Science Vol. 298, page 981-987 (only 7 pages) 1 Nov.
2002. Almost all options are reviewed, including Solar Power Satellites,
fusion, hydrogen and others. But the hydrogen economy is briefly dispatched
as there are no natural sources, so it must be made (turned into H-H) by
some other energy form. Energy, Steam and Methane would do it, but still
delivering CO2 to the atmosphere (or somewhere) and it can not compete with
using the methane directly in fuel cells or burning it.
My point is not to argue here but to pique your interest in this article.
The only fault I have seen in this article is that it does not mention
methane hydrates, which could wreck the Earth's heat balance (and destroy
our civilization) if released as it is a green house gas.
Sincerely, Jay Huebner