Harnessing this energy

--- In ssi_list@... Eric Dahlstrom

> What we need is a concise summary of advantages and disadvantages
for
> our energy options. If space solar power is to be developed as an
> alternative, we need to communicate the potential benefits, and
> identify near-term policy actions.

Makes sense to me.

> For a broad audience, we also need to compare the alternatives -
in a
> sympathetic manner. We can go a lot farther if we give credit to
other
> options (conceding their validity within a certain scale, for
example),
> and then present the benefits for space power for an honest
comparison.

Again, sounds like a good approach. My guess is that SPS will soon
thereafter be targeted as a nuclear analogue by the environmental
movement.

I have many criticisms of their positions and philosophies but I do
admire their mastery of the public relations realm and their skill
at doubletalk. They hold sway over a dedicated following and
influence a vast population of soft sympathiziers who buy into the
environmentalist position on solar/wind/hydrogen because they
believe it is environmentally beneficial. Afterall, who loves smog
and Global Warming caused flooding and hurricanes?

Once we're targeted, then what do we do? Look at how well Nuclear
Power advocates and the Oil/Coal/Gas lobby get along with
environmentalists. If we start to capture the public's imagination,
why will we do better when we're the target of the environmentalist
ire?

> In the past few years I have participated in the ProSpace visits
to
> Congress in March. We get a chance to ask for support for space
solar
> power from the hundreds of offices we visit. We have seen a lot
of
> interest from Congressional offices, and I think there is
potential for
> more than the ~$3M(?) of funding we have helped obtain. But I
think the
> materials we use to present space solar power need to be stronger.
I
> think I may have even seen the content we need scroll by in the
past
> month on this list.

I congratulate you, and admire your effort, in doing the footwork in
the corridors of Washington. Bravo.

> Thanks to everyone who contributed the 73k words (270 pages!)
this
> month. Now, who will boil it down into a short summary? :-)
>
> - Eric Dahlstrom

Hah! :) Not Me. I've already written too much.

TangoMan