A 7/29/07 IR editorial outlined the myriad of coal plants that have been shelved recently. It concluded that without coal-fired generation, pressure for nuclear power rather than energy conservation wind, solar and other renewable energy will only grow. It indicated we would do well to “think hard about all our alternatives because doing without electricity isn’t going to be one of them.”
Thankfully, we have thought hard. The Western Governors Association has several fine studies on energy. Its 19 state area will need 30,000 megawatts of new energy by 2015. We can obtain more than three times that amount without increasing coal or nuclear power. Instead, energy needs can be met by conservation, and fuel-cost-free renewable energy from the sun, wind, geothermal, etc.
Read the entire article here:
http://www.helenair.com/articles/2007/08/07/opinions/a040807_02.txt