Robert Bryce is one of America’s foremost authors and experts on energy. Specifically, he is an optimist about America’s economic future fueled in part by affordable, reliable energy. Bryce is also a skeptic regarding the “politically-correct” sources of energy beloved by environmentalists.
He discussed his book and his views on some important energy issues including the “shale revolution,” coal, “renewables,” and his optimism about America’s future. Video is available below:
Robert Bryce discusses, Smaller, Faster, Lighter, Denser, Cheaper in Albuquerque, NM on December, 9, 2014 from Paul Gessing on Vimeo.
I listened to the whole hour of Mr. Bryce’s presentation and took copious notes. Didn’t pick up my smart phone once:) The rapid fire presentation, like the PNM sponsored front page piece in last Thursday’s Albuquerque Journal was filled with facts. Lots of facts, but peel away the facade of either and the message is clear: Investors, don’t run away! Don’t listen to those crazed enviros.
Especially don’t listen to engineers who would tell you that we are not going to run out of silicon for making those PV panels. The revolution is on and it will take time but it has passed the critical point of proving it is a better way to do the great societal things that electricity can do.
Invest how ever you please.
Pat,
I understand and agree with your 1st paragraph, but you have a series of negatives relating to solar energy and then a cryptic message about investing. What are you getting at?
Paul,
Photovoltaics have become competitive with coal as a way to generate electricity without the health damage. The main components of crystalline PV are silicon wafers and glass made of silicon. We are not going to run out of sand. The price of oil is scaring investors. The cost of dirty electricity is going up, scaring investors, Transportation is going electric. Capital flight from fossil fuels is inevitable and can be slowed by writing books and articles to soothe the worried.
The stack of negatives was a vain attempt at humor.
Pat
Photovoltaics have their own environmental drawbacks. Rare earth materials are used for the cells, not to mention the tremendous battery capacity needed to back them up. Environmentalists can always be counted on to oppose the electric lines needed to transport said energy. And then there are the bird kills with some concentrated facilities.
And then there are the views of folks like Google’s top engineer who says simply “renewables won’t work.”
Our recent guest Robert Bryce is “bullish on solar.” His words. I am fine with whatever as long as they pay their own way w/o subsidies.