Worry, aka anxiety, is a pervasive problem. Repeatedly worrying about numerous things is likely to cause physical illness because there is, in truth, a direct connection between mind and body. A major point of worry for several years has been Climate Change, coupled with fears about what might happen if we don’t change our ways.
There’s good news. The problem of climate change has a solution, a headline that should be blasted across every media outlet in the world. No, don’t be thinking it will happen next month. It will take years, maybe decades, but we know what we need to do to reduce carbon emission and greenhouse gasses while still generating enough power to do everything we need today and will want to do tomorrow. Better yet, we know how to do it. Right now.
In 2021, Scientific American magazine published an article that stated, “Our electric grid is old and fraying, but new technology could insulate us from the possibility of widespread blackouts and cyberattacks.”
The grid is a chain of interconnected machines. Power moves down that chain from generators to very high-voltage transmission lines, to lower-voltage distribution networks, to our outlets, lights, and charging stations.
Power on the grid shifts to meet needs through a system referred to as load shedding (automatically adjusting or disconnecting some peoples’ power to more evenly distribute the total amount available). It works fine except in severe power surges, uneven usage, disasters, or mismanagement.
Solar and wind generators have been added to the grid. Although not perfect replacements for traditional carbon-emitting generators, they are a good start. Even small additions of electric power benefit all users, especially when the new generators are installed in small communities or on home roofs. Excess power from renewable systems is fed back to the grid when needed.
One of the proposed grand solutions involves the installation of safe, non-polluting, nuclear power. Modern fission generators are smaller, safer, and more reproducible than ever. Heck, the U.S. Navy has been safely using nuclear power for more than 50 years.
Generation IV nuclear reactors are being developed through the cooperation of 14 countries, including the United States. When developed properly, there is no room for irrational fear. Current “clean” nuclear resources can help, a great deal.
Small modular reactors (SMRs) 1, are already being developed and tested in South Korea. Once they’re scaled up, they will be built wherever needed – with far less hesitancy, red tape, and cost. Some future-thinkers envision generators the size of a one-car garage could power small cities while being integrated to strengthen and support the grid.
Nuclear fusion (the process that powers stars, with low radiation and tremendous output) is another source of energy that was once thought to only be the stuff of science fiction. Work is in progress that clearly demonstrates how fusion generators will also be a part of the energy grid of the future.
Every reduction in the use of fossil fuels will lower the amount of greenhouse gases (primarily carbon dioxide – CO2) but fear remains that we will continue to pump more CO2 into the atmosphere, thus compounding the negative effects on global climate.
According to some, there isn’t much time to clean our air of greenhouse gasses. And, here’s more good news. Technology has been developed to scrub CO2 from the air and convert it to clean, useful liquids, such as alcohol, acetone
A newsletter from The University of Chicago, August 30, 2020 reported, “Breakthrough by Argonne, NIU, U. of Chicago PME scientists could reduce CO2 lost to [the] atmosphere.” The article reports, “Because the process runs at low temperature and pressure, it can start and stop rapidly in response to the intermittent supply of the renewable electricity.”
There it is. Climate Change will be halted and reversed by adding generators that don’t use fossil fuels and removing excess CO2 from the atmosphere, safely and cheaply.
The environmental future is bright for our home planet. Earth will have all the energy it needs, at low costs – and the atmosphere will be cleaner than ever. What’s needed? Time, technology, engineering, and money. Those among us who will make this happen are all ready paying attention. It is such important news that it is shocking that it’s not being heralded from every media source. But, who really would want to pay money to consume good news?