Naturally Interesting

Joseph Romm on solar thermal/concentrated solar power (CSP) in Salon. Mr. Romm thinks that CSP is “the technology that will save humanity.” Actually, I’m not sure if he wrote that or if that is just the copy that Salon stuck in. Either way I hate it when such hyperbole is attached to the environmental movement. People can only hear so many Paul Ehrlich-esque The Sky Is Falling statements before they tune out and stop listening.

That point aside the rest of the article is, as usual, excellent. Here are some tidbits:

Solar thermal plants covering the equivalent of a 92-by-92-mile square grid in the Southwest could generate electricity for the entire United States.

…That means Congress and the president must renew the 30 percent solar energy investment tax credit through 2016. After all, it’s the least they can do. From 2002 to 2007, fossil fuels received almost $14 billion in electricity-related tax subsides, whereas renewables received under $3 billion. From 1948 to today, nuclear energy R&D exceeded $70 billion, whereas R&D for renewables was about $10 billion.

This is a technology that is available now. Why aren’t we pouring money into it?