Climate protection needs U.S. power innovations

The Democrat-Gazette has published several guest editorials singing the praises of renewable energy and carbon taxes. I was glad to see the editorial in the Sept. 17 edition titled “Ain’t easy being green,” which pointed out a few of the problems that are often ignored.

Storage of wind and solar power, to be used during times when these sources don’t produce (which is often) is absolutely necessary if renewable power is to furnish a sizable portion of the enormous U.S. power needs. Whether backup batteries or natural gas power plants serve that requirement, the use of dual systems will cause the price of electricity to go up. Battery backups currently installed are minuscule compared to what would be required. And it is not obvious that current battery technology would ever be sufficient.

Public funding would be better spent on developing reliable energy storage and other low-emission power sources (including new nuclear technologies) than on subsidizing home photo-voltaic or other systems.

Further, major world growth in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse emissions lies outside the United States, especially in large developing nations. U.S. greenhouse gas emissions (mainly from electricity generation, transportation and heating) are the lowest they have been since 1992, and electricity use has been flat for several years. In contrast, emissions in China, India and some other nations are rapidly growing.

Most developing nations place greater importance on increasing their living standard than on reducing their carbon dioxide.

The better approach to lowering world carbon dioxide emissions would be for the U.S. to invent, perfect and export cost-efficient means to produce or store power generated without greenhouse gases. DONALD BOGARD Bentonville