Comments on: Wesley Clark: It’s About Energy Independence http://earth2tech.com/2008/10/14/general-wesley-clark-its-about-energy-independence/ Helping the Earth with Technology Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:16:20 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Melvin Goldstein http://earth2tech.com/2008/10/14/general-wesley-clark-its-about-energy-independence/#comment-24902 Melvin Goldstein Thu, 05 Feb 2009 02:28:22 +0000 http://earth2tech.com/?p=12071#comment-24902 <p>Question: question 12 in “Thinking Physics” – page 259 Inside a warm damp cave completely sealed off from the outside world could life flourish indefinitely?</p> <p>Answer: No life forms could flourish indefinitely. In an isolated system, entropy always increases. Life tries to push entropy in the opposite direction. When life is created, entropy decreases in the cave but nature demands a greater entropy increase offset. The cave, being sealed, would mean that entropy would reach its max, thus energy necessary to sustain and generate new life would be unavailable. Maybe we should learn a lesson from this. Available energy is mandatory. Wealth may equate to available energy. If you want to live in a nation that is prospering make sure that its available energy supply is abundant.</p> <p>Entropy is one of "Physics Foibles"</p> Question: question 12 in “Thinking Physics” – page 259
Inside a warm damp cave completely sealed off from the outside world could life flourish indefinitely?

Answer: No life forms could flourish indefinitely. In an isolated system, entropy always increases. Life tries to push entropy in the opposite direction. When life is created, entropy decreases in the cave but nature demands a greater entropy increase offset. The cave, being sealed, would mean that entropy would reach its max, thus energy necessary to sustain and generate new life would be unavailable. Maybe we should learn a lesson from this. Available energy is mandatory. Wealth may equate to available energy. If you want to live in a nation that is prospering make sure that its available energy supply is abundant.

Entropy is one of “Physics Foibles”

]]> By: Michael O'Connor http://earth2tech.com/2008/10/14/general-wesley-clark-its-about-energy-independence/#comment-19754 Michael O'Connor Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:35:05 +0000 http://earth2tech.com/?p=12071#comment-19754 <p>Straight up talk from a man whose wisdom is born of true experience. The markets always decide the winners, and General Clark's analysis points to the winner being that energy mechanism which gives the best "value". Included in this value has to be national security and energy independence, Clark argues, along with KW/$. The solar industry needs to get to 2nd generation, and fast!</p> Straight up talk from a man whose wisdom is born of true experience. The markets always decide the winners, and General Clark’s analysis points to the winner being that energy mechanism which gives the best “value”. Included in this value has to be national security and energy independence, Clark argues, along with KW/$. The solar industry needs to get to 2nd generation, and fast!

]]> By: Jason Aiken http://earth2tech.com/2008/10/14/general-wesley-clark-its-about-energy-independence/#comment-18822 Jason Aiken Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:07:54 +0000 http://earth2tech.com/?p=12071#comment-18822 <p>From the text: "Clark emphasized a balanced solution to address energy independence (perhaps not as much cheerleading as the solar industry wanted to hear), which would include clean coal, nuclear, and possibly Pickens’ Plan of wind and natural gas-powered cars. Clark said ultimately it should be left for the market to decide the winners".</p> <p>The "Market" is often praised for being so efficient, but I am not convinced that it (the market) always makes the best decisions.</p> <p>Immediate financial concerns often weigh heaviest which can obscure other costs keeping them hidden or knowingly ignored.</p> <p>Not to mention the effect of political winds on market forces.</p> From the text:
“Clark emphasized a balanced solution to address energy independence (perhaps not as much cheerleading as the solar industry wanted to hear), which would include clean coal, nuclear, and possibly Pickens’ Plan of wind and natural gas-powered cars. Clark said ultimately it should be left for the market to decide the winners”.

The “Market” is often praised for being so efficient, but I am not convinced that it (the market) always makes the best decisions.

Immediate financial concerns often weigh heaviest which can obscure other costs keeping them hidden or knowingly ignored.

Not to mention the effect of political winds on market forces.

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