Solar Power Solving all our energy needs NOW!! : Hot news about the sun

HOT NEWS ABOUT THE SUN

Not in the future—but right now—scientists are putting to work the limitless energy of the sun.

By Lester David

SOON, a native of East Punjab, India, will walk into the local version of the neighborhood hardware emporium, plunk down 80 rupees and buy a newfangled kind of stove. Back home, he’ll proudly unwrap the shiny gadget, set it up and tell his wife to start dinner.

This development has great significance, for two big reasons:

1. This and other recent forward strides in solar energy—the harnessing of the sun’s limitless power for the needs of man—now open for the first time exciting commercial possibilities.

2. Despite what you may have thought, sun power is no longer a phantom, will-o’-the-wisp notion chased vainly by a few starry-eyed inventors. It is actually here!

Let’s dig a bit deeper into the opportunity aspect.

Last Fall, the National Industrial Conference Board brought together a group of businessmen in New York City to thrash out the question of just how the sun’s great energy, free but elusive, could be trapped for commercial use. One of the chief speakers was octogenarian Charles G. Abbot, secretary emeritus of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington and a world-famed astrophysicist. He jolted the assembled businessmen with this: “There is a world-wide demand for small solar-power machines, up to five hp, for irrigation, heating and cooling of dwellings, charging batteries and other ranch uses. The demand is very keen in Australia, India, Israel and other semi-arid regions where fuel is several times more expensive than in the U. S. At present there is no company manufacturing such units, though the demand is large and constant.”

Dr. Maria Telkes of New York University, one of the world’s foremost authorities in the field, also spoke to the businessmen and outlined what’s ahead. Hear this: Small household appliances utilizing the power of the sun will be in wide-spread use soon, Dr. Telkes said. She expects them within the next five years! “Especially in tropical regions where conventional fuels are at a premium,” she pointed out, “small devices powered by the sun can soon be a reality. …”

Absolutely positively not in the future. This article was written in 1955.

From Modern Mechanix

I bring this up because once again we are arguing about taking action to deal with our energy problems. The left says drilling for more oil won't solve our problems. It won't work fast enough and we will run out anyway. They advocate Solar, Biofuel, Fusion, etc.

The one thing that is true about energy is it doesn't matter what you believe about tomorrows energy sources, it matters that you develop them today. The alternates have been promising us a green tomorrow since the 1800's. Every time they have delivered about as much as the solar plans of 50's. Energy for isolated places at high cost.

Can you imagine what our lives would be like if in the 1950's the country had decided to pursue a program of Solar Power and Biofuels ? Cut off all exploration and drilling ? We would have seen the gas shortages of the 70's in the 60's. Whats more because we were supporting our allies they would have caved under. There would have been a Russia dominated Europe/Eurasia. Our nation would have become a strange and isolated backwater.

Every decade or so, we get another resurgence of the green insanity. In the 90's the insanity trumped common sense now we are paying. We probably aren't going to solve our immediate problems by drilling. High gas problems will be with us for years to come.

In the past we looked ahead and built a better future. We wanted better for our children than we had. Now we are on a cusp. Maybe there can be a green future someday maybe there can't. It is damn certain we won't get there except on the backs of long dead dinosaurs.

Crossposted at Redstate