In my "Welcome" post, I pointed out that fusion energy research provides a technological stepping-stone for innovative spinoffs. This was no idle speculation.  As the research head of the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Dr. Dan Cohn had an idea that a fusion plasma might be a cool (or rather HOT) way of dealing with garbage.

According to the latest figures available from the Environmental Protection Agency, America generated nearly 250 Million Tons of municipal solid waste in 2005 alone. We can safely assume incrementally higher figures for the last three years. Wouldn't it be awesome if all that garbage could be converted to fuel for our cars with little to no environmental impact? How does converting 90,000 tons of municipal solid waste into approximately 10.5 million gallons of ethanol per year sound?

That's exactly what Fulcrum Bio-Energy will be doing at Reno Nevada's new, $120 Million, Sierra BioFuels plant.  Dr. Cohn is one of the co-founders of Integrated Environmental Technologies, (now known as InEnTec) which has licensed their Plasma Enhanced Melter (PEM) process and related technologies to Fulcrum, to be used in Reno's new plant.

According to Jeffrey Surma, President and CEO of InEnTec, the PEM is a conversion process; not an incineration process. This distinction allows PEM-based solid waste processing plants to dramatically exceed all environmental certification requirements and is a major reason why such plants have been built, or are under construction, in countries with even stricter emission standards than the U.S.

So you see, even before fusion energy powerplants are a reality, they are already fueling a larger renaissance in science and industry. The science leading to their development has lead to a brilliant solution for our energy needs as well as for the problem of solid waste disposal. Imagine how many more "out of the box" technologies will spin off from fusion power research and development if we support it both directly and indirectly with our tax dollars. Imagine how many good paying American JOBS will be created.

If you agreee, I urge you to write your Senators and Representatives to let them know we want to see more solutions like the PEM now and Fusion Power as soon as it's technologically feasible; not after the oil, natural gas, and nuclear fission lobbies have decided they can no longer profitably strip our land, poison our water, and foul our air. Let those addicted to energy sector campaign money know that our votes can longer be purchased at the cost of our childrens' and grandchildrens' futures.

Before I get into what Fusion Energy is and isn't, I would like to say there's no question that wind and solar technologies are rapidly evolving as viable sources of renewable energy. There's no question that they offer environmentally appealing alternatives to oil, coal, and nuclear (fission) power. They do, however, have their own environmental footprints derived during their manufacturing, transport, assembly, and maintenance. They incorporate electronics, lubricants, alloys, and chemicals that all have their own energy requirements and carbon footprints.

Please don't get me wrong. I am an ARDENT supporter of wind and solar power. I'm just suggesting that whenever we look at a "100% clean" source of electricity, we should also take an honest look at the total environmental impact of that technology and weigh the environmental costs against the total energy output expected during the operational lifespan of a particular solution.

In that context, a nuclear FUSION reactor will also incur the environmental costs of its constituent parts. Once operational, however, we can expect an exceptionally high cost to energy output ratio from a plant which could produce from 30 to 75 GigaWatts of electric power over a lifespan of 40, 50, perhaps even 100 years. They will also take significantly less physical space.

I have always enjoyed driving through the high desert and heartlands of our great nation, expressly to appreciate the horizon-to-horizon sweep of their majesty; unbroken by the slightest hint of human presence. To my mind, such limitless vistas are as much a part of what we hope to preserve as the air we breath and the water we drink. Fusion powerplants will preserve our vast natural landscapes for future generations to enjoy, while providing the industrial levels of power output required by an energy-hungry, 21st Century nation.

So far, I've been using words like "will", "should", and "expect". That's because fusion energy is still in the final stages of research and development. The technological challenges of building a working fusion powerplant are daunting. As mentioned in my previous post, however, progress is being made. Just not quickly enough.  

We need look no further than figures from the Edison Electric Institute to know why. According to their data for 2005, 49.7% of our nation's electricity was generated from coal, nuclear FISSION reactors produced 19.3%, and natural gas supplied 18.7%. Coal, nuclear, and natural gas account for nearly 88% of our electrical production and their producers obviously profit handsomely from this. If you look at this from a purely financial perspective, it makes total sense to have a strong lobbying presence in Washington to keep technologies which might threaten their dominance from gaining any sort of foothold.

    The goal here is to help foster public awareness of Fusion Energy as a totally clean (zero carbon) solution to our industrial-level power needs as well as to point out how fusion energy research provides a technological stepping-stone to a host of innovative spinoffs.  Right now, the coalition consists of... well... me.  I'm hoping to entice like-minded volunteers to help write brochures, design materials, and develop innovative venues for "edutaining" the public about fusion energy.

    If you have artistic, scientific, or promotional talents, tend to think outside of the box, and are willing to donate your time and effort to a worthwhile cause, I could use your help. Fusion Energy IS coming.  As you can see from the work being done on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor  (ITER) and Lawrence Livermore Lab's National Ignition Facility (NIF), progress is being made.  Just not quickly enough.

    Fusion energy needs today's P.T. Barnum or Ron Popeil to ignite the public's imagination; to garner greater public financial support for research and development; to show that here, too, we can make the leap from science fiction to science fact.

    We all know that energy is at the core of every major issue facing America today. Our environment, our economy, our security, our way of life, ALL depend on the choices we make as a people and our willingness to embrace fundamental changes in how we generate, store, and use energy.  Please read the "Fusion Power Primer" which follows this entry and feel free to ask any questions you wish regarding this 21st Century solution to our 21st Century energy challenges.  Again, WELCOME!

Regards,

Brad Gould