Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Starve, but with the lights on.

The largest use of water in the US, both mined (wells) and fresh surface water (river/lake) is thermoelectric, boiling water and directing the steam through a turbine to make electricity.  The result is the bulk of this water goes up in vapor, along I might add with many units of wasted heat. Coal is burned for this, natural gas, and some oil, wood, trash etc. as well as nuclear plants do this too.  A move to wind and solar panels frees up that water for all the other uses listed below.  Water, not oil, will be the most valuable commodity soon in the US, it already is in much of Africa and the worlds deserts.  Unless we free up water from our current generation methods, free them soon for agriculture, we are going to starve, but with the lights on.  



Fracking has exploded since these charts of 05, fracking is pumping whole creeks underground, lost forever, exempted it from the water vapor/rain/ocean/water vapor cycle.  That can't help the dusty boots in the field.

3 comments:

  1. Darrel,
    I agree and disagree. During the drought our streams here in Indiana were at record low - I could wade halfway across the Wabash without getting my balls wet. Yet, come Spring - the White, Wabash, and the Ohio will be at flood stage.


    Ron

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't understand what you are agreeing with, or disagreeing about. Explain. The water level in those two rivers won't supply the thermoelectric and agricultural needs year round for the nation will they? Not sure what you mean pal.

      Delete
    2. Oh Sarge, I get it, your making a point about how well hung your big balls are, well you left out the water depth but I would guess it was ankle deep.

      Delete

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