Power Surge: The look for a solution

            

The wedge theory is what they propose to solve the energy crisis. Created by Stephen Pacala of Princeton University the wedge theory is breaking the problem into pieces and solving each piece with of a variety of solutions. 7 billion tons of carbon emissions need to be prevented or cleaned to stabilize emissions. This number is divided into seven 1 billion section to be filled by solutions. The solutions are grouped into four different categories. Energy efficiency, tripling the number of nuclear power plant in 50 years, cleaning coal plants by burying their carbon emissions, and harnessing the suns power with wind turbines and photogenic cells are all the solution needed to solve the problem. These solutions can be rearranged and used multiple time depending how best to solve the problem at the time. This is a challenging solution but if the right decisions are made in the direction of the world it can work.

 I agree that the problem of curbing our carbon emissions is too big to be solved by one thing. We have many resources available we should use all of them to solve this problem. We are resistant to change the course we are on because it is hard but if the burden is shared over multiple solutions, the problem would be less hard to solve. Many will be able to get in line to solve this plan. We have as Pascala said a variety of technologies that are not just in theory or smalltime. Why not use all we can to solve the biggest problem of our generation. Many are trying to solve this problem with their miracle technology.Miracles sound like we our trying to achieve the impossible but using these methods it can be done.

The film Power Surge does not account for the total obstacles in front of these solutions. They address that nobody wants these in their backyards. They do not want to see it or deal with the costs. They say that this a necessary sacrifice but we all know that these people will fight as much as they can. They also address the nuclear fear especially after the Fukishima disaster. Nuclear energy has always been feared. Though the rates of disasters are low the amount of fear of radiation makes any disaster exponentially more terrifying. What they don’t address is cost. This will cost a lot to do in a market that doesn’t really want it. There are those that understand the significance but the entry cost are high and sticking to fossil fuels will be cheaper. Some of these resources do have some negative impacts on the environment. Though the gain from these renewable energies is great some can be dangerous. The pumping of carbon dioxide into the ground is an example of this. This has potential to be hurtful if put it into areas near drinking water. Nuclear waste is still a problem and is dangerous if not probably disposed of which will take up more and more space. These are issues that have to be address but were left out of the video to keep it more hopeful.