3 ms·

Here's a paper that lays out a plan to switch the US to 100% wind, water and sunlight based power by 2050 and 80% by 2030. There are non trivial problems to so

• pilom 10y ago
  That report is better than most but it relies on the assumptions that 1) the grid can route power nearly instantaneously from LA to NYC with very low losses and 2) on cuts in per person energy use by 30-50% (primarily by switching to electric cars). I see both of those assumptions being even less likely than 3) we cover 6240 square miles (5 Rhode Islands) with solar panels.
  • ZeroGravitas 10y ago
    For comparison, roads and parking cover the same area as the entire state of West Virginia, roughly 24,000 square miles or 62,000 square kilometers.