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I think the country that is going to win will be biggest exporter of clean water in about two decades. Meanwhile China makes more solar panels than anyone in t

by ck2 13y ago

I think the country that is going to win will be biggest exporter of clean water in about two decades. Meanwhile China makes more solar panels than anyone in the world yet has the most filthy air.

e13tra 13y ago
I don't think this is something that can be won, really, other than in a politics and power influence sense. Not to take analogies to where they oversimplify things, but this is similar to M.A.D.; we share the damage we do, locally, then globally. For us, the shortcut to energy production is in the industry already in place (with its centuries-old history and political power). Until that shifts, we'll keep going the same direction and worry about long term when we have to. Solar energy production is still in its infancy when you compare it to fossil fuels production, in China or anywhere else. I suspect the high output of actual solar panels are more (or just as much) a symptom of market than environmental concerns.
maxerickson 13y ago
If things are that bad, big movements on water and energy markets will influence each other (because you can use energy to purify or desalinate water).
dominotw 13y ago
India too http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/indias-incoming-solar-plant-will-be-bigger-than-the-uss-ten-biggest-combined http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/indias-incoming-solar-plant...
njharman 13y ago
Check out Canada's share of the world's fresh water sometime...
jhatax 13y ago
I wonder what prevents the use of "salt water" for fracking? We have an abundant supply of that resource; maybe prevents the oceans from rising too! (I am joking)
- jadc 13y ago
  Based on a quick read of [1], it seems that using saline water is more expensive because of the preparation that is needed, so for now, it is easier to start with fresh water and add additives. Also seems the consideration is about saline aquifers and not ocean water. I suspect the cost of transporting ocean water is the issue leading to this consideration. [1] http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/breakthrough/taking-the-water-out-of-fracking/article13876363/ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/breakthrou...
nathan_long 13y ago
> Meanwhile China makes more solar panels than anyone in the world yet has the most filthy air. Most overall or per capita? And do they use them? If the cleaners at Grand Central Station use only twice the cleaning supplies as you do at your house, it's likely to be much dirtier than your house.

by ck2 13y ago

I think the country that is going to win will be biggest exporter of clean water in about two decades. Meanwhile China makes more solar panels than anyone in the world yet has the most filthy air.

e13tra 13y ago

I don't think this is something that can be won, really, other than in a politics and power influence sense. Not to take analogies to where they oversimplify things, but this is similar to M.A.D.; we share the damage we do, locally, then globally. For us, the shortcut to energy production is in the industry already in place (with its centuries-old history and political power). Until that shifts, we'll keep going the same direction and worry about long term when we have to. Solar energy production is still in its infancy when you compare it to fossil fuels production, in China or anywhere else. I suspect the high output of actual solar panels are more (or just as much) a symptom of market than environmental concerns.

maxerickson 13y ago

If things are that bad, big movements on water and energy markets will influence each other (because you can use energy to purify or desalinate water).

dominotw 13y ago

India too http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/indias-incoming-solar-plant-will-be-bigger-than-the-uss-ten-biggest-combined http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/indias-incoming-solar-plant...

njharman 13y ago

Check out Canada's share of the world's fresh water sometime...

jhatax 13y ago

I wonder what prevents the use of "salt water" for fracking? We have an abundant supply of that resource; maybe prevents the oceans from rising too! (I am joking)

jadc 13y ago
Based on a quick read of [1], it seems that using saline water is more expensive because of the preparation that is needed, so for now, it is easier to start with fresh water and add additives. Also seems the consideration is about saline aquifers and not ocean water. I suspect the cost of transporting ocean water is the issue leading to this consideration. [1] http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/breakthrough/taking-the-water-out-of-fracking/article13876363/ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/breakthrou...

nathan_long 13y ago

> Meanwhile China makes more solar panels than anyone in the world yet has the most filthy air. Most overall or per capita? And do they use them? If the cleaners at Grand Central Station use only twice the cleaning supplies as you do at your house, it's likely to be much dirtier than your house.