The More Approach

The Energy Challenge: The MORE approach

The MORE approach is really about balance. How do we balance our growing needs for energy without having a negative impact on the environment or climate change?


What IS the FOSSIL fuel situation?


The good thing about fossil fuels like oil, natural gas, or coal is that they are relatively cheap and easy to get. We also have a lot of equipment and technologies already in place to use them like heating systems, automobiles, power generators, or jet planes.

Fossil fuels do have an environmental cost to accessing them (digging, extracting, drilling) and using them (emissions). Technology does not completely solve the emission challenge today. Another challenge with fossil fuels is that the supply is limited. Eventually they will run out. Some people predict soon and others later.


Nuclear power


Nuclear power is a clean source of energy that is relatively cheap and plentiful. Experts say that nuclear reactors today are much safer than previous generations. The fact is that only two serious accidents have ever occurred in the 50 years that this power source has been used. In France, 78% of all electricity is generated through nuclear power.

The major challenge today with nuclear power is nuclear waste. Some people argue that there is no good answer to what to do about nuclear waste and we should simply stop generating it.


Hydro power


Hydroelectricity is the most widely used form of renewable energy. Generating hydroelectricity emits considerably lower levels of greenhouse gases than fossil fuel powered energy plants.

The challenge with hydro power is the environmental damage that comes with building the generating plant and damming the river. There are also ethical questions when flooding from the dam displaces people; the most famous example being the Three Gorges Dam in China.


New Technologies


Wind, solar, alternative fuels, and fuel cells, use new technologies to give us new sources of energy. These sources are much cleaner than fossil fuels, emitting less greenhouse gases. They have the potential to supplement our current energy sources.
The challenge is that where the technology is today, these new sources cannot replace our current energy requirements – far from it. This is not to say that new innovations are not in the works. We just cannot solely rely on new technologies and sources to meet our current needs.


Be sure to take a look at the companion piece to this one, entitled The Less Approach. Then have your say in the forums, or create a proposal using the wiki tools.