Letters for Dec. 20, 2015 Technology making energy cheap, clean Oil prices dropped from $105 per barrel last year to $37 now. The biggest reason has been the oil fracking industry in the U.S. Whether you think oil fracking is
Letters for Dec. 20, 2015
Technology making energy cheap, clean
Oil prices dropped from $105 per barrel last year to $37 now. The biggest reason has been the oil fracking industry in the U.S.
Whether you think oil fracking is a good idea or not, you are personally benefiting from the huge drop in gas prices.
Another time that oil changed from being expensive to being cheap was around 1986. After that, oil stayed in a low price range for 16 years. I suggest that these new low gasoline prices will likely be here for a long time.
Solar generated 0.4 percent of U.S. electricity in 2014. Solar power output has been growing around 40 percent per year. At this rate of growth, solar power could supply around 16 percent in 2025 and 44 percent of our nation’s needs in 2028.
Solar power is already viable here in Hawaii. As costs continue to fall, the viability of solar power will spread across the nation. The cost of solar per KWH has dropped in half over the past five years. It is probably just a matter a time before it drops in half again and again.
We seem to be entering a new era of abundant solar energy that will be very cheap and very clean. Solar power will reduce greenhouse gas emissions (with or without the promises and demands of politicians) as fossil fuels are either used up or are no longer competitive with the cost of solar power.
Technology once again proves to be a game changer.
Mark Beeksma
Koloa
Share thoughts on mosquito breeding
I am curious to get the response of those opposed to GMO on the efforts being made to reduce the incidence of dengue fever by modifying the breeding of mosquitoes in order to sizably decrease the ability of the mosquito to transmit the disease.
As a physician, this would be a blessing. Similar efforts are being made also to decrease the incidence of one of the world’s worst killers, malaria. Is this morally acceptable? How many lives could be saved? Should I expect protests on the efforts to provide manmade birth control to mosquitoes?
I have also tried to maintain an open mind to another point of view. Can I hear from you?
Monroe Richman, M.D.
Koloa
