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Zero-emission Power Plants Proposed

ckbreckenridge writes "Supercompact, superfast, superpowerful turbines called ZEPPS (zero-emission power plants), designed to combat global warming, could help produce the electrical power needed to keep up with 21st century demand. They would consume methane and oxygen and produce liquid carbon dioxide, which could be sequestered underground. The current electricity grid would need to be replaced by a 'supergrid' across the USA, says Jesse H. Ausubel in The Industrial Physicist. Work on such a system should start as soon as possible, since CO2 levels leaped up 2 ppm in the past two years as global warming becomes more of a reality."

14 of 737 comments (clear)

  1. omaha steaks! by Shakrai · · Score: 4, Funny

    Finally an unlimited source of dry ice for Omaha Steaks. I'm going to buy some stock....

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  2. What to do with excess Co2 by Usagi_yo · · Score: 3, Funny

    "They would consume methane and oxygen and produce liquid carbon dioxide, which could be sequestered underground." I'll guess we'll put it with the spent nuclear fuel rods.

  3. Re:Methane source? by antifoidulus · · Score: 3, Funny

    Lots and lots of Hormel Chili.......
    *Ducks*

  4. Sequester the CO2 in Coca Cola by theurge14 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Have a safe planet and a smile.

  5. Re:Methane source? by milgr · · Score: 4, Funny

    Cows.

    Or perhaps pig manure, ala Mad Max.

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  6. Re:Methane source? by Timesprout · · Score: 4, Funny

    And where exactly is all of this methane going to come from?

    The article neglected to mention that beans were to be enforced as the staple diet for the whole planet. Initially every citizen will be expected to report daily to their nearest power plant for 'fuel' retrieval but it is envisaged that within a few years there will be sufficient levels of methane for direct extraction from the air in the major cities.

    It goes without saying a ban on all naked flames will be required in the major metropolitan areas.

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  7. Re:Methane source? by GreyWolf3000 · · Score: 3, Funny

    6 replies, 6 "crappy" posts.

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  8. Re:That's just daft! by the+real+darkskye · · Score: 3, Funny

    We could always reduce 2CO2(g) back to C2 and 2O2 and then just burn the resulting carbon! .. oh wait

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  9. sheesh by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 4, Funny

    I keep "proposing" zero emmisions plants all the time, but as soon as I type the word "nuclear" around here, everyone gets all squirrly ...

  10. Re:How is this diffrent? by squiggleslash · · Score: 4, Funny
    Ok, let's make a note of that: Don't store the liquid CO2 on the tops of mountains.

    Actually, probably the best place to store it is deep under the ocean, as the pressure will keep it heavier than water anyway. The only way it can come back up to bite us is if we see significant drops in sea level, and I think we'll have bigger things to worry about than global warming if that ever happens...

    Though funnily enough there's a proposal to do that (drop the sea level, using solar shades) in front of the UN at the moment. Colonel Santiago and Brother Lai are sponsoring it, but with Sister Miriam, CEO Morgan, and Deidre opposed to the idea, I doubt it'll pass.

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  11. Re:How is this diffrent? by cayenne8 · · Score: 4, Funny
    "...catastrophic warming, the sky will fall, plagues of locusts will eat our first-born, and all kinds of other nonsense."

    "Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!" --Ghostbusters

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  12. Re:How is this diffrent? by Sentry21 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Oil won't escape from containment and (supposedly) cause catastrophic global warming...

    That's why we have to do all the work on its behalf. The world's not going to pollute itself! We all have to pitch in and do our part!

    Insert obligatory cynical anti-GWB big oil reference here.

    --Dan

  13. Score Super Insightful by pavon · · Score: 4, Funny

    title sufficent
    yet lameness filter attacks
    my haiku deflects

    filter returns blow
    poem redoubles it's effort
    will it be enough?

    enemy unslain
    patience wearing so thin
    anticipation

    revelation comes
    slashcode prohibits colon
    title corrected

  14. Re:How is this diffrent? by Mr.+Bad+Example · · Score: 4, Funny

    > You do realize that by this logic the only solution is to kill everybody?

    And then we'll cremate them, and...aw, fuck.