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Sahara Solar To Power Half the World By 2050
eldavojohn writes "A Japanese/Algerian effort called The Sahara Solar Breeder Project employs a simple concept revolving around the pure silica in the sand of the Sahara Desert. The silica can be used to build vast solar arrays which will then provide the power and means to build more solar arrays in a classic breeder model. They would then use DC powerlines utilizing high temperature superconductors. The lead of the project points out that silica is the second most abundant resource in the Earth's crust. The project's lofty goals to harness the Sahara's energy has a few requirements — including 100 million yen annually — but also the worldwide cooperation of many nations and the training of the scientists and engineers to create and man these desert plants. The once deadly wasteland of the Sahara now looks like a land rich in an important resource: sunlight."
Sandstorm + Solar Array = ???
No-one has ever explained to you that you don't need to be a mainstream green to hire lawyers and sue people?
Your problem is that you're assuming that everyone in the world is as rational as you are.
Hint: they're not.
Note that I didn't mention any particular mainstream environmental group in my post. That was deliberate.
I no more think that the mainstream of the environmental movement is represented by the wackos who sue to stop solar power plants (regardless of the environmental effects of solar plants, and there are obviously some - the tens of thousands of sqaure miles of panels required being one obvious example, solar is clearly a better choice than coal. As is nuclear, though you won't hear a lot of even "mainstream" greens agreeing.) than I think that Christian wackos represent mainstream Christianity.
Nonetheless, in spite of (or perhaps because of) envirowackos (note the -wackos - it's the key part of the constructed word) not being mainstream, they WILL try to stop this sort of thing from happening. It's what they do to get attention.
And when lawsuits are used to stop any attempt to wean us away from coal, the general effect is bad for everyone.
"I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
What foreign investment in industry did the rest of the world get?
That would be pretty awesome. Instead of building casinos, get them building power plants. New, better-quality jobs for them, and clean electricity for everyone. It's a win-win situation.