Re: Reply to Christopher Beyer

[Johannes Strydom <js165@prism.gatech.edu>]

William Prestwich wrote:
> 
> And what happens when your neighbours wants to plant trees which shade
> the solar collectors?
> Cheers,
>         Bill Prestwich
> 
> On Tue, 10 Dec 1996 azapantis@mgdestmx01.erin.gov.au wrote:
> 
> > It is a brave man who uses the word "never". I can go out tomorrow and spend
> > $31,000 (Australian) on a "solar power kit" which will provide my house with
> > "free" power 365 days per year for 20 years, at which time the batteries will
> > need replacing. I would not have to decrease my use of power and would actually
> > be able to sell power back to the grid for much of the year.
> >
> > The only thing which stops solar power generating facilities from being
> > incorporated into new houses as a matter of course is cost. As the technology
> > improves, costs will come down and the use of solar power will become
> > economically viable in most of the world. It's not a matter of "if", but a
> > matter of "when".
> >
> > I don't foresee vast arrays of solar cells providing power for large populations
> > as current utilities do. Rather, I think that solar power may be used on a
> > smaller scale to supply power to smaller communities, perhaps even at the
> > individual house level.
> >
> > Nonetheless, this is a long way off and in the meantime, coal and nuclear power
> > will remain the dominant power generating methods. Given the choice, on
> > environmental grounds, I would prefer nuclear power to coal fired power.
> >
> > These have been my thoughts only and do not necessarily represent the views of
> > the Australian Commonwealth Government!!!
> >
> > _______________________________________________________________________________
> > Subject: Reply to Christopher Beyer
> > From:    radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu at mgdestmx01
> > Date:    10/12/96  6:02 PM
> >
> > Christopher,
> >
> > You seem like an intelligent individual.  That being the case why don't you
> > do some personal investigation into the feasibility of using solar and wind
> > power versus nuclear energy.  I think (I know) if you did an honest
> > evaluation you would find that solar and wind will NEVER replace the
> > use of fossil fuels in our society.
> >
> >
> > Alex Zapantis
> > Environmental Radiation Officer
> > Office of the Supervising Scientist
> > 40 Blackall Street
> > Barton ACT 2600 AUSTRALIA
> >
> > Email: azapantis@mgdestmx01.erin.gov.au
> > Fax : (int+) 61 6 274 1519
> > Phone: (int+) 61 6 274 1642
> >
> > The Office of the Supervising Scientist is a Branch of the
> >          Federal Environment Protection Group
> >
> >
Mike and Michele-
	Thank you very much for your kind and generous offer.  We already made
arrangements with one of our friends in Virginia.  We'll keep the
directions for next time so we can stop by and say hi.  Have a very
Merry Christmas and talk to you soon!!!

	Sincerely,
	Deb & Fritz