Magical Thinking: Some (Possibly) Surprising Facts About Going Green

I like the idea of safe, renewable energy. So does almost everyone. But I don’t know much about it. (And, be honest. Neither do you.) Because I know so little, I try to refrain from having an opinion about what should be done to solve the global warming issue. But that seems like copping out.

I don’t have time to become knowledgeable on the subject. But I do a bit of reading now and then. No longish scientific pieces. I favor data – specific facts, numbers – that help me at least recognize when some particular thesis or theory makes no sense.

My favorite discoveries are those that surprise me. For example…

Did you know that wind power provides only 2% of the world’s energy needs?

And that solar power provides even less? Like 1%?

Did it ever occur to you that electric cars are made using fossil fuels and use fossil fuels to run?

Fact is, fossil fuels supply about 80% of the world’s energy.

Pop quiz: According to 100% of all environmental scientists, there is a source of energy that produces exactly zero carbon emissions. Do you know what that is?

Answer: Nuclear power.

It turns out that green energy is anything but green. We are consuming energy to produce energy. Click here for a short video that is worth a look.