There are currently three, maybe four, methods of power
generation that meet the criteria for base load power
production. These are fossil fuels, typically coal, hydropower,
geothermal, and nuclear. Fossil fuels have a host of problems
and concerns, from the production of CO2 and other greenhouse
gases, acid rain, toxic ash, and a significant release of
radioactivity. Of these, the most worrying is the production of
greenhouse gases. The ongoing consensus regarding fossil fuels
is that their use has been responsible for raising the average
global temperature, and will continue to do so. To solve the
problem of greenhouse gases, we have to stop emitting them.
Hydropower and geothermal, while useful as part of the base
load, are too dependent on geography to be viable worldwide.
Solar and wind are too intermittent, and so they can add to
power production, but cannot carry the base load. Conservation
is very useful, but it can only go so far. We need an
alternative to replace fossil fuels, and in the short term