The two big consumers of fossil fuels are cars and electricity.

Today's reading profile is Dr. Geoffrey Ballard.

Dr. Geoffrey Ballad represents some part of the struggle in the scientific and technology community to shift the global pardigm away from fossil fuel. He comes down on the side of "hydricity" which is "Generation IV" nuclear power wherein a new generation of plants make huge amounts of both electricity and hydrogen, thus taking aim at both of the big fossil fuel traps, gasoline and coal.

His writing cuts to the chase of dilemas about what we wish we could do and what we can do about reducing fossil fuel consumption on a scale large enough to cut world polution and sustain future energy growth.

Quotations from Dr. Geoffrey Ballard:

"First we have an enduring love affair with our cars - or, as the policy wonks like to say, a deep socio-economic dependence on personal transportation - and woe betide the person who interferes with our adoration."

"You can begin to conceptualize the automobile as a power plant on wheels."

"For society to continue its progress in medicine, social responsibility, science, education, and general quality of life, we must ensure that there is an ever-increasing supply of energy per capita."

"If carbon-based energy sources must be set aside, and I believe they must, then the only remaining viable source, at this stage of our technical development is nuclear. Yes, there are other possibilities in the future. ... But within the scope of today's technology, nuclear fission is the only viable, clean source of large quantities of energy."

From the book; Fueling the Future
Edited by Andrew Heintzman and Evan Solomon, 2003, 2005
funded by Canada Council for the Arts and Ontario Arts Council
Web Link - Fueling the Future