Recap

Sustainable Energy

Physicist, scientist, and author, Brian O’Leary (brianoleary.com) appeared on Monday night. A former astronaut, who might have at one time gone to Mars if such missions weren't scrapped, now believes "we have so many problems; we have to focus here on Earth."

To put forth sustainable solutions to our global dilemmas, O'Leary said he started an organization called New Energy Movement, which seeks to promote innovative energy technologies. Our current energy system is both antiquated and destructive, he said. "I call it the electric jail." Further, "America has become distracted," from this issue, but "physical challenges demand physical answers," he stated.

Because there are so many possibilities for alternative energy sources, in addition to hydrogen and solar, O'Leary believes there should be a huge emphasis on research and development. Then, he said there could be public debate on which choices would be the most preferable. Some of the technologies he mentioned included Zero Point solid state devices, and cold fusion, which if successfully implemented might "give you a car you could drive across the country with on less than a liter of water…The technologies are here," he said, "waiting in the wings for their potential opportunity."