Obama looks at climate engineering
The president’s new science adviser said Wednesday that global warming is so dire, the Obama administration is discussing radical technologies to cool Earth’s air. John Holdren told The Associated Press in his first interview since being confirmed last month that the idea of geoengineering the climate is being discussed.
One such extreme option includes shooting pollution particles into the upper atmosphere to reflect the sun’s rays. Holdren said such an experimental measure would only be used as a last resort.
“It’s got to be looked at,” he said. “We don’t have the luxury of taking any approach off the table.”
I have seen several comments to this article suggesting that Space Solar Power would be a far cheaper solution. I have to agree. Also Space Solar Power would be far safer. Once you put stuff into the atmosphere it is hard to get it back.
If the government is so worried about global warming that they are even considering climate engineering then the government should be funding development and construction of Solar Power Satellites and lunar construction facilities for Solar Power Satellites. Regardless of the business case or cost of the power since Space Solar Power would have a lower net cost (cost of construction and operation minus profit from power sold) and would be far safer than climate engineering.
The US could easily significantly reduce world wide carbon emissions if we beamed low cost carbon free power to the entire globe. We have the technology. The only question is do we have the will?