Southern California residents may finally be able to breathe a
sigh of relief, knowing that non-polluting forms of energy are just
on the horizon.
UCLA researchers are experimenting with alternative forms of
energy, from improving the design of wind turbines to developing
nuclear fusion.
At UCLA and throughout the world, nuclear fusion is being
explored as a potential energy source.
Nuclear fusion, not to be confused with nuclear fission, would
not generate the radioactive toxic waste that comes from producing
electricity with uranium, but would instead produce only helium and
hydrogen byproducts.
Nuclear fusion ““ a reaction that occurs in stars ““
works when the nuclei of light atoms, like hydrogen isotopes, fuse
together and produce larger atoms.
Researchers are hoping to harness vast amounts of energy from
this reaction.
“(Nuclear fusion) is the most ambitious technical project
that man has ever tried to bring to fruition,” said Tom
Sketchley, senior development engineer for UCLA fusion sciences.
“You’re trying to make a star on earth.”
While new technologies that would harness energy from
non-polluting sources are being developed, other renewable and
non-polluting energy sources are already here.
Many renewable and non-polluting energy sources, such as wind,
geothermal and solar power, are not new, but need additional
support, said Brendan Bell, associate Washington representative for
the Sierra Club’s global warming program.
“We just need to set standards so (utilities companies)
start using them,” Bell said.
Renewable energy sources are needed because the current usage of
fossil fuels causes global warming and air and water pollution,
Bell added.
“Power plants are some of the biggest sources of mercury
pollution,” Bell said, noting that mercury pollution can
cause developmental disorders.
Because it is difficult for many Californians to get along
without emissions-producing vehicles, air pollution is one problem
that affects California more than other states.
“We have to wean ourselves away from gasoline,” said
Claudia Chandler, assistant executive director for the California
Energy Commission.
In the short term, natural gas is seen as a viable alternative
to gasoline, while motorists may rely on hydrogen to fuel their
cars in the future, she said.
Although alternative energy sources are being explored, energy
efficiency in the home is still the focus of the California Energy
Commission.
“A refrigerator you buy today with all the bells and
whistles still uses one-quarter of the electricity as a
refrigerator manufactured in the ’70s,” Chandler said.
“That’s how dramatic energy efficiency can
be.”
And because more people are buying large vehicles with poor fuel
efficiencies, such as sport utility vehicles and light trucks,
efficiency extends to the road as well.
“We feel that it’s imperative that automobile
manufacturers offer advanced technologies that increase fuel
efficiencies in these vehicles, because these are the vehicles that
consumers are buying,” Chandler said.
California has some big plans for hydrogen. Earlier this year,
plans were revealed to implement a system of hydrogen re-fueling
stations throughout the state by 2010.
The plan, called Hydrogen Highways, seeks to install
approximately 200 fuel stations along major California
highways.
The United States government has expressed interest in pursuing
hydrogen.
In 2003, President Bush announced that $1.2 billion would be
allocated to develop hydrogen technology.
The $1.2 billion Hydrogen Fuel Initiative, according to the
Department of Energy, would “reverse America’s growing
dependence on foreign oil” by working with private
companies.