Pitch
Address both ocean acidification and future energy shortages with a properly implemented nuclear renaissance.
Description
Summary
Point out to the western world's decision makers that there's another way that a properly implemented nuclear renaissance could address the problems generated by mankind's addiction to fossil fuels; i.e., "neutralize" the CO2 responsible for ocean acidification while simultaneously absorbing it from the atmosphere by simply scattering powdered basalt into the oceans. This is necessary because the people currently responsible for both nuclear reactor & nuclear fuel cycle development are not acting in a fashion which will give humanity anything capable of addressing any such issues over the long term.
Category of the action
Geoengineering
What actions do you propose?
Basically this proposal invokes grinding basalt (an intrinsically basic rock constituting the bulk of many volcanic island chains) to Portland cement- sized particles with nuclear powered rock grinders & then distributing it into the seas by augering it into the propeller wakes of ships. This would simultaneously neutralize acid and (eventually) precipitate out a carbonate-bearing "mud" which will end up settling to the bottom. Its fertilization effect (rock particle dissolution would also release/supply trace elements that limit ocean productivity) would further enhance CO2 "sequestration" by enhancing organic "fallout" to the seabed as well.
My actions will be to continue to try to convince US decision makers that solutions to big "technical" problems like this one will require an equally big commitment to change how they're going about "trying" to develop a sustainable/affordable nuclear fuel cycle.
Anyone wishing to see a more complete description of the hows and whys of this proposal can read a paper I've just written (last posting) at http://energyfromthorium.com/forum/posting.php?mode=reply&f=2&t=4595
Who will take these actions?
probably no one other than myself will "act" upon this suggestion
Where will these actions be taken?
probably here at home
What are other key benefits?
save humanity from "human nature"
What are the proposal’s costs?
many dollars
Time line
to be developed
Related proposals
???
References
- Archer D., Fate of Fossil Fuel CO2 in Geologic Time. J. Geophys. Res. 2005; 110(C9): C09S05
- Orr, James C., et al. (2005). Anthropogenic ocean acidification over the twenty-first century and its impact...", Nature 437 (7059): 681–686. Bibcode:2005Natur.437..681O. doi:10.1038/nature04095.
- Gislason, S.R., et al., Rapid Solubility and Mineral Storage of CO2 in Basalt, Energy Procedia, Volume 63, 2014, Pages 4561–4574.
- Siemer, D.D., “Why the MSFR is the “Best” GEN IV Reactor”, Energy Science and Engineering, Volume 3, Issue 2, Feb 2015, pp 83-97. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ese3.59/full