Cheap, clean burning fuel alternatives to oil and coal are considered by many to be one of today's most important pursuits. While wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric options do exist, most energy providers believe them to be too expensive in their current state. The push towards natural gas become a popular option recently. Natural gas is a fossil fuel like oil or coal, but produces fewer hydrocarbons when burned. Hydrocarbons are the molecules that enter the atmosphere, trapping heat and raising average temperatures around the world. The fewer hydrocarbons, the better.
While natural gas is cleaner than coal, it may not be clean enough. A recent study found that if all coal burning plants were switched to natural gas, the reduction of the average temperature increase would be small, roughly 17 to 25 percent. Compare this to if those plants were switched to near-zero emission resources, the temperature increase would slow by a much larger amount, about 57 to 81 percent. Physicist Nathan Myhrvold states, "you must cut emissions by a dramatic factor" to avoid significant temperature increase.
Where is the harm in moving towards natural gas while searching for something better? Natural gas is better than coal, but are the benefits worth the time and money required. If more money is put towards fossil fuels, the industry will grow as will its political influence. Meanwhile, renewable resources remain slow to grow.
But whatever resource we use, as climate researcher Ken Caldeira states, "conservation and efficiency are essential. It's clear that the problem becomes much more difficult if you're using energy wastefully."
I'm not sure why Pete Yorn decided to name his new music project after a European cave dwelling aquatic salamander, but if he stops by to play us some songs in Studio M, we'll have to ask him.
The Olms is a collaboration between Pete Yorn and...
Today's song was written by Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary. It was inspired by the 1957 novel Doctor Zhivago. No one was inspired by the song this morning. It was rejected by almost all the listeners.
Today is World Goth Day, a day to celebrate the post-punk, anti-establishment, dark clothes-wearing subculture.
I'm pretty sure I was a Goth for at least for little while, for two reasons.
1) I almost hardly ever wear pastels.
2) I used to...
Hello to all from Nfusion. Another round of challenges has moved beyond us all. Congrats to those of us lucky enough to have survived to this point. Sad to see the others eliminated as they were all very creative and talented. Good Bye to our new friends...
This morning it seemed like just about everyone was in the mood for some Funky Cold Medina...except Kitty. This ridiculous song made it all the way to number 3 in 1989. Jonathan says any song that references advertising dogs from the 80's has got...
Madison's summer music festival season kicks off this weekend with Brat Fest at Willow Island, where there are more bands than you can shake a bratwurst at! Check out the Brat Fest website to plan your itinerary.
Next up is the Marquette...
John Fogerty is making the talk show rounds this week, stopping in to see David Letterman Tuesday and Wednesday, and the ladies of "The View" on Thursday.
He's promoting his new album, "Wrote a Song For Everyone" which comes out next Tuesday...
It's a miracle that both Jonathan and KItty wanted to hear Barry Manilow this morning. They were not alone. Plenty of Fanilow's called in to vote yes. One caller claimed to have seen Manilow in concert 25 times!
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Cheap, clean burning fuel alternatives to oil and coal are considered by many to be one of today's most important pursuits. While wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric options do exist, most energy providers believe them to be too expensive in their current state. The push towards natural gas become a popular option recently. Natural gas is a fossil fuel like oil or coal, but produces fewer hydrocarbons when burned. Hydrocarbons are the molecules that enter the atmosphere, trapping heat and raising average temperatures around the world. The fewer hydrocarbons, the better.
