This page was last updated on April 29, 2010.
We’re helping pay for Iran’s nukes; Richard Pagano; Beaver County Times; April 29, 2010.
Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.
“I hear constantly on the news about the growing threat of Iran developing nuclear weapons and about the possible U.S. military options.
“Where does Iran get the money to develop these weapons?
“Partly from us. Our thirst for petroleum to power automobiles is funding Iran’s quest for the bomb, and who knows how much of that money goes to Osama bin Laden as well.
“This doesn’t have to be the case. We have at our disposal the means to power automobiles from hydrogen, which can be made domestically.”
[RWC] Using hydrogen to power vehicles appears to be a pet cause of Mr. Pagano (“Bush worshippers can’t handle truth,” 8/20/08).
“We can use electricity to generate hydrogen. Electricity generated by nuclear power plants, solar and wind power.”
[RWC] “Electricity generated by nuclear power plants, solar and wind power” is only about 20% of total U.S. electricity generation. Coal-fired plants provide about 50% of our electricity. In any case, regardless of the energy source used to generate the electricity, we’d need to add a boatload of generation capacity to generate the hydrogen. That would be pretty expensive, plus we’d need to build a distribution system and hydrogen filling pumps/stations. As for cars, they would be more expensive if for no other reason than pressurized hydrogen tanks cost more than simple gasoline tanks.
“This will not only cut our dependence on petroleum from Iran but on other countries that love us as well, like Venezuela, and Saudi Arabia.
“Additionally, using hydrogen will reduce greenhouse gases because the combustion of hydrogen produces water.”
[RWC] It’s more accurate to say “the combustion of hydrogen produces water” vapor, and water vapor is a greenhouse gas.
“I doubt if anything will be done to implement this recommendation because the oil industry, with all its money, and the political patronage system in this country will prevent it unless some pioneering legislator has the courage and backbone to press the issue and tell the American people the truth about where the money goes when we fill-up our tanks.”
[RWC] As I wrote in my critique of Mr. Pagano’s previous letter, “While it’s true ‘technology exists and is proven to operate motor vehicles using hydrogen’ (fuel cells and traditional engines), it’s not yet economically viable. It doesn’t matter if something is technically feasible if it isn’t also economically viable.”
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