Avoiding the entropy trap

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982 · Bull. At. Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00963402.1982.11455788· OSTI ID:6730589

Weinberg, A M

Utopians who use entropy to warn of a vast deterioration of energy and mineral resources seek a self-fulfilling prophesy when they work to deny society access to new energy sources, particularly nuclear power. While theoretically correct, entropy is not the relevant factor for the rest of this century. The more extreme entropists call for a return to an eotechnic society based on decentralized, renewable energy technologies, which rests on the assumptions of a loss in Gibbs Free Energy, a mineral depletion that will lead to OPEC-like manipulation, and a current technology that is destroying the environment. The author challenges these assumptions and calls for an exorcism of public fears over reactor accidents. He foresees a resurgence in public confidence in nuclear power by 1990 that will resolve Western dependence on foreign oil. (DCK)

• Research Organization: Inst. for Energy Analysis, Oak Ridge, TN
• OSTI ID: 6730589
• Journal Information: Bull. At. Sci.; (United States), Vol. 38:8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
ENTROPY
PUBLIC OPINION
NUCLEAR POWER
ENERGY POLICY
OIL-IMPORTING COUNTRIES
ENERGY SUPPLIES
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POWER
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
290600* - Energy Planning & Policy- Nuclear Energy
291000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Conservation