Cold Fusion Options

[Psykopath]

Scientists discuss possible cold fusion breakthrough

Thoughts?

[impala454]

a. Do you not think that a whole new industry would arise from fusion energy? One that would require employees? Our whole electrical grid would have to be modified no doubt if people are suddenly using double the electricity that they used to. Not to mention places for people to plug their cars in... I dunno.. everywhere?

b. Do you think that this discovery instantly kills off all fossil fuel use? Somehow I doubt electric jetliners or semi trucks or construction equipment and such are anywhere near a possibility yet. Not to mention all of the refining still needed for the other 23572305892730 uses we have for fossil fuels (uh... plastic maybe? lubricants, and 2375283957235 other chemicals).

People transition jobs out of old technologies all the time. With cell phones taking over landline phones and more and more communications going through automation, there's tons of old men out there who were POTS line experts who either had to catch up with the latest technology or get left behind. TV repair used to be a big industry, with a shop on every other corner, now people just buy a new one when theirs breaks. Auto mechanics used to make money doing tune-ups back in the day but now with computer controlled cars it's no longer necessary. When the shuttle program is complete next year, there will be on the order of like 15,000 jobs at nasa lost, but then at the same time the constellation program will be ramping up hiring. Sure you lose some people in transition but it's not like those jobs are instantly lost all in the same day and those people have nowhere to go. It won't be any different transitioning from fossil fuel based energy over to nuclear. The only people with any real worry are all the towelheads in the desert who sell all the oil. They'll realize they should have saved & invested while they were ahead rather than building lavish buildings and indoor ski resorts in the middle of the desert.