Energy "myths"

Posted on December 01, 2008 by Steve

A Guardian article purports to list ten energy myths. But the text debunking each myth is so conditional, so hopeful, it makes me feel that the "myths" are in fact inconvenient truths: solar power is too expensive; wind power is too unreliable.

Judge for yourself: below are the extracted weasel words.

Myth 1: solar power is too expensive to be of much use
will be
may not even be
claims that
are investigating
are probably already
could get
would need
would get

Myth 2: wind power is too unreliable
could easily
would comfortably
would need
needs to
should be able to
must invest in
probably
must be
will also need to
talking of developing
will become cheaper
eventually
are also set to become

Myth 3: marine energy is a dead-end
may well be
could do

Myth 4: nuclear power is cheaper than other low-carbon sources of electricity
may be
appears to be
it looks as though
might also mean
it will be possible
hopes to be

Myth 5: electric cars are slow and ugly
already very close
can be
need to become
have committed to develop
will be powered
will provide

Myth 6: biofuels are always destructive to the environment
we will be able to
we will have to

Myth 7: climate change means we need more organic agriculture
numbers will rise to
is likely to
we need to
Most studies show

Myth 8: zero carbon homes are the best way of dealing with greenhouse gas emissions from buildings
is easily outweighed
should push

Myth 9: the most efficient power stations are big
changing fast
Within a few years
perhaps

Myth 10: all proposed solutions to climate change need to be hi-tech
it may be cheaper and more effective
many viable proposals
seem to
is developing
support would allow