General Discussion

A large wildfire can exceed the emissions of any industrialized country. In 2022, wildfires emitted an estimated 5.3 billion tons of CO2. During that same year, CO2 emissions from the United States were estimated at 6.3 billion tons. (figures from the EPA). Are wildfires "natural?" No doubt they are contributing to the total greenhouse gasses.

I suppose the question becomes: how much CO2 can the planet handle? Is there a tipping point? A tipping point into what? Sea level rise of 200-300 feet? Unlivable spaces that used to support life? The science is murky, but wildfires have been increasing in frequency and intensity in recent years. We could make great progress in reducing CO2, only to have the gains wiped out by a few mega-fires and/or gigantic volcanic eruptions.

I still would like to have some solar and wind power available to people if and when other power sources fail. Widespread power outages, including nuclear plant accidents, could keep people in the dark for long periods of time. Extreme heat or extreme cold could be deadly with no local power like wind or solar. People in remote locations, far away from nuclear plants, could benefit from small-scale wind and solar.

The new generation of nuclear plants is promising, but will take huge investments. Someday we may conquer nuclear fusion, but it is still likely decades away. Will we have them in time to save our asses?

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