Do Obama's team numbers add up?

http://www.classicalvalues.com/archives/2009/03/having_doubts.html

I read this very interesting article today on the classicalvalues website. Here is some of the article...

I like Barack Obama but I have doubts about his presidency when I hear him saying that the US will "double the amount of energy that comes from renewable sources by the end of my first term." He should know that that's not possible. But instead, during his State of the Union speech, he proclaimed that we'll reach that goal in three years, not four.

Most anyone who has studied the energy situation must wonder about Obama's, or his advisors', energy experience. Presented with the numbers from the table (see below) he would realize that the majority of the renewable power comes from hydro and from wood, about 154 gigawatts. Readily available data show that the 6 percent for hydro and bio is pretty much all we can hope for. Trying to increase those yields we would have to ask: Where shall we find the extra rivers to dam? Lease the Amazon? And where do we find the extra land to double the wood and corn production? Annex Canada? Ukraine?

Understanding those limitations, Obama apparently relies on direct solar, wind, and geothermal energy growth. All three sources are presently producing about 19 GW. To reach the goal of generating 2 x (154 + 19) = 346 GW by 2012 (or 2011), the output of the three sources would have to increase nine-fold. That implies building many times more wind mills, solar plants, and geothermal stations in three years than have been installed in the previous decades.

My reply was as follows...

Great thought provoking article and it is very interesting what you say here. It is clear mankind if really backed up against the wall was pushed to come up with a solution it would and it is getting very close to that point now. We are collectively kidding ourselves if we can sustain a planet of 6 billion plus people on our existing carbon hungry diet. We have to change our habits and at a much faster rate than in the past. If enough money was thrown at developing alternative energy breathroughs we would find the answer I am sure.

Humanity currently consumes 15 terrawatts (TW) of energy annually. 1 TW = trillion watts. The amount of solar energy bombarding the Earth amounts to 89,000 TW annually. There is thousands of times more solar energy bombarding the Earth than all of the energy requirements of humanity. Harnessing this vast renewable energy resource can provide a clean and sustainable energy future for all of humanity. I am convinced the breakthrough will come in the solar field (that is if it hasnt already done so and some fossil fuel conglomerate hasnt already bought the patent and put it on the shelf awaiting an opportune moment to rape and pillage the masses economically).

Had a late night - hence the image. Until later Ciao.