Several things in the battle for cheap, sustainable, carbon free energy as manifested by the Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactor occurred over the last few weeks that are necessary to review.
First, Kirk Sorsnsen from the Energy from Thorium blog, the discussion forum and document repository, spoke in the English city of Manchester on the experts panel on energy. His remarks and discussion about these remarks are here: http://thoriumenergy.blogspot.com/...
Secondly, plans are now launched from the Thorium Energy Alliance for their first conference to be held in Washington DC. Entitled 1st The Future Thorium Energy Economy it will be held OCT 19th and 20th. Please visit the web site.
Thirdly, the above noted Energy from Thorium site has launched a Thorium Learning Center on LFTR development here: http://energyfromthorium.com/... It has part of the presentation Kirk made in Manchester and has lots of easy-to-understand about the LFTR future we envision for the world. We invite to see it and check it out.
Lastly, a somewhat understated and abbreviated "Call" was put out on Charles Barton's Nuclear Green Revolution blog on "The Thorium Grand Plan", here: http://nucleargreen.blogspot.com/...
Here is what Charles notes, in the totality of his entry:
The Thorium Grand Plan is very much on my mind, and has been on my mind for a year and a half. I believe that we have solved the conceptual problems that needed t0 be solved before the Grand plan can be written up. What remains create a single coherent document that outlines the plan, and anticipates and answers questions about it.
I would prefer to not work on this project alone. I view this as a collegiate project, and contributes should be acknowledge as coauthors. I would not necessarily see myself as the lead author for this project, especially if someone else wants to take that responsibility.
Well, that was easy. Many of us have discussed this "Thorium Grand Plan" and view it as a true "thorium bullet" to solves the worlds energy needs. I will use this space to discuss to the issues of this "thorium bullet" or "Thorium Grand Plan" or, as I like to put it "Toward a Thorium Economy". But Charles' initiation to develop such a plan, regardless of what it is called, should be taken up by all those that want to see coal and natural gas phased out of electrical generation and a world of almost limitless energy ushered in. Of course this thinking is counter to what most climate activists and environmental lobbyists would have us believe. Rather, they believe that any form of fission should be "Verboten", and that we "need to use less, not more energy". We beg to differ, of course.
There are many, many aspects of the Plan that need to be discussed than no on person, as Charles notes, can handle. I have made three such contributions to this discussion here, here and here, and that is just THIS year. We need to keep it going.
What we have noticed that via google searches and other indications such as forum participation, commentary, the endorsement of the LFTR by Dr. James Hansen, and so on, that the LFTR concept is beginning to receive the scientific, engineering and political respect it deserves. We hope this continues. Join us.
David Walters