Water and Energy

An Opinion on Energy and Water in Georgia

Bruce Maynes - August 1, 2009

Our State, and indeed our Country, is suffering from a potential shortage of affordable electric power and a very real shortage of potable water. We constantly see talk of negotiations with our neighboring States; talk of high cost wind farms and solar energy. And, yes, we often see talk of studies (and more studies and more studies) of the viability of geothermal, tidal and even coastal sea flows and vibrations as potential sources of energy.

While making a lot of noise from which political fortune can be mined, these efforts are doing more harm than good for our State. We need leadership from the Governor to make a plan, fund the plan, start the plan and finish the plan. We do not need more studies.

There are many ways of reaching our goals. But, only one lends itself as a viable and sustainable solution to both problems.

It is my contention that we should embark upon two fronts with the construction of very large nuclear power plants on the coast which will double as desalination plants. The technology is safe and it is already there.

I know whereof I speak as I have worked directly with both the Saudi government in their desalination plants which provide significant water and the Chinese Daya Bay Nuclear plant which provides the power now being used to further develop Southern China.

The problems in Georgia mimic those of the Nation. A fundamental lack of leadership, of courage and it seems that politicians care only for those problems which can be solved with resulting political currency during the tenure of the individual’s term of office.

As citizens we have the right, even the duty, to say get off your duff and get moving or we, the electors, will fire the lot of you.