NONDEPLETABLE ENERGY SOURCE OPTIONS All candidates for nondepletable energy sources produce energy in the form of electrical power. The daily power requirements are shown in this chart. The base load is primarily industrial. The intermediate load is associated with human activity and peaks between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The total installed or maximum operating capacity must be sufficient to meet the maximum seasonal peak load. If it is not, regional brownouts or blackouts will occur. Liquid fuel eventually will be used only for transportation and, as it is depleted, will be generated from coal or some organic base stock and electrical energy. Options for new energy sources are divided into those that are restricted to regions having specific geological or climatological characteristics and those that are not restricted by those characteristics. The only options that are free of regional constraints are: 1. The breeder reactor that will extend the usefulness of our uranium reserves. 2. The fusion reactor which has yet to be proven technically feasible. 3. The power satellite which taps the fusion energy from the Sun and appears to be technically feasible now. For the reasons discussed earlier, it appears serious consideration should be given to the power satellite option.
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