Electrification - Past, Present, and Future

Join Dr. Peter Carter, Paul Beckwith and Regina Valdez as they discuss the topic of ‘Electrification - Past, Present, and Future’ and the life of Nikola Tesla.

This video was recorded on February 8th, 2023, and published on March 5th, 2023.

Some of the topics discussed:

• The historical drama that played out between Edison, Tesla, and Westinghouse referred to as the ‘Current wars.’
• How electrification is a big part of fighting climate change in the present day.
• How at one point in the US, over half of the commercial delivery vehicles were powered by electric motors.
• How Edison established the first industrial research laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey.
• How the accidental electrocution of AC powerline workers helped fuel the ‘Current Wars’ but eventually forced electric companies to fix safety problems.
• The enigma and genius of Nikola Tesla and how he suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder and how, later in his life he formed a relationship with wild pigeons.
• The present-day need to produce more electricity from non-fossil fuel burning sources and move to a completely renewable energy grid.
• The idea of generating electricity using massive solar farms in the middle of the desert and then distributing this power through the use of high voltage DC lines such as the Xlinks project in Morocco producing and distributing this power to England.
• How high voltage DC distribution lines only lose 3.5% of their power for every thousand kilometers versus 6.7% for AC distribution lines. and how people are looking at these mega-projects to help in the fight against climate change.
• and more . . .

Links

• Longitude: The Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time

• Empires of Light: Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse, and the Race to Electrify the World

• War of the Currents

• Thomas Edison

• Edison Illuminating Light Company

• Nikola Tesla

• Jevons Paradox

• Was Tesla Serb or Croat? The Ridiculous and Very Balkan Diplomatic Row

Regular Panelists:

• Dr. Peter Carter - MD, Expert IPCC Reviewer and the director of the Climate Emergency Institute

• Paul Beckwith - Climate Systems Scientist. Professor at the University of Ottawa’s Paleoclimatology Laboratory as well as at Carleton University

• Regina Valdez - Program Director, Climate Reality Project, NYC. GreenFaith Fellow and LEED Green Associate

Video Production:

• Charles Gregoire – Climate Reality Leader, Electrical Engineer, Webmaster and IT prime for FacingFuture.Earth and the Climate Emergency Forum

• Heidi Brault - Climate Reality Leader, BA(Psychology), Library & Information Technician Diploma - Video production and website assistant - Organizer and convener, Metadata technician, COP28 Team Lead for FacingFuture.Earth and the Climate Emergency Forum.

Attributions:

Background Music:

• Title: Through the City II
• Author: Crowander
• Source: Free Music Archive
• License: BY-NC 4.0

Image and Video:

• Image and Video Attributions