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Energy

05 February 2025

This is the first part of a series based on conversations with ChatGPT, covering the basics of self-reliance, self-sufficiency, and other critical considerations for all of us today — and in the near future. It was inspired by a story about the increasing number of cancelled “renewable energy” projects, totaling many billions of dollars.

In my view, solar and wind are neither lasting nor feasible solutions, given the massive outlay of resources and materials, as well as the costs involved — not just in installation, but in maintenance and eventual replacement. Exposed to the elements year after year, this technology will not even last a human generation. To my knowledge, little to none of their material makeup can be reused or recycled, further exacerbating what I see as a massive financial and environmental fraud — and, at least in part, an industrial cover-up.

We have better options. This discussion explores some of them and further inspired me to address other fundamental human needs. With that in mind, here are some key areas you may want to research further in pursuit of a more resilient and fulfilling life.

This series will cover energy, shelter, food, and water, followed by additional considerations such as medicine, community, skills, waste management, and alternative economies.

Part 2: Shelter, Part 3: Food, Part 4: Water, Part 5: True Independence

Part 1: Energy

Rethinking Energy: Beyond Wind, Solar, and the Controlled Narrative

Introduction

The energy industry, like many others, is controlled by powerful interests that dictate which technologies are funded, which are suppressed, and which are allowed to reach mainstream adoption. We are led to believe that wind and solar are the future of renewable energy, yet these sources remain unreliable, inefficient, and dependent on government subsidies and taxpayer funding. Meanwhile, alternative and potentially revolutionary technologies are ignored, ridiculed, or actively suppressed.

It is not the high initial costs that should be considered a risk; it is the long-term inefficiency, environmental destruction, and deliberate obfuscation of better solutions that pose the real danger. If governments and financial institutions can conjure trillions of dollars out of thin air, then the argument that we cannot afford to invest in superior energy sources holds no weight. The real issue is control — who gets to produce energy, who profits, and who is left dependent.

Andrey Metelev – Unsplash

Energy Production Should Be Geographically and Ecologically Aligned

One of the fundamental flaws of modern energy policy is the attempt to apply a one-size-fits-all solution. Energy production should be designed to work with the natural environment, not forced into regions where it is doomed to underproduce or fail.

For example, British Columbia benefits from an abundance of hydroelectric power. While damming rivers comes with environmental consequences, it was, one presumes, developed based on one of the most abundant resources available across the province. Similarly, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is perfectly suited to tropical regions but is impractical in colder climates. The same logic applies to geothermal energy, which thrives in volcanic regions, and tidal energy, which requires coastlines with significant tidal fluctuations.

Instead of blindly expanding wind and solar — often at great ecological and financial cost — each region should focus on what works best within its own geography. Technologies must be developed to enhance the efficiency of localized energy production rather than forcing inefficient, corporate-approved “solutions” onto places where they do not belong.

Questioning the Anti-Nuclear Narrative

Public opposition to nuclear energy has been shaped by decades of carefully crafted propaganda. While nuclear disasters such as Chernobyl and Fukushima have been widely publicized, the long-term safety and efficiency of modern nuclear technology have been buried under a mountain of fearmongering.

Newer nuclear technologies, such as thorium reactors and molten salt reactors, offer immense potential. They produce minimal waste, operate with significantly lower risk, and could provide clean, abundant energy. But they are not being pursued with the urgency they deserve — likely because they do not fit within the tightly controlled profit model of the existing energy industry.

Over-Consumption and the Illusion of Progress

Modern society is driven by an insatiable hunger for energy, yet much of this consumption is unnecessary. The push for AI, massive server farms, endless expansion, and hyper-industrialization is not about improving human lives — it is about corporate control and economic growth for its own sake.

We are told that progress means faster, bigger, and more complex systems, but this narrative benefits the few at the expense of the many. In reality, we have the option to streamline, simplify, and reduce our reliance on energy-intensive industries. A shift toward local production, decentralized communities, and simpler lifestyles would dramatically cut energy demand without sacrificing quality of life.

This is not to suggest a return to pre-industrial living, but rather a reassessment of what true prosperity means. The current model of relentless expansion has led to a world where people feel more disconnected, isolated, and unfulfilled than ever before. Clearly, something is missing from the formula.

The Suppression of Efficient Energy Technologies

The idea of over-unity and free energy devices is often dismissed as pseudoscience, yet history is filled with examples of inventors and researchers who have pursued these concepts — only to face suppression, ridicule, or worse.

Figures such as Nikola Tesla, Stanley Meyer, and Eugene Mallove dedicated their lives to the pursuit of breakthrough energy solutions, only to be met with hostility, threats, and even assassination. These are not the reactions of a system genuinely invested in scientific discovery; they are the tactics of an industry protecting its monopoly.

Researchers such as Susan Manewich, Eric P. Dollard, and organizations like the New Energy Movement continue to explore the potential of suppressed energy technologies. These efforts are not given mainstream attention, not because they lack validity, but because they threaten the established order of the energy industry. Those interested in learning more should explore resources such as:

  • The New Energy Movement
  • The works of Susan Manewich and other independent researchers
  • Patents and technical papers on suppressed energy devices

Challenging the Stalled Energy Paradigm

The future of energy should not be dictated by corporate interests and government-approved “solutions” that maintain control rather than seek true innovation. Instead of blindly accepting wind and solar as the only answers, we must explore decentralized, geographically appropriate, and suppressed energy technologies.

Energy independence is not just a technical issue — it is a political and economic one. Those who control energy control society. By challenging the mainstream narratives, supporting alternative research, and adopting a more thoughtful approach to energy consumption, we can move toward a future that is not just “renewable,” but truly liberating.

John Gibbons – Unsplash

Alternative and Paradigm-Shifting Energy Production Methods

This essay explores various energy production methods that challenge mainstream approaches and could offer viable alternatives to centralized, wasteful, and inefficient energy grids. Below is a summary of key energy sources covered, as well as lesser-known technologies that have been suppressed, underfunded, or dismissed due to political and economic interests.

1. Geothermal Energy

  • Uses Earth’s internal heat for direct power generation or heating.
  • Reliable and location-specific; ideal for areas with volcanic or tectonic activity.
  • Practically zero emissions, low maintenance, and long-term sustainability.
  • Further Reading:
    • The Future of Geothermal Energy by MIT researchers.
    • Geothermal Energy: Renewable Energy and the Environment by William E. Glassley.
    • Introduction to Geothermal Energy by H. Clifford Spang.
  • Research Sources:

2. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)

  • Uses temperature differences in ocean water to generate electricity.
  • Most effective in tropical regions where deep cold water and warm surface water are available.
  • Further Reading:
    • Renewable Energy from the Ocean: A Guide to OTEC by William H. Avery and Chih Wu.
    • Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Primer by Patrick Takahashi.
  • Research Sources:

3. Tidal and Wave Energy

  • Harvests energy from ocean movements to generate power.
  • Reliable but requires specific coastal conditions to be effective.
  • Further Reading:
    • Tidal Energy: Unlocking the Power of Our Oceans by David E. Newton.
    • Wave and Tidal Energy by Deborah Greaves and Gregorio Iglesias.
    • Renewable Energy from Water by Paul Breeze.
  • Research Sources:

4. Small-Scale Hydroelectric Power

  • Uses river currents or micro-dams to produce electricity.
  • Ideal for rural, off-grid communities and regions with abundant freshwater.
  • Lower environmental impact than large-scale hydroelectric dams.
  • Further Reading:
    • Micro-Hydro Design Manual by Adam Harvey.
    • Small Hydroelectric Engineering Practice by Bryan Leyland.
  • Research Sources:

5. Advanced Nuclear Energy (Molten Salt Reactors, Thorium, and Fusion)

  • Safer, cleaner, and more efficient than traditional uranium-based nuclear reactors.
  • Thorium reactors produce less waste and cannot be weaponized easily.
  • Fusion research is ongoing but has immense potential for near-limitless energy.
  • Further Reading:
    • SuperFuel: Thorium, the Green Energy Source for the Future by Richard Martin.
    • The Future of Fusion Energy by Jason Parisi and Justin Ball.
    • Molten Salt Reactors and Thorium Energy by Thomas Dolan.
  • Research Sources:

6. Over-Unity and Free Energy Devices

  • Includes suppressed technologies that propose energy generation beyond conventional physics.
  • Examples: Nikola Tesla’s radiant energy work, Stanley Meyer’s water fuel cell, and various zero-point energy devices.
  • Highly controversial due to suppression, lack of mainstream funding, and aggressive discrediting.
  • Further Reading:
    • Forbidden Science by J. Douglas Kenyon.
    • The Energy Machine of T. Henry Moray: Zero-Point Energy and Pulsed Plasma Physics by Thomas E. Bearden.
    • Breakthrough Power: How Quantum-Leap New Energy Inventions Can Transform Our World by Jeanne Manning and Joel Garbon.
    • Hidden Energy by Jeane Manning and Susan Manewich
  • Research Sources:

7. Hydrogen Fuel Cells and Water-Based Energy

  • Produces energy through electrochemical reactions using hydrogen.
  • Can be used in transportation and stationary power generation.
  • Water-splitting technologies (electrolysis) remain underdeveloped despite potential.
  • Further Reading:
    • The Hydrogen Economy by Jeremy Rifkin.
    • Hydrogen Energy: Challenges and Solutions by Paul Ekins, Mike Bradshaw, and Jim Watson.
    • Solar Hydrogen Generation by Krishnan Rajeshwar and Robert McConnell.
  • Research Sources:

8. Biomechanical and Biological Energy Harvesting

  • Utilizes biological and organic materials to generate power.
  • Examples: Bacteria-based bio-batteries, piezoelectric systems (motion-based energy capture).
  • Further Reading:
    • The Bioelectric Revolution by Robert O. Becker.
    • Biological Fuel Cells by Keith Scott and Clare Scott.
    • Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting by Alper Erturk and Daniel J. Inman.
  • Research Sources:
Anthony Indraus – Unsplash

What do sovereign and resilient communities look like?

Sovereignty is the state of harmony within oneself, where one has mastery and ownership over their consciousness. Energy sovereignty then, is a state in which people need not be connected to a larger ‘grid’ that dispatches energy through a controlled system, but have their own regenerative and decentralized source of power. This hasn’t been possible before because of the limited and intermittent nature of existing energy sources such as solar and natural gas. Because the nature of new energy is inexhaustible, only limited by what the device can output, there is enough for everyone, anywhere.

Today, houses in a typical neighborhood are all connected by power lines that trace all the way back to a centralized power plant. This interconnected ‘grid’ spanning hundreds of miles, needs management at every level, and can easily be disrupted by power surges or storms.

The future we envision is one where cars and public transportation powered on abundant plasma energy. Portable generators are locally or regionally manufactured by employee-owned companies. New kinds of schools teach ether physics and engineering, sprouting creation of repair shops and further innovation. Take-back programs implemented to reduce virgin materials. Essentially, we are catalyzing a community-focused circular economic ecosystem founded on the knowledge and the sustainable creation of new energy technologies.

This all starts with learning and sharing knowledge about new energy and its limitless possibilities. This is what we’re here to do.

— New Energy Movement

Energy Sovereignty and Decentralization

Access to energy is not just a technical issue — it is a matter of sovereignty, independence, and human flourishing. The centralization of energy production often leads to monopolies, price manipulation, and vulnerability in times of crisis. The alternative technologies discussed in this essay have the potential to empower individuals and communities, allowing them to break free from dependence on large-scale corporate or governmental infrastructures.

Microgrids, localized renewable energy sources, and independent storage solutions can ensure stable access to power, especially for off-grid communities, disaster-stricken areas, and those seeking greater resilience. By prioritizing decentralized energy systems, people can reclaim control over one of the most fundamental aspects of survival and well-being.

For further exploration, check out:

  • The Grid: The Fraying Wires Between Americans and Our Energy Future by Gretchen Bakke.
  • Power to the People: How Open Technological Innovation is Arming Tomorrow’s Terrorists by Audrey Kurth Cronin.
  • Resources from Microgrid Knowledge.

Conclusion

The modern energy landscape has been shaped by centralized monopolies and deliberate suppression of revolutionary technologies. True progress requires rethinking our approach — not just in terms of efficiency but also sustainability and accessibility. Energy should be harnessed in ways that complement local environments, rather than forcing inefficient solutions into regions where they are doomed to fail.

For those seeking deeper knowledge, the sources listed above provide a foundation for independent research into alternative and paradigm-shifting energy technologies.

“You must have a vast and magnificent estate,” said Candide to the Turk.

“I have only twenty acres,” replied the old man; “I and my children cultivate them; our labour preserves us from three great evils — weariness, vice, and want.”

Candide, on his way home, made profound reflections on the old man’s conversation.

“This honest Turk,” said he to Pangloss and Martin, “seems to be in a situation far preferable to that of the six kings with whom we had the honour of supping.”

“Grandeur,” said Pangloss,”is extremely dangerous according to the testimony of philosophers … You know.”

“I know also,” said Candide, “that we must cultivate our garden.”

— Voltaire – Candide

Continue reading the series:

Part 2: Shelter, Part 3: Food, Part 4: Water, Part 5: True Independence

Published in Journal Entries