C.R. should wait on plasma arc technology

Cedar Rapids should pause, hesitate, and wait and see when it comes to “self-sustaining plasma arc technology” for burning trash. Why haven't the alarms gone off on this one? If you get more energy out of a system than you've put into it, you either have a miracle or you're tapping into energy reserves that create an ecological net

negative (oil as fuel, e.g.).

In other words, either you have a moving violation of the Second Law of Thermodynamics or a long-term energy deficit that somebody will have to pay for eventually.

So, since the Marion City Council has already fallen in love with the hype, let Marion be the guinea pig until the net negatives sort themselves out. Cedar Rapids should sit back and do nothing, except for taking names and addresses and keeping an eye on the money.

David C. Oshel

Cedar Rapids