I know it's probably really boring, and no one will read it, (I don't expect you to, really) I just felt like posting it.

Prompt is:
If you could invent something, what would it be, and why?

The production of energy to power the nation is one of today's biggest concerns. Currently used methods of energy production include coal power, hydroelectric power, and nuclear power.

Coal power is the most commonly used power in the United States. That being said, it has many flaws. Coal is a nonrenewable resource, meaning that eventually the coal will run out, presenting a major problem. Additionally, the environmental effects that coal power causes can be devastating. The CO2 travels into the atmosphere, creating smog in the worst cases, leaving a city an unsafe place for anyone to live in, whether they wear the breathing masks to protect themselves from smog or not.

Hydroelectric power is another form of power the US relies fairly heavily on, damming almost every single river in the United States, most more than once as they progress on their way to the ocean. This provides clean, renewable energy for many cities, and also creates reservoirs for cities like Los Vegas that are in the desert and are in need of a source of drinking water. This energy, however, also comes with drawbacks. It is not reliable, subject to failing if there is a particularly devastating drought. The dams disrupt the ecosystems of fish in the river that have to swim up and down the river as their nature dictates. The lakes created also are not very efficient reservoirs for use, as their surface area as lakes are much greater than as rivers, increasing evaporation and loss of freshwater.

Nuclear power seems to be the next step for the US to get off of its dependency on coal. It is not nearly as environmentally devastating as coal, as the dangerous radioactive byproduct is very small, and is easily storable in warehouses where it will not affect the environment as much. However, it is not very popular in public opinion, as the danger it poses to society in the possibility of nuclear meltdowns and fallout should not be ignored. Nuclear power plants are also extremely expensive to build, so an all-out conversion to nuclear power is not even close to feasible.

Scientists and engineers are constantly searching for new sources of energy that are renewable, environmentally friendly, and reliable. If I were to join that workforce, I would try to create an alternative energy source by harnessing the power of the ocean, or oceanic power. Caused by the gravitational pull of the moon, the ocean's waves pound the shore 7 days a week; 365 days a year. From that constant motion, immense amounts of energy could be gleaned. The perks this type of power would have would be great. It would be a renewable source of energy, as it is all caused by the gravitational pull of the moon. It would be reliable, because the tides do not stop due to weather or other factors aside from something happening to the moon. There would not be an issue with finding space to put them, as any place where the land touches the ocean could technically be used for the generation of power. There would not be conflict with recreational beaches, as the steeper beaches are where the waves are most violent, meaning they are more likely to produce more energy, and all recreational beaches are as flat as they can be to make them safer. Foreseeing possible negative side-effects mainly would mainly be environmental effects. However, any change to the shore of an ocean would most likely be no less detrimental than the presence of the recreational beaches.

I would want to invent this sort of new power source because it would actually be practical and helpful in the United States' current energy crisis. As our current resources such as coal run out, we will need a new energy resource. If I am to be a good citizen, I should expend my time in order to provide the ideas and actions needed in order to allow the United States to progress without having to rely on something as flawed and detrimental as coal power.