A fossil-fuel power generation plant emits carbon dioxide, while a greenhouse needs carbon dioxide to grow fruits and vegetables by a photosynthesis process. My primitive logic tells me that the best way to optimise the O2 - CO2 - O2 cycle is a direct connection between a power generation plant and a greenhouse, making real-time on-site usage of carbon dioxide. Alas, "Integrated Power Generation Plant and Greenhouse" <http://www.hyperinfo.ca/simpledesign/> is already a patent-pending technology. Here is an excerpt from its abstract: "Electricity, exhaust gases and steam are distributed from the power generation plant to a plurality of greenhouses in a concentric, modular star or modular ring configuration. Oxygen is released to the atmosphere from the greenhouse. Plants may be grown aeroponically or hydroponically in a dome-shaped greenhouse." Although there may be some engineering challenges, this concept should be promoted world-wide as a viable solution to help reduce greenhouse gas emission in order to meet the commitment of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. If a combined-cycle co-generation plant were to be proposed to a community as "a massive greenhouse complex with a power source", a negative NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) resistance would turn to a positive PIMBY (Please In My Back Yard) syndrome! It sounds like a win-win-win-win-win situation for power utility companies, local residents, food growers, food consumers, and environmental groups.
