Many people are working on alternative power resources, but most of the "buzz" is being directed at methods that have limited long-term prospects.

Water power, as suggested as a "best solution," is of little use to those of us in Kansas. It's 900 miles to the nearest water resources that haven't already been depleted below needs for sanitation and drinking by Colorado irrigation.

(My neighbors all have lawn sprinklers, so we're not huring too much, but I think the waste is unnecessary so mine ceased functioning more than 10 years ago. My neighbors don't like me much, but I've got more wildlife in my yard than they have .....)

Kansas has numerous suitable sites for windpower farms, but thus far the NIMBY concept has blocked development almost completely.

A current "biz-world buzz word" locally is "ethanol." Installation of new ethanol refining plants has been rapid and prolific in Kansas, but few people seem to have noticed that existing ethanol refineries demand slightly more than 40% of the total Kansas corn crop. They're still planning new capacity, and lots of people are throwing money at them. Lots of them will lose their asses, or we'll all subsidize them by paying a lot more for farm products. (Not necessarily a bad thing?).

Willie is selling lots of bio-diesel. The truckers (his main customers) do like it and many are using it when possible to some extent because they think it's the "socially right thing" to do; and the know-nots are citing him as "helping the environment." They are WRONG. Willie is helping the farmers (and he knows what he's doing, and why), by giving them an additional market for their products, but already is using most of the product that's suitable and available.

Every new idea has problems and limitations. It is necessary that we press for "better" than what we have; but it must be done intelligently, and with recognition that "different folks need different strokes."

John