A couple of points.   Fuel cells are not ready for prime time yet.   That doesn't meet they won't be in the future.    The same arguments against hydrogen were also made about the automobile- too expensive, no infrastructure for roads or refueling stations, and people were too attached to their horses.

Incandescent lights last 1,000 hours.   compact florescents cost 1/4 as much to run and last 10,000 hours.   LED lights last 100,000 hours (white) and up to 300,000 hours for colors (red, green)   About same economics as compacts- LED lights last better in cold temps- compact work better in warmer temps

about 250,000 people in the USA have signed up for renewable energy programs from their utilities.   That is dismal.   Costs are as low as $.06 kwh premium or about $3 a month on an average bill.    7 of the 10 largest programs are in California, Oregon, and Wisconsin. The rest of the country talks green but won't pay extra for it.

Wind is getting very competitive in price (except in Michigan where I live)    I have seen prices as low as $30 MW.   This compares favorably with some utility cost of generation.   In Michigan new wind maps (created with satelites that previously were used to spy on the soviet union) have shown huge potential of wind- 16,000 MW of level 3 or better on land, and huge amounts of level 5 & 6 in Lake Michigan and Saginaw Bay.   There is enough wind at profitable levels to power the entire state of Michigan- 25,000 MW.   but right now we only have 2.4 MW of wind.   Disgusting.   And it is priced at $60 MW. (the wind developers are not real fond of me these days but then again, the builders in Michigan are also mad at me for supporting the new building codes going into effect on Feb 28)

Nuclear is the cheapest option today.    If you are for clean air you should love Nuclear.   Some environmentalists do- others hate if for disposing of the waste.    If you have ever walked through a nuclear plant (like I have) it might change you mind. Hell no, we won't glow.

Solar is still way too expensive.   Don't see much hope there.   but who knows about the future.   Large hydro is maxed out at capacity. Small hydro is not cost competitive.   Biomass is growing and making a huge impact.   Currently, biomass is largest renewable source in the country- almost 4% of total energy capcaity is in biomass.   Bio diesel is part of that mix. Also includes getting methane gas from landfills- very economic if planned for in advance.

A couple of comments on net metering. My utility purchases energy back from people with windmills or solar panels (that is called net metering) at the highest current day generation cost.    that is state law. Customers do not get screwed and the utility does not make money on net metering.   Right now according to EIA (check out there web site) only about 15 homes in Michigan are eligible for net metering.   Good idea- but very small.

Sorry for rambling- if you want to hear more of this rambling I wil l be a guest on a 50,000 watt radio station - WJR 760 am in Detroit on February 20 at 1:00 on the Murray Gula Home Improvement show.   It is probably streamed through the internet.   (busy time- I did a live WJR short interview two weeks ago, channel 7 tv last wednesday, WWJ News Radio on Friday, spoke to nattionally syndicated home improvment host Glenn Haege on sunday, and have the Gula show in coming up)