Q, take a look at what I posted on the XL pipeline thread at 26 Feb 13 - 03:53 PM (I tried to supply a link, but I couldn't make it work). It deals with a method of harnessing solar power using essentially non-polluting materials, involving relatively low cost installation and utilizing pieces of real estate that nobody much wants.

Another rich source of energy would be large turbines anchored to the sea floor tapping the energy of ocean currents. This idea was suggested sometime in the 1970s or 80s, complete with responses to the various objections some people raised ("They'll kill whales!" Even if true, it would be easy to prevent). Brilliant plan as presented, but nobody saluted,

There are all kinds of non-polluting energy sources out there if one uses a little ingenuity.

But once again: "We will have solar power when one of the power companies figures out how to run a sunbeam through a meter."

THAT's the problem!

Incidentally, I'm not a total ignoramus in this field. In the 1980s I worked as a technical writer for a firm that was doing contract work for the Bonneville Power Administration. The particular project was to find new, non-polluting, and hopefully inexpensive source of energy. A lot of really fascinating stuff crossed my desk.

Don Firth