Jerry,
I don't entirely agree with your pessimism on alterantive energies, for several reasons;
1. The need for high quality, high reliability power for info and communications tech is driving a decentralization of power generation. These applications are ready to pay higher prices.
2. A substantial portion of the populace will pay a premium (a limited premium) for green power.
3. Certain areas in the world have abundant sources of wind, solar, geothermal or tidal power and no hydrocarbons. It is very much in there interest to promote and subsidize alternative energies.
4. Look at the Huber-Mills Powercosm material. They say that automobiles will be transformed not by fuel cells or any new power plant, but by a conversion of the power train and all functions to electrical rather than mechnical devices. Each wheel, for instance, will be driven by its own electrical motor supplied with energy from a hydrocarbon generator. This process, they say, has started and is inevitable. It allows the cars to be precisely controlled and is a great deal more efficient as well as safer.
5. Third world cities are dying from exhaust fumes generated by 2 stroke engines.
6. Energy costs and taxes are much higher in Europe than the US.
I do agree that the US is unlikely to lead in the conversion, though they seem to be leading in technology.
Bill |
