[TheRealThing]

There is no bigger believer in the importance of renewable energy than me but economics should be driving their development, not "somebody else's money."

The long term survival of our species will require inexhaustible, cheap energy. If our descendants are unable to colonize the solar system and beyond, then we will probably destroy our civilization before the sun burns the Earth to a crisp.

It seems to me that the most likely answer to our long term energy issues is fusion but until some energy that is cheaper than fossil fuels becomes available, coal, natural gas, and petroleum should remain our primary sources of energy. The federal government can best facilitate the move to a cheaper alternative by getting out of the way by lowering taxes, reducing regulations on energy research and development, and passing real tort reform.

I agree that science needs to push on with the development of clean renewable energy. I just do not believe we need to risk the downfall of our society to do it. As you mention, EPA regs have throttled industry and with that has gone the money necessary for research and development. While incredibly, we are closing coal fired generating stations at an alarming rate. IMO, even though we are short on funding, Obama has been willing to sacrifice the well being of this nation by investing in green energy anyway in taking away from other spending such as defense. And I'm not speaking of military hardware so much either, but the number of servicemen and their state of readiness as well.

We have time to develop clean renewable energy, however, those alternatives do not yet exist. And in any event, with only a few of the major players willing to sacrifice anyway, rushing this country into financial ruin won't change a thing except to take us out of the process to make the discoveries you mention.