On Sat, 22 May 2004 08:11:47 -0400, Bert Robbins wrote:

If it is economically feasible it will happen. Until then tap ANWR and the
coast of California and the Gulf of Mexico!

LOL, the old market economy. Personally, I don't think it's up to the
task.

"It has often been said that, if the human species fails to make a go
of it here on Earth, some other species will take over the running. In the
sense of developing high intelligence this is not correct. We have, or
soon will have, exhausted the necessary physical prerequisites so far as
this planet is concerned. With coal gone, oil gone, high-grade metallic
ores gone, no species however competent can make the long climb from
primitive conditions to high-level technology. This is a one-shot affair.
If we fail, this planetary system fails so far as intelligence is
concerned. The same will be true of other planetary systems. On each of
them there will be one chance, and one chance only. (Hoyle, 1964)"