On Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:07:50 -0500, Eisboch wrote:



Solar and wind are still a long, long ways from being a viable energy
alternative to replace fossil fuel. The 100,000 megawatt capacity of
the nuclear plants currently operating in the US only supplies about 20
percent of consummed power.
Solar and/or wind can't even be considered to make up the difference,
let alone replace oil and nuc altogether.

I'm not sure about that. In this country, wind energy alone, accounts
for 13,000 megawatts, most installed in the last 5 years, and there are
estimates that wind alone, could provide twice our present energy needs.

Portugal expects 45% of their energy needs to be met by renewable energy
by 2015. Germany isn't far behind.

I don't think anyone expects *one* silver bullet. It's going to take
conservation, new technologies, and, perhaps, most importantly, a
comprehensive national energy policy, which this present administration
doesn't seem to have the stomach for. I'm not saying it will be easy,
but it can be done, and solar/wind should be part of the mix.