[wind_magic]

It's difficult for me to put my finger on exactly what it is about the alternative energy debate that bugs me, but something does. I think it's that when people talk about "alternative energy", it's like, so ? What exactly are you talking about ? I mean, what's the plan ? So we want to use alternative energy, well, great, we are, I do, I have solar panels on the roof, my neighbor electrifies his fence with solar panels, people's boats have wind generators, etc, so what exactly do you want ?

Okay, we want more wind generators, right ? So .... yeah, and we're doing that. Whenever it is economically feasible to do so, electric companies build big giant wind generators and harvest the winds energy to create power to supply to the electrical grid. And you want to do what else ? Of course, invest in MORE wind energy .. like, where ? How ? I want specifics. I don't just want "We're going to invest more in wind energy", well yeah, so what, and I'm going to try to eat better next year too, but what EXACTLY does that mean ? Do you think that companies aren't working like crazy already trying to invent better wind generators ? It's a huge market, there is tons of money out there chasing after the customers, it's not like they are just sitting there waiting for government to pass a bill to invest in wind energy. Power companies are building wind generation sites where ever all the components exist in the same place, things like available land, proximity to distribution lines, WIND, zoning, etc. Where ever they are able to turn a buck, they'll turn one, they aren't stupid, and they know a hell of a lot more about wind energy than any politician does.

Solar, same thing, yeah, we all want more solar. I love solar. So, what exactly is it that the government and politicians want to do ? Solar is already used where it is economically feasible to use it. It's much more expensive in most every way than coal power generation, and because of it's high cost we all use it primarily when grid power isn't available, in cabins, on boats, on highway sensors, emergency phones in the middle of nowhere, etc. As the prices come down, individuals across the world make millions of decisions every day that put more and more solar panels in place as it becomes reasonable to do so. What is the government going to do EXACTLY to help ? Do Democrats and Republicans in the senate know of a new manufacturing process that we don't already know about, did they suddenly become physics experts and devise a new way to increase efficiency, or lower cost of manufacturing ? I mean yeah, we all want solar, SO WHAT ? We all want world peace too, but what the hell is the plan ? Is it suddenly going to become better if the government takes people's tax money, buys solar panels for them, and then gives them back, essentially forcing people to spend money on solar panels even when coal power is available with more efficiency and lower cost ? I mean what is the government planning to do here. Are they going to start dropping money on government research firms or something ? Okay, you want to invest in solar power, but what does that mean ? Show me a single thing that politicians want to do that either isn't already being done, or isn't already in the works.

I just don't like all of these wishy washy pie in the sky things they say about alternative energy - we all want alternative energy, so much so that some of us have bought panels and put them up. I just don't see what the government is going to do to "help". We already have various tax incentives and things, what more is the government going to do to "invest in tomorrow" ? What does "invest in tomorrow" even mean ? We're all investing in tomorrow. I mean I don't even know what that is supposed to mean.

The government has done a great job of investing in alternative energy when it comes to fusion power, haven't they ? I mean how long have we been waiting for government funded research to develop a prototype fusion reactor, about two decades, three ? How's that working out ?