NYT on the limited prospects for solar power: "But for all the enthusiasm about harvesting sunlight, some of the most ardent experts and investors say that moving this energy source from niche to mainstream — last year it provided less than 0.01 percent of the country’s electricity supply — is unlikely without significant technological breakthroughs. And given the current scale of research in private and government laboratories, that is not expected to happen anytime soon."

Comments

[John Burns]

I wonder how developed the technology would be if we had put, oh, I don't know, $450 billion into it over the last 5 years.

[Sven]

Possible breakthrough.

[Roch101]

Good point, John Burns. I remember reading a few years ago that hydrogen fuel cells where not practical because the cost of upfitting existing gas stations would be an astonishing $70 billion.

It's damn sure time for some new priorities.

[Jeffrey Sykes]

Good link Sven, thanks.

I still think the Million Solar Roofs Initiative is a feasible idea.