I am all for alternative energy. However don't throw out fossil fuels until the alternatives are phased in and costs at or near the same as fossil fuels.
Solar panels don't kill birds but would be great in the south during the very hot afternoons in summer to help with peek air conditioning demand. I've seen solar panels over parking lots in some Middle eastern countries at their malls. Why aren't we doing that here? A shady car is nice to get into after shopping in the hot summer.
Wind, if they use the new vertical windmills to keep from killing birds could also help in the plains states, and offshore near big cities. However keep the gas generators or coal fired plants going if the wind is not blowing or the sun is not shining.
A lot of hydro can be produced small scale. Like using the old mill dams where they ground wheat or corn. Reconnect a modern water wheel with a generator. Many I've read can feed up to 20 homes with power. Also from what I read, it could increase water power in the US by as much as 30%.
Storage of wind and solar is the largest expense for the alternatives. Instead of batteries, I've read they could build giant horizontal flywheels 300' in diameter in a pit in case it flys apart. They could be made from steel wire bundles. A solid flywheel could crack and fly apart. The steel wire would hold together better. I've read that putting one of these at or near every power dam and nuclear power plant could store excess electricity during off peek hours for use later. In theory it could increase power by 33% without even building another power plant. Nuclear power produces over 20% of our power needs, hydro about 10%. Adding the flywheels would increase this to 30% nuclear and about 15% hydro. That is 45%, almost half, thereby cutting fossil fuel use. Wind and solar, right now produce about 10%, adding flywheel storage would increase that to 15%. That alone would drastically cut fossil fuel use.
As far as transportation goes, to me plug in hybrids would be a good transition. The best of both, won't leave you stranded and reduce gasoline consumption. At least this until faster charging and longer range electrics come on line at a reasonable cost.
What the Dem's are doing trying to stop fossil fuel in it's tracks driving the cost of gas up is unreasonable. Alternatives are not ready. Forcing the use of traditional windmills is killing millions of birds. It is time to stop and think, and gradually phase in alternatives, not cold turkey.
It is also time to bring our factories back home. How much fuel oil is used to power these container ships?
