Feasibility of renewable energy?

[Lindsay]

It would seem to me that the whole issue of how we consume the energy we produce gets totally glossed over in all these debates.
The power companies are selling a commodity so have no interest in trying to reduce demand.
Consumers want the latest gadgets which often require more energy. For example your neat 48" Flat screen LCD will suck up at least 3 times as much power as the old tube and the programs aren't any better for it.
So instead of just accepting an out of control ramping up of energy demand and trying to cater for it some extra effort should be applied to ensuring that what we do produce gets used as efficiently as possible.

The term alternative energy is really more applicable when trying to find ways to keep society functioning. Even fossil fuels are renewable if we could wait a few million years for the planet to replenish its stocks.
The drawbacks of Solar and wind power are well documented so total reliance on these is impossible' but anything that contributes to the supply without the nuclear drawbacks is a plus.
Research in to any alternative energy sources should be being supported now. Maybe there's another Edison out there who will discover something from way outside the square.

 

[Andy]

First, nuclear energy will always be heavily regulated for safety reasons. Most States that have tried deregulation of the electrical companies have found that to be a huge mistake. As for most forms of renewable energy, we will have to have a way to store the excess produced at peak times to offset the zero produced at times. Solar energy only works when the sun is shining. Wind power only works when the wind is blowing so we will always need some other source of energy that can be produced 24/7.

 

[Martin M]

It seems many on this forum are now pushing for a "renewables only" solution.

Are these individuals being played by big coal or could renewable energy alone actually power America? Is it now realistic to assume that renewables could provide baseload in the US?

Is refusing to deregulate nuclear energy exactly what the coal companies want?