07-03-2006, 10:18 PM
Marj snd I sttended the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair last weekend. There were probably 500 or more vendors, primarily of Solar systems, wind power and some alternative building techniques and thousands or people, very few of whom looked rich to me.
There were a lot of different innovative products.
Many of these are used where it is cost prohibitive to bring in standard utilities, i.e a mile in the woods.
A recent article claimed that the entire USA electrical energy needs could be supplied by photovoltaic covering 2% of the land.
Plus nanotechology has recently created improved means of turning sunpower into electricity at better efficiency than silicon.
Last year the USA led the world in installation of windpower.
The realistic future is going to be a mix of solar, wind, geothermal, nuclear and conventional oil and coal, with renewables increasing in market share.
There were a lot of different innovative products.
Many of these are used where it is cost prohibitive to bring in standard utilities, i.e a mile in the woods.
A recent article claimed that the entire USA electrical energy needs could be supplied by photovoltaic covering 2% of the land.
Plus nanotechology has recently created improved means of turning sunpower into electricity at better efficiency than silicon.
Last year the USA led the world in installation of windpower.
The realistic future is going to be a mix of solar, wind, geothermal, nuclear and conventional oil and coal, with renewables increasing in market share.