Artful Dodger: I don't think Obama wants to me noted as Nixon and Raygun have been for being lackeys of the private sector. With respect.. the USA has the potential of a great deal of green energy. It'd be a shame to waste those renewable resources.

And for the right wing to take this disaster and turn it into a point scorer is disgusting.

(V):   The US may have the resources for "Green Energy" but the technology just isn't there.  There is likely potential, but the actual technology to produce the vast quantities of energy needed just isn't possible technologically at this point.  One oil well can supply far more than a multitude of green energy sources.  It's not my opinion on the matter, it's just the facts we are currently facing.  There is no possible way to replace fossel fuels with green energy.  We are still in the very early stages of discovery.  Yes we have found green energy sources, but the output is limited.  And in the meanwhile, other countries around the world will continue to produce oil based products and unless the US does too, it will be at the mercy of others.  Exploring green energy sources is one thing.  But we cannot talk ahead of the game.  We are not at a point where green energy can sustain people's energy needs on larger scales.  In theory perhaps, but in practice, no.

Artful Dodger: I think you'll find we are in the 21st and although green cannot produce all the energy it can stop our dependence on oil. The tech is such that one can make enough power from solar and wind to be able to sell back to the grid.

The USA is already at the mercy of others oil wise. It has been for decades and unless the American people are willing to pay a big hike in oil prices will stay so.

"Exploring green energy sources is one thing. But we cannot talk ahead of the game. "

The games is that we can now burn 90%+ of landfill rubbish and turn it into power, wind farms, wave farms, solar heating and electric, old oil from fast food joints turned into bio fuel.......

.. if it wasn't for green technology power wise, you'd not had the A-bomb in 1945.

(V): This is not true. It can potentially stop it but that's theory. In practice, it can't because as I said, we don't currently have the adequate technology.

Artful Dodger: It's no longer a theory. The tech to replace petrol has been found and is in development. A nanotech battery.

You should read the news!!

(V): Of course I never said it was "just a theory." That part you made up. I said the technology isn't adequate. It can't produce the needed energy to complete with fossil fuels. And I said that we've a long way to go before we get to that place.

You see, I read the news and what I've said is what has been in the news. It's not that green energy doesn't offer promises. Perhaps it does. But at this moment in time, the technology IS NOT THERE. It's like a battery vrs nuclear energy. Sure the battery can run small things. But it cannot even begin to address the huge energy needs of a single city. A house? Yeah. People had tons of equiptment and get their energy from the sun. But they live in Arizona. Try that here. In many parts of the world the sunshine is not sufficient to power much of anything.

Artful Dodger: The technology is now that you do not need high levels of sunlight to make solar power, even at the current tech levels micro generation can lead with small windmills to enable the average joe to be able to sell electric to the grid.

... The new tech coming out is able to use every inch of a building including windows (with windows both internal and external light) for solar electric production.

It's a myth that you need bright sunlight. Wind and wave farms are now operational in the UK..... sunshine is not the only free energy available.

... The new batteries coming in R&D ..... powerful enough to replace and give the range of a combustion engine.

Maybe it's just the BBC provide more coverage then in this news area.