News from the New Party

In search of Al Gore's marbles

Now, it appears he's lost touch with reality entirely.  He has challenged Americans to entirely end the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity within a decade (without an expansion of nuclear power).  This is utter insanity.  The research of the excellent Renewable Energy Foundation shows pretty conclusively that large scale renewable energy is currently unrealistic.  Wind power is far too unreliable and has a nasty tendency to cut out when you need it most.  Other technologies just cost too much per KWh to be remotely practical as a large part of our energy mix... Americans to entirely end the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity within a decade (without an expansion of nuclear power). 

However, to start trying to tax people into avoiding fossil fuels now, when there isn't a practical alternative, will just push up the cost of energy.  It would cost ordinary families, and particularly the poor and vulnerable elderly, a fortune and do lasting damage to industry.  To try and force a switch away from fossil fuels on the timescale and scale Gore is proposing would be insanity.

Insane, yes, but not insane enough that large numbers of people can be persuaded to ask the right questions.