Alternative energy = the next internet?

[HardDrive]

Lets avoid talking about politics if we can.

Whats the 'next big thing' for the United States? We always seem to come up with some way of reinventing ourselves. Leading a global movement towards alternative energy seems as good an effort as any.

Talk some 'Megatrends' talk to me.

Whats the next big thing?

[Jim Richards]

Holographic Pr0n.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Virtual Reality Pr0n

[VINMAN]

Are you talking near future? I just dont see alternative energy happening soon. I think maybe a decade or so before we see any real progress on that front.

[ckissick]

I'm not so sure. Of course, we will run out of oil someday. Coal, too. But wind and solar may never be able to provide enough of what we need. After all, the sun is only out half the time, and it's not always windy, especially at night.

If the market were to drive the future of energy, I'd put my money on nuclear.

[djmcmath]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

Are you talking near future? I just dont see alternative energy happening soon. I think maybe a decade or so before we see any real progress on that front.

(reset this quote to 1990): Are you talking near future? I just don't see The Internet happening soon. I think maybe a decade or so before we see any real progress on that front.

Now imagine if you had possessed the foresight to invest in The Internet in 1990. If "Going Green" becomes a global movement -- and with the press that Green gets these days, it has the potential -- we'll all feel silly for not investing today.

Dan

[kstar]

I think it will be alternative energy; lotsa money and momentum going that way now.

[Dantilla]

Right now, it would be easy to loose quite a bit of money in alternative energy. The field is broad, and many start-ups will be left in the dust as a select few will become big players that will dominate the market.

[VINMAN]

I agree that alt energy will be big, but there are still too many roadblocks in the way to take off right away

[RWebb]

the big VC firms are all over alt energy

they will probably make out like bandits again - nothing wrong with that and I'm glad to see them doing it

First Solar's stock looks like a rocket launch

and the battery designer for GM is just about to go public...

also 3-4 solar chip fabs are starting up right now in Oregon

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by RWebb

the big VC firms are all over alt energy

they will probably make out like bandits again - nothing wrong with that and I'm glad to see them doing it

First Solar's stock looks like a rocket launch

and the battery designer for GM is just about to go public...

also 3-4 solar chip fabs are starting up right now in Oregon

Thats the reason for the post. The VC boys seem to be all over it. I can dump money into GE (who WILL do well, even if the USA has to sell the statue of liberty), but I was frankly fishing for industry knowledge.

[widgeon13]

Time travel, here one minute, dead the next!

[schamp]

I like the idea of putting generators or large fans at 800 to 1000 feet agl to use the winds aloft to power the generators. Some what surprised tall building don't have them already.

[widgeon13]

How about, "Turn the lights out when you leave the room"

Conservation is the easiest, cheapest and can be delivered immediately.

[The Gaijin]

Alternative energy sounds right - so companies with a vested interest will have tax and other laws written, and they will invest huge sums and make even more money in return. Will it make a dent in our energy needs or replace any coal or oil?? No.

[lendaddy]

Originally Posted by RWebb

First Solar's stock looks like a rocket launch

To be fair you didn't say a successful rocket launch.

[Tim Hancock]

First Solar is a local company as is Xunlight. We have done work for both. Both rely on basically semiconductor technology to apply precious metals to the solar cells. The process is extremely expensive...without govt subsidies, the technology is not cost effective. As it stands now, it would cost nearly $40,000 to install on the average home..... Even if the cost could be reduced by half (highly unlikely), I can't foresee anyone but a relatively small number of wealthy treehuggers paying through the nose for this insignificant form of electricity.

Basically the only substantial way to make large quantities of electricity is to spin large generators. Presently steam is the most cost effective method to drive large generators. Coal and nuclear reactors do this well.

Wind and hydroelectric plants can probably be cost effective, but large scale worldwide affordable power generation is probably best attained by nuclear reactors producing steam to drive large generators.

[kach22i]

A few weeks ago on Larry King Live, Bill Clinton said that when the tech bubble burst, investment resources were funneled into housing. He said that now that the housing bubble has busted, resources should be put into alternative energy (and not to prop up housing).

Smart man.

[The Gaijin]

Oh the shear joy of spending other people's money! It must be like an addictive drug!

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by The Gaijin

Oh the shear joy of spending other people's money! It must be like an addictive drug!

Shear joy in directing investment opportunities maybe.