[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I don't think we'll have to worry about the sun running out of energy. We'll be long gone by the time it browns out or whatever.
I am not of the philosophy that if it hasn't been done it can't be done. Engineering challenges are challenges, not insurmountable walls. I still have hope for fusion. It hasn't been done yet. Should we just quit trying?

No, but there are companies spending billions of their own R&D dollars on innovating new battery technology because there is significant money to be made. There's no reason why tax dollars and incentives should be thrown at one company with a loser of a business model, it's not as if Tesla is the last hope for battery technology.