According to Nate Lewis (my former chemistry prof.) in Caltech's "Engineering & Science" alumni magazine, the US is at the point where we'd have to cover 40% of the US with corn fields to satisfy our energy needs via ethanol... or 10% of the US with today's solar technology... and Solar's the most sustainable energy source... and we expect 30% more people in the US in 30 years.

We're not yet at unsustainable levels, but I won't argue that current levels are not "ludicrous," as you say.

So, Nate is focusing his research on amorphous silicon solar cells. If they can be made to work well enough, then solar becomes the economically preferred option in sunny areas with high energy costs, such as Southern California, where I live. That's why my dream home is solar.

--Glenn