“Large utility-scale renewable energy offers important economies of scale. In Denmark industrial-scale wind farms already supply 20 percent of the country’s power; Germany and other European countries are close behind. The American Council on Renewable Energy estimates that with “consistent public policy” and enough investment, 70 percent of America’s energy consumption could be generated from renewable, carbon-free sources by 2025. Another government-supported study estimates that with radical efficiency efforts, renewable energy could supply all US electrical needs by 2030.
The story of wind, solar, geothermal and biomass energy development in the United States is an appalling tale of missed opportunities and willful negligence. The government has refused to use subsidies to jump-start green power, but it lavishes public money on fossil fuels. To the extent that the transition to utility-scale green power has begun–it is no thanks to government initiative”
-Christian Parenti “Big is Beautiful”

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070507/parenti