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Only useful if you live in a place where the sun always shines, like a desert, or the Sahel.

 

I think it's safe to say that any alternative energy souce will have certain side effects.

As far as wind power goes, yes, there may be an environmental impact as a result of changed wind patterns, but what about similar effects resulting from, say, large cities with tall buildings, or deforestation? (Note - I'm no expert here.) My point is that there are other factors at work as well, and as Geoff suggests, maybe a colder Arctic could be a good thing. (I can't believe I'm saying that, given where I live. )

@ Big Tank - you're an engineer and a Canadian?!?
...You're doomed.

 

Crap. That's what I plan to be!

Morgoth said:

?!? Not true! Solar power is still useful even in Canada. It's just not as effective. It is still useful.
Similarly, there are areas of the world where there are consistantly strong winds, and others where there are consistantly no/weak winds. So, you could argue that wind farms are only "useful", as you say, in certain areas, just as you argue that solar power is only "useful" in certain areas.

Splunge said:

Right on!

 

Oh, clean energy is definitely viable in places like Canada. Diversity is great for producing energy, too. Enmax (a power company here in Alberta) is setting up a lot of wind farms to produce energy!

Solar energy would be good, but as it stands, modern solar panels aren't too efficient at producing energy.

Personally, I think nuclear energy would be the way to go, but only if they increased the efficiency of the process and found a way to decrease the pollution such as radiation, waste, and superheated water. Perhaps if they found a good way to convert thermal energy into electrical energy?