http://thefraserdomain.typepad.com/energy/2006/07/cryogenic_super.html#comment-19545453

Well Thomas, let them talk nukes all they want.  I just don't think they're cost effective.

 Remote cluster reactors  are  a good  compromise on nukes.  I think we  renewable fans could use this as a negotiating point to get subsidies shifted from fossil and nuclear corporations to tax incentives for homeowners and small businesses for wind, solar, and electric plugin hybrids and pure EVs.  They get a second chance, we get a fair playing field.

Put the new nuclear reactors  in remote areas where contamination already exists like Yucca mountain or Hanford, the power can be moved easily compared to the waste later on.  Let the industry prove itself on cost, safety, and waste.

But as far as the real winners?  Well I'm glad this article brings up superconduction.   Because instead of thousands of miles of superconducting cables with liquid hydrogen pipes surrounding it, smaller rings of this  material with safe liquid nitrogen supercooling could store all the wind, solar, and wave power needed in a regional grid. It's like a zero loss flywheel where the electricity does the spinning.

Even the  negative assessment on the capacity of wind and capacity factor leaves the government admitting solar can and must fill the gap.

I think much larger wind machines on the planes and on floating platforms offshore that double as wave power stations could power everything alone. There is no reason to insist on that though.

 The better strategy is to agree and admit we only expect  maybe one third of our power from large wind and wave machines.  Then propose distributed power generation and storage from home sized wind and solar roof panels on every roof that is suitable to provide the next third. 

And going to efficiency gains for the remaining third.   Much more mass transportation, ride sharing, bike trails, and telecommuting for work.  Electric cars,super insulated homes, a new generation of energy efficient appliances, geothermal/solar  heat pump heating, domestic water heating,  and air conditioning.

Also industrial efficiency gains.  Like using wind powered heat pumps and solar for refining ethanol.  Electric plugin tractors and construction equipment. 

I would say the admissions in this report give us the final negotiating position we needed to prove renewables can carry the whole energy supply burden.  Let them try nukes and "clean" coal.  But verify cost effectiveness.

Renewables will win in a fair fight.  Real capitalism minus subsidies would provide that fair market competition. Let the games begin (well they already have).

This is engineering and political strategy now.  Prove the voters will get lower costs with renewables and we win in the end.  Hope it is in time to head off global climate disaster.