I was just reading some stories regarding 'new' energy; which sound very similar to the old energy.
One was from TR regarding the lithium potential of Bolivia and the other was from Wired regarding Thorium, a potential replacement for Uranium.
Both of these articles dealt with the extraction of minerals from the earth for the purpose of generating power. Regardless how efficient these minerals are the articles highlight a major innovation issue that I don't see being covered.
If it is to be successful any new energy technology will need to be based on one of our oldest innovations: agriculture. The new energy will need to be harvested not extracted.
The raw efficiency of a technology (the cost to produce energy) can not be the only consideration. Not even a more efficient ecological footprint is reason enough.
The success of the 'new' energy needs to be based on the confidence of self-reliance. The new fuel will need to be locally produced and replenishable.
There should also be a variety of energy production options.
Even if it is not effecient, any fuel which is able to do this bypasses many politcal and social issues which make more efficient fuels less desirable in the long run.
