What society needs is a way to store electrical energy,
we already know plenty of ways to produce it.
“Time-shift” it, more than store it for long periods of time like chemical batteries are designed to do. For example, Wyoming has a great wind resource but has a small population, thus is in a great position to export power from wind generation. The state is also toward the eastern edge of the Mountain Time Zone, which means the wind tends to produce power at a different time of day than in power-hungry California. In this case the shift is favorable but that’s not always the case. Using wind to pump water into reservoirs that can run hydro generators is also being utilized.
I don’t know why otherwise intelligent FReepers exhibit Algore-like scientific tendencies whenever an article favorable to wind power is posted. As conservatives, we should be championing the application of science and engineering - in free markets - to address our energy needs. While there are subsidies today, wind has been moving rapidly toward self-sufficiency and that is the ultimate goal of the industry.