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Right now, one can capture energy from the Sun by letting the sun pick water vapor up into the air where it rises, floats over the mountains, cools and returns as fresh distilled water to the ground. There, it can be captured behind a dam and stored as potential energy. That energy can be released on demand through turbines which generate electricity.

Unfortunately, that is happening less and less and more potential energy is being lost because of environMENTAL concerns.

"Oh...that dam will impact the wonderful hiking in the canyon and eliminate our white-water rafting business" says a long haired, maggot infested FM listening environMENTAList."

Good luck on capturing energy from the Ocean.

"Oh, that energy farm will cause stress for migrating whales and ruin our kayaking rental business!!!"

I can hear it now.

Living next to a 40 mile long, 1800 foot deep empty lake with a dam-site built 30 years ago that was never completed.

San Francisco is looking at this. I think the company mentioned here (Golden Gate Energy) is related to the same British firm in the thread article.

Mayor's current idea: Catch a wave to make power
San Francisco Chronicle
Sunday, June 25, 2006
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom ... hopes to ride the energy wave of the future by sinking turbines under the Golden Gate Bridge and current-catching generators off Ocean Beach. The idea: Produce electricity for the city to sell or use, or both.
(snip)
After a couple years of serious study, the nonprofit Electric Power Research Institute concluded:
One: That San Francisco could tap enough wave power at Ocean Beach to keep the entire city lit -- depending, of course, on how large a wave plant it chose to build.
And two: That the tides at the Golden Gate make that spot the best in the entire lower 48 states to produce tidal power, though the potential for installing turbine generators under the bridge is a bit limited by space.
Tidal power, however, is a less expensive energy alternative than wave power. So now comes a second study to address the environmental impact of submerging turbines about 190 feet beneath the Golden Gate -- deep enough, we're told, to avoid any ships running in and out of the bay.
Johanna Partin, the renewable energy program manager for the city's Department of Electricity, says planners have already considered potential threats to fish and other sea life, as well as the possibility of a harmful buildup of silt. They've concluded that there's little chance of harm -- but to be safe, they are recommending that only a "conservative" 15 percent of the area beneath the Golden Gate Bridge be tapped.
"This is not like putting in a nuclear power plant," Partin said. "If there is a problem, you can pull it out of the water -- end of story."
There is still the question of who should own the power and who will pay the $5 million to $7 million it will cost for this little experiment under the Golden Gate. It could be the city, it could be Pacific Gas and Electric Co., or it could be a little-known Florida firm, operating as Golden Gate Energy, that has already landed a federal license to bring the ocean technology to the bay.

"Right now, one can capture energy from the Sun by letting the sun pick water vapor up into the air where it rises, floats over the mountains, cools and returns as fresh distilled water to the ground. There, it can be captured behind a dam and stored as potential energy. That energy can be released on demand through turbines which generate electricity."

Anyone ignoring this beautiful scenario wishes to live in Liberal Ignorant Bliss!!!

How can it feel that good to be so oblivious to the obvious???

Excellent post, Paloma!!! More power to ya!!!