The limitations/problems of biofuels and solar are well known, and have been for decades. They are known physics/chemistry/biology.
This is NOT true of LENR, which is wholly new science, the breadth and depth of which is completely unknown. The physics boys are shooting themselves in both feet, as understanding of this very strange quantum mechanical phenomenon may well become "the next big physics". LENR is on a par with the original discovery of radioactivity, and about on the same level as when Rutherford got started.
"With success far over the horizon (amidst the failures) research money for cold fusion is being measured out sparingly. Rightly so even with a DOE recommendation (note: “recommendation” that is not the same as a grant, etc.) for modest funding."
At the time of the recommendations, nobody had (or has today) a clue as to how "far over the horizon" success or failure might be. The whole point of the DOE recommendation was to find that out. Yet even that small funding was denied. Why??
"You say companies are now investing....What companies? How much are they investing? And just what are they investing in?"
For that information, I recommend you to Google and some homework. At minimum, Rossi, Defkalion, Brillouin, are known and frequently mentioned. There are probably half a dozen more that I have noted in wide reading on the subject. Piantelli has backers, I think George Miley has gotten some private funding, and the Israeli company that recently moved their research effort to the US. And obviously, they are investing in research.
"If Lenr had received the same level of funding as solar power and windmills it would be just as successful."
Sorry, but there is no way you can know that. To say so is simply stupid.
Of course solar and biofuels are well known physics and still are with few exceptions economically impractical.
But here is Lenr, not understood at all, and it’s going to be the “next big thing”? And that “horizon” keeps retreating as it’s approached. But patents are issued and papers written and money spent on all those replications.
“If the normal path of good science had been followed instead of the anti-LENR political and economic warfare waged by physicists against it, we would very likely have working power units by now.”
“Sorry, but there is no way you can know that. To say so is simply stupid.”