Dear Robert357,
"...but not put too much faith on any of them as 'the single solution to our future.'"
Great point. However, mostly what I see here at FR and at other sites I see these questions discussed is that the naysayers of a given technology are usually the folks characterizing the technology as a potential "silver bullet." And then, after creating that straw man, they knock it down.
Thus, biodiesel from waste products, ethanol production, oil from ANWR, oil from shale, off-shore oil, expanded nuclear, etc., are all considered unrealistic answers to the problem of energy production because no one of these solutions appears to be the single answer.
However, if each of these potential sources can add modestly to our overall domestic energy production, we would greatly expand overall energy production, and be able, if we decided as a country, to reduce reliance on foreign energy imports.
Folks will point out that these alternatives are costly, certainly more costly than the production costs of Arab or Venezuelan oil. However, that's only when we're looking at the direct costs, and ignoring the externalities.
Who here thinks that the Middle East would play such an important role in our foreign policy if these countries didn't supply crucial world energy supplies? Who here thinks that Saddam Hussein would have ever become so powerful and dangerous without critical oil reserves?
sitetest
Thus, biodiesel from waste products, ethanol production, oil from ANWR, oil from shale, off-shore oil, expanded nuclear, etc., are all considered unrealistic answers to the problem of energy production because no one of these solutions appears to be the single answer.
However, if each of these potential sources can add modestly to our overall domestic energy production, we would greatly expand overall energy production, and be able, if we decided as a country, to reduce reliance on foreign energy imports.
I thought that my closing sentences were consistent with your point......
" The point is that different technologies are promising. We should not over promote any of them and we should develop all of them that we can, but not put too much faith on any of them as "the single solution to our future." "