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There is nothing more constant than the sea breeze.

That's a start, and I'm not saying wind power has no potential. I'd like to see an honest set of numbers, including maintenance and depreciation. If the numbers are there - without subsidy - then fine. And the best way to see if that's true is - as my first post on this thread suggested - get rid of all the artificial constraints including things like not exploiting ANWR and let the marketplace demonstrate the right answer.

In addition, I've always favored government-sponsored research even though I don't support government subsidies of production facilities. Even if wind power is not competitive today, that doesn't mean it will never be competitive, and I think there is a compelling social interest in finding out.

I'm no eco nut putting up wind power because its fashionable. I agree with you on market dynamics being the key. Even subsidies (if done for solid reasons) should be done to use market dynamics. Like setting a market floor on oil, below which it is taxed. Thus all alternatives are on equal footing. I'm pretty busy now, but if I have time I'll try to find the numbers for you.

The key to alternatives has always been making them market ably wise. The instability of the oil market has always been a problem in setting a business model.