"The cheapest alternative is hydroelectric" Possibly, but all of the feasible hydro sources are already fully exploited, and Mr. Clinton did blow up a few.
--Boris
Gov't rules have prohibited many small-scale hydro plants ,for instance a creek of some size runs ALONG one side of my property, but I may not even get rocks out of it without gov't permits these days, much less build a hydro-powered generator.Out West, many areas suffer(ed)? under prohibition of private hydro plants because of utility "rights" to all hydro power. The REA mandated? destruction of private wind-powered generators as a condition of hooking up to the new rural electric co-op lines in the past. Not unlike the local water utilities that as a condition of service demand you stop using any private well, cistern or pump on your property. (Using your existing cistern (for multi-day reserves)and pump apparently allows dangerous freedom. . The old timers used the creek rocks for building materials ,etc , but the environuts are everywhere. The environuts are in league with big gov't and big utilities; part of the problem is those types don't want anyone to opt out of the system. They see my private well, septic tank, wood-burning stove et al , as anti-social. Even the so-called alternative home magazine are filled with cautions on obtaining the proper gov't permits before building anything.
Only in the rural areas is the land to people ratio likely to make home power practical ; I think it was that way before FDR.Someday Americans may realize just how much of our nation he destroyed.