This one's a blog post that was moved up in status to article. I'd suggest reading it, before you dis it though. I think it's the best explanation of the current problems in adapting to renewable energies I've ever read.

Renewable Energy - Our Downfall

Guy doesn't have much faith in human ingenuity, does he? Very small thinker, in my opinion. Let's just styick with what we've alweays done, because everything else is just too hard.

Also, contrary to the writer's assertion that only small amounts of energy can be stored, BC regularly stores gigawatts of electricity in its dams.

I'm feeling like a prophet today, so I'm going to make a prediction. By 2012 we will see a major loss of life calamity which can be traced back to faith in renewable energy. In fact looking further into my crystal ball, I'm going to break the prophet's code, and make it specific. OMMMMMM...I see dresses...I see men in dresses...no wait...kilts. Scotland. There will be a major loss of life tragedy in Scotland by 2012, caused by mistaken faith in renewable energies...no wait again, Texas.

OMG! This guuyy should Tell his story to someone in charge!!!

Seriously, you don't think these issues have not been considered and are part of any switch? There are problems with any Energy Source, but we can't stop using various sources just because none of them are perfect.

The new stuff on the horizon is pretty interesting. Here's one...

An article on the possibility of Solar power from space

Apparently the big problem is getting something big enough to be viable into space at an economic price. A group of Israelis think they may have the answer. Inflatable balloons with elastic photo-voltaic cells.

Speaking of solar, here's one that came out a couple of days ago.

Noble Laureate disses wind power. Says solar is the answer.

Here is another article I found on the topic and i can't help but agree.

http://www.thestar.com/article/663063

And a blog post critiquing the viability of Electric Cars as an alternative.

http://hotair.com/archives/2009/07/09/g ... emissions/

Hmmmm, It was an interesting article. Fact is human kind needs to do something and soon. Zipperfish, I don't think it's nessesarily his lack of faith in human ingenuity as his opinion that time will run out before anything viable comes along on a scale that can be used world wide.
I for one am a proponent of nuclear energy for the short term, and yes as a stop gap it makes sence.
Sandorski is right as well though, we can't outright stop the uses of fossil fuels due to many factors, oil and gas make our machines run and produce our energy now and the job of supplying the world with something new will be astronomical.
Humanity I'm sure will persevere though and there is an answer out there, we just need someone to find it.

Nice article,good reference data, but lots of people sort of know all that.