We can post websites and facts all day long to refute each other. My family is ranchers in Western S.D., and has done extensive research in wind and ethanol. We have even consulted with universities in this technology, and spoke with a U.S senator who is behind a bill to support it. There is tons of research into these technologies and their result depends on who's funding it. So you'll have to understand the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. I've seen first hand the coal lobby in Wyoming block every effort to put wind farms in Western S.D., why do they feel so threatened? The farmers in Eastern S.D. love the wind turbines, they get about $3,000-5,000 per turbine from the utility companies, and they only take a fraction of land. The farmers can use all the land under and around the turbines, so your understanding of how much land wind turbines need is incorrect. Technically you can put 300 turbines on 300 acres of land, which can power up to 15,000 homes. The potential for switchgrass is incredible, do some research on it, and you’ll be surprised! I agree with you that oil and coal is efficient and cost effective, for now. But much of our current supply of oil comes from hostile countries, and our gas comes from oil companies who have a strangle hold on consumers. Opening more wildernesses for drilling is only a short term solution to a long term problem, and it's a finite resource. I'm not suggesting to get rid of oil completely, but to diversify, just like investing in your portfolio. Here is some good unbiased info:

http://thune.senate.gov/public/index...h=10&Year=2007

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...eek+exclusives