What I don't understand is critics treating alternative energy like the blu-ray vs. HD disc phenomenon. Seems we can pursue all viable alternatives and use what works best in different places.

Here's a little snippet about new solar power experiments. Nothing to get excited about but i thought it was interesting.

http://discovermagazine.com/2007/nov...archterm=solar


Also, im not sure if the large Hadron Collider will provide any more information about actual fusion...but it will give physicists a better understanding of different particles (notice the layman interest here:-) that could help with such environmental/energy sciences.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Hadron_Collider

Im waiting for the day when solar, wind, water, fusion, fission what have you is no longer considered "alternative" energy and just energy.