This is encouraging. Caltech researchers report:

Impressively, the six VAWTs generated from 21 to 47 watts of power per square meter of land area; a comparably sized conventional wind-farm generates just 2 to 3 watts per square meter.

Krugman observes:

Early steam engines were extremely inefficient; but over the years, less through scientific breakthroughs than through experience and practical innovation, they became vastly better. The same is true of airplanes and much more.

The point is that renewable energy like wind and solar has not gone through a comparable process of improvement — yet — because the incentives haven’t been there. But once we get to the point where a carbon price makes these commercially viable, there’s every reason to expect huge improvement over time through, yes, the magic of the marketplace.

Energy Security = Economic Security = National Security.

B