Clean Waste | CEI

The problem with most discussions about clean energy is that they take place in an ahistorical, highly naive vacuum. The next big breakthrough is always said to be just around the corner.

Investors are too shortsighted to see it, but if government would just pitch in, why, we'd all be driving a fleet of Prius-like vehicles by 2020 — powered by nothing but our own self-esteem, with emissions that will actually reverse global warming.

Where's the downside?

The downside is in falling for it. America's real history of investing in non-nuclear clean energy is a story of waste and harm on a massive scale. Government has demonstrated time and again that it's a sucker for a good pitch and therefore awful at picking winners in future energy technologies.

The consequences are far greater than just more taxpayer funds flushed down the drain, though in this time of rotten economic circumstances, let's take a moment to remember that we're talking about real money.