It was reported three weeks ago in Science Daily that MIT researchers have found an efficient and cheap way to harness solar energy.  In essence the method mimics photosynthesis used by plants for storing energy.  Within ten years all homes could be powered by the sun and we could do away with the electric grid.  (In comparison it will take ten years to derive any benefit from new offshore drilling and that solution is finite.)

You would think this would make headline news but instead we were force fed news about John Edward's adultery and John McCain's seven homes...things that are totally irrelevant to us.

Since this would put a big dent in Big Oil profits, the discovery will probably go the way of previous similar discoveries...put on the shelf.  They do this by buying the patents and then sitting on them.

In a time when we're clamoring for energy independence there is no excuse to thwart good old American ingenuity.  As far as "global warming" goes, this is a first step towards reducing CO2 and makes a lot more sense than trying to artificially alter the planet's weather or imposing ridiculous "carbon taxes".

Let's divert some of that Pentagon budget to new energy technologies.  A concerted effort at solving our energy needs is a lot more important than building bigger, badder bombs.  As Nike says, "Just do it!"

Here's the scoop:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080731143345.htm