energy

if the cost of energy - when the cost of energy - plummets, all commerce will be directly affected. the only limiting principle applied to production right now is energy - human and otherwise, but mainly otherwise. if the sun creates enough energy to power the earth's energy needs for a year in about an hour, and if the history of human innovation foreshadows as well as it has a habit of doing, the energy of the sun will be harnessing and will usher in a new age. however involuntary, however unconsidered, it will change the structure of all things - business, family, what does it say about me personally that those are the pillars of existence i can think of? all masculine ideal - all production of any kind - may be virtually free, comparatively speaking. what markers of social darwinism and economic values will be able to survive that? rare materials? do rare materials have value if they have no necessity? if you don't need gold to buy oil, does it retain its value? or is this a fabled time of the value of efficiency and consumer-grade value, i.e. whoever does what we need done best, most innovatively, and most quickly, is on top?

http://www.forbes.com/energy/2008/07/30/nocera-solar-power-biz-energy-cz_jf_0731solar.html?feed=rss_popstories