@neolex:

OK, I am not that good a writer; I am quite sure that Presidential speechwriters are better.

At least one of the “alternative” (carbon-neutral) technologies I mentioned (growing algae, some of which have around 60% oil content) produces liquid fuel directly, and in any case if you have an energy source you can make liquid fuel.

OK, I admit to cribbing the idea from Mr. Pournelle.

There is a big problem with the risk inherent in this sort of energy R&D; however, I am confident that someone might well take the gamble. As you rightly state, the payoff is enormous – in at least one case, literally astronomical. However, one of them already works (ocean thermal). We know that, because the pilot plant was built in 1930!

You are quite right about the potential power generation from a Polywell plant. However, what is the solution to that? Simple. Build several! As I said in my first post, it is quite possible that the units might be small enough for a large building. If you ran an office block, wouldn’t you like to have a fusion plant built in the basement and tell the power company to stick it?

Finally, who said that it had to have been the President who repealed the law? He might have been simply making the announcement. I admit that with the current bunch of Luddites in Congress (and in the UK Parliament too, to be fair) that is rather unlikely. I am no expert on US law, but doesn’t the President have the powers to do some unlikely things under war powers? I submit that cutting off a large percentage of the national income of a declared enemy might be called a war measure. Declaring “War on Terror” while giving $50 billion per year to the enemy seems rather strange to me.