I disagree with your last statement.
"..we'll see quite a bit more before we make the transition (apparently with minimum preparation) to a more sustainable energy source. "
I think the key to the expanded use of renewable energy has always been making it more affordable.
You cannot expect a large number of the worlds population to become destitute by forcing a switch to expensive energy sources.
Poverty is not the answer, although some people posting here seem to have the 'throw away all technology and go sustainable agrarian' mentality when it comes to energy usage.
Personally I think the installation prices of key renewable technologies, wind and solar, have been kept artificially high by people in the industry who still feel they are a niche market that can ask a premium price. Few renewable energy companies have taken the step to making their products affordable to install and operate.
If the cost of renewable energy were to come down, many ordinary people like myself, would install renewable power where applicable. In my case because grid power almost always fails in a storm. Leaving me without power, often for days.
And please do not tell me solar has become so cheap recently. I have been shopping and this alleged glut of cheap solar panels is not reaching the consumer. Prices for the systems I have looked at have dropped less than 10% in the past 3 years.
That hardly covers one year of the property tax increase I will see from an installed solar unit. So forget about how it impacts overall system ROI.
