A Stanford University study has concluded that wind is the the most desirable of all renewable energy sources. The ranking of energy sources was based on such factors as greenhouse gas emissions, amount of land consumed, water pollution, human health, availability of required resources, and reliability of the energy form. In descending order of desirability, the energy sources are:

• Wind
• Concentrated solar power (mirrors heating a tower of water)
• Geothermal energy
• Tidal energy
• Solar panels
• Wave energy
• Hydroelectric dams
  

Political favourites such as biofuel, nuclear and "clean coal" are not on the list.

The study's author notes that investing in renewable energy would stimulate job creation, reduce health and environmental costs associated with current energy production, and secure clean power. One hopes that a more science-focused US administration (and their Canadian tag-alongs) will make new energy investments based on such research rather than political patronage.

Above: Concentrated Solar Power in Europe

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