[vladekad]

I wouldn't call myself a tree hugging hippie, but I am very fascinated with alternative sources of power. I can read about hydro power all day long. I agree solar is very inefficient in comparison. Though the choice that is made for the source of power often times is forced by your location I think.

Speaking of Hydro power, the Mekong produces massive amounts of it and it is sold off to Thailand and Vietnam by the Lao government. In fact I think last year it the country's main source of income. What I thought was most ironic is my wife has a cousin who lives between Pakse and Mokduhan and they have no electricity and no way to get it even when offered the almighty American dollar. Yet the government has so much of it they sell it to other countries. Funny how the world works?

Do you suppose that the way the Chinese have dammed up the whole river it has slowed their power production much?

***By the way, we could probably split this power discussion off the this thread since we have taken it so far off topic.