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This is thinking big - no doubt.

If anyone thought pumping oil from ANWR was environmentally unfriendly, consider the future (humorously).

The Human Race has been consuming energy at an ever increasing rate. Russian astronomer Nikolai Kardashev said this is the measure of advanced civilizations (Kardashev Scale (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kardashev_scale))

At some point in the future, we will want to harness the entire energy output of the Sun. To do that, a Dyson sphere (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyson_sphere) would be constructed enveloping the Sun with a shell just a little larger than Earth's orbit. By then our world will be an entire city of McMansions so it makes sense to wall the neighborhood. What about the view of the stars and the light that bounces of the sphere to illuminate the nightime? Light pollution ruined that back in the 21st century. Isn't it going to be expensive to pay for it? Just levy a toll for anyone that goes into and out of the sphere in their PUV (Planetary Utility Vehicle). Of course the settlers on Mars might complain about this...they might compromise and allow a midrift along the orbital plane of the sphere so most comets, asteriods, etc get thru.

Hi Chuck:

___I was reading a PV site the other day that stated something like 15,000 times the energy we currently consume on a daily basis including solar, wind, hydro, nuclear, fossil, and all other renewable sources arrives from the sun also on a daily basis. If we had the opportunity to grab even .01% of this incident and almost free energy, I do not think any of us would complain about an EV based H2, Expedition, Suburban, Durango, or Sequoia. We can always hope for a much better and cleaner future … I can dream, can’t I :(

___Good Luck

___Wayne

When I saw this Wikapedia article stating that some day we may want to use all the Sun's energy, it just seemed over-the-top. As much energy as the world consumes now, I can't think of a way we could use it all, even if everyone had their own personal jet and mansion.

I'd be tickled pink if we "only" harnessed just enough of the Sun's energy to replace all of the fossil fuels.

The only problem is, once we harness all the energy of the sun, it will not be enough!

The only problem is, once we harness all the energy of the sun, it will not be enough!

Then we will probably try to harness other stars, and environmentalist will suggest a Dyson Sphere would shut off life support to any life on that solar system's planets, etc....

I'm figuring the 2371 Hummer will look a lot like Dr. Evil's moon rocket.... :p