What Will They Worry About Next?

Oddly enough, those who view global warming as a man-made problem (if it is a problem) also tend to exclaim "We're running out of oil" (nuclear power isn't an option for them, of course). See how easy it is to be a knee-jerk liberal doom-sayer: Just keep repeating contradictory things.

I'm sorry to spoil their self-inflicted misery, but -- as rational people have been saying all along -- there's always science and technology. And sure enough:

'Cool' fuel cells could revolutionize Earth's energy resources
UH researchers developing efficient, practical power source alternatives

HOUSTON, July 22, 2004 — As temperatures soar this summer, so do electric bills. Researchers at the University of Houston are striving toward decreasing those costs with the next revolution in power generation.

Imagine a power source so small, yet so efficient, that it could make cumbersome power plants virtually obsolete while lowering your electric bill. A breakthrough in thin film solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) is currently being refined in labs at the University of Houston, making that dream a reality....

UPDATE:
Steven den Beste at USS Clueless, who seems to be a competent engineer, says "yes, I have seen the articles about 'thin film fuel cells'. No, it doesn't change anything fundamental. It's a new energy conversion technology, not a new energy source." That's not my point. First, whatever it is, it appears to use fuel more efficiently, which is good. Second, the development of SOFCs highlights the continuous -- and often unreported -- scientific and technological progress that will surely continue to make life better, as has for the past 200 years.

ANOTHER UPDATE:
For a more complete picture of SOFCs and other new ways to generate energy see this post by FuturePundit.

YET ANOTHER UPDATE:
And there's more from The Ergosphere, who takes den Beste to task for his doom and gloom attitude. The facts seem to be on The Ergosphere's side.