Obama's energy possible: Change that may not be possible

Barack Obama, the Chosen One, has yet to perform his first miracle. If he chooses to do so, finding a way to make his energy policy work is a good place to start.

The Washington Times takes a look:

President Obama's plan to move quickly to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources relies on technology that analysts agree is neither affordable nor available on a commercial scale and won't be for many years to come.

Expensive, small-scale pilot projects are under way that convert vegetation into fuel for cars and capture carbon dioxide before it is released into the air from coal-burning power plants. But these prototypes have not been proved at levels that would make even a dent in the U.S. appetite for fossil fuels, casting doubt on the viability of the president's plans.

Still, the administration continues to promote policies that assume that these pilot programs will soon become large-scale projects and is seeking funds to bring that day closer.

"It's promoting a vision that no one knows what the true cost will be and [whether] these technologies will succeed on a large scale," said Bryan K. Mignone, a climate and energy analyst at the liberal-leaning Brookings Institution.

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