Philosophy question of the day

[mrsbrown]

What would the world be like if we'd had renewables instead of coal fired power stations when electricity first became available for doing stuff?

Prompted by this:

Do they want the world's poor to have access to electricity? If so, how do they propose to generate it? The answers would be yes and renewables. Admirable, but impossible today. I have yet to meet anyone who opposes the use of cheap, reliable renewable energy. However, the factors limiting the uptake of renewables remain technical, not political. We must have a rational, science-based pathway to overcome those hurdles. Faith alone will not get us there.

Because I know that some of the major changes to quality of life in developing countries include renewables - solar powered lights to reduce kerosene use and extend the day, wind powered pumps for easier access to water.

Here in Melbourne, our buildings would be a different shape - to take advantage of daylighting, there'd be more solid state stuff in computers (if you've got photovoltaic chips in 1880, you've got pc's), we'd have shorter buildings (not as many lifts, pumping water).

What else?