Zeev, no offense, but I wonder if you realize how energy intensive it is to turn sand into elemental silicon, or silicones, which still contain oxygen? Silica is a really wonderful thermodynamic sink. As long as you are putting more energy into the construction of the cell than it can provide over it's lifetime, why not just burn the damn gas directly - you'll waste less of it's energy.
Definately agree that efficient solar cells belong on all roofs. Not until they can "pay" for themselves, however.
On the Greenhouse effect vs. the energy independence, my understanding is that the CO2 problem is larger than is currently appreciated, and we have about 20 years to solve it, or this planet is going to warm up signficantly, and the oceans will rise.
The issue is not even that it is a certainty these things will happen, but just the chance that they will happen in my opinion is enough to demand action. Why take a chance on destruction of our planet?
Oh, yea, I forgot, that quarterly earnings report is coming up, and we don't have time to worry about the future. Not to mention that election coming up . . . .