Solar and wind are not reliable unless the capacity is overbuilt several times greater than peak demand. That is very costly.

It use to be the only way water was pumped.

Wasn’t reliable then, still not now

What are you talking about, it was the most stable source of pumping water till electricity was able to be installed across America. Then the windmill was replaced by electric pumps. Out of convenience which ended up costing more. But what do I know. Tornados took a majority of them out and windmill companies were out out of business by the electric pump. Sure I get it no water on a calm day, that's why they stored it.

I guess the solution is to go small scale and bring back the independent windmill for each household. The problem is a massive amount of individuals using one public power grid and having no independence when that power grid fails to produce the energy needed from the consuming masses.

If renewables ever become mainstream it will be because the utility company is able to transform itself into a giant battery, storing and releasing energy to smooth out supply and demand.

So if you go and have solar panels installed onto your roof, the excess energy goes into the grid, and if you produce enough energy you receive a credit from the energy company. Of course in the area I live permission has to be granted from the energy company to install solar panels, same goes for small scale wind generators.

But the utility really needs a way to store that excess solar produced during the day until night.

Study proves offshore windmills are killing whales...