In The Duel, 24 hours columnists David Eby and Kathryn Marshall battle over the issues of the day. Who's the winner this week? Fire us an email at van24feedback@sunmedia.ca. 150 words or less please.

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC - Value of green technologies

In this week's column, David says something groundbreaking: three cheers for efficient and safe green energy.

And by groundbreaking, I mean obvious. I'll cheers to efficient and safe green energy. Who wouldn't? The move towards more renewable energy is something that we all want.

While I'm at it, I'll also toast to happiness and chocolate. Those are also things we all want, right? But liking something, or liking the idea of something, doesn't always make it happen.

The barriers we face to achieving a carbon-free future aren't due to a lack of people giving thumbs up to solar panels or enjoying the sight of a wind turbine from their kitchen windows.

And it isn't because of a lack of good intentions or trying. The interest in green energy grows each day. But why does renewable energy only make up a small percentage of the global energy mix? The reason is simple - we're just not there yet, technology-wise or economically.

Read David Eby's column

When the sun isn't shining bright, or the wind isn't blowing, we still need to get energy from somewhere to meet our needs. These renewable sources are intermittent, which means we have to have enough other energy to cover any shortfall - and those sources are often big hydro, gas or coal.

Petroleum-based products even play a big role in the technology used to make alternative energy work. Rotor blades are mostly made of fibreglass - a petroleum-based product. Electric cars are manufactured using many petroleum-based materials as well.

Hopefully, this won't cause Dave to second guess his endorsement of green energy!

In Ontario, Premier Dalton McGuinty, a wind turbine enthusiast, has received much criticism over his green energy strategy, which includes big spending on wind and solar energy. The result has been skyrocketing electricity bills in the province, costing jobs and money. One recent example is a Sobeys' grocery store in the small town of Wallaceburg, which closed this summer, reportedly due to their doubled hydro bills. That's 70 people out of work - a significant number for a small community.

A green strategy that comes with a huge price tag for taxpayers, puts people out of work and makes the province less competitive is not a solution for anything.

A successful strategy will integrate all parts of the economy, factoring in the interests, concerns and realities of small businesses, landowners and taxpayers - not just the desires of some environmental groups and lobbyists.