Portugal's Energy Makeover

Elisabeth Rosenthal in the Times:

Nearly 45 percent of the electricity in Portugal’s grid will come from renewable sources this year, up from 17 percent just five years ago. . . . While Portugal’s experience shows that rapid progress is achievable, it also highlights the price of such a transition. Portuguese households have long paid about twice what Americans pay for electricity, and prices have risen 15 percent in the last five years, probably partly because of the renewable energy program, the International Energy Agency says.

We could do the same thing if we wanted to, that is, increase our use of renewable energy by 2 1/2 times while seeing our electricity bills rise 15 percent. We don't because we don't really care.