I'd disagree the fervor is religious.

I think it's more frustration. Pointing out there is a maintenance cost to infrastructure is silly and doesn't add to the discussion.

We all know materials have to be shaped into machines to extract energy.

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DetectDefect 2 hours ago | parent [-]

Simply ask to quantify the cost of shaping those materials into machinery, respective to other means of energy production. You will be met with hostility and scorn, accused of all sorts of improprieties, and ejected from the tribe, without ever receiving a data-supported answer.

	▲	jf22 15 minutes ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Because it's such a weasel "just asking questions" thing to do. If you had a concern about the material costs of renewables you should know what they are and if you wanted to have a good faith discussion, you'd also be able to compare against legacy energy material costs.
	▲	adrianN an hour ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		You have received data from several people in this thread alone. Have you updated your opinion accordingly?