Well, the scientists are a little better informed these days. So, I probably would take that comparison with a grain of salt.
However, they could be wrong. Maybe, one day many decades away, they will be proven wrong. That can't be ruled out for sure.
So, if they proved to be wrong, what would be the downside ?
We'd have an energy system that powers the globe and produces very little emissions. No pollution. No particulate matter in the air. No heavy metals floating around affecting health. No concentration of exhaust fumes in city areas. On top of that, we'd have a very cheap and very flexible energy system that will power and enable industries like never before. You will be able to be in in the remotest place and still have life saving power. Something that we can't do now.
The fuel source will never run out. Unlike fossil which is finite, is getting more expensive to produce, and is being used in the most inefficient way, the sun will continue to shine, the wind will continue to blow and tides will continue to modulate. All those fossil resources will be able to be used and reused many times over instead of being burnt once. In many cases burnt for no good reason as in the case of coal fired power station idling.
We won't have to rely on miles and miles of power lines that need expensive maintenance and cause bushfires. We will be able to reduce the number of those thus saving money and reducing risk.
Thanks to the research and development of renewables, we are developing all sorts of other technologies that can be used in all other facets of life. Nanotechnology is just making life better in so many ways. All thanks to bigger investments in science and technology.
