Sounds like one of the main themes from Ayn Rand's novel, Atlas Shrugged.
________________________________
From: phys-l-bounces@mail.phys-l.org on behalf of Donald Polvani
Sent: Tue 5/1/2012 5:43 PM
To: Phys-L@Phys-L.org
Subject: [Phys-L] Atmospheric Energy
I recently received an advertisement regarding "atmospheric energy". This
referred to retrieving atmospheric static electricity and using it for
ground-based commercial use. The ad said the approach had been successfully
tested and prototype units were available which involve a collecting balloon
at cloud levels connected by a conducting cable to a "power converter" (also
up in the atmosphere), then by conducting cable to a ground "isolation
platform" and then connected to a power generator. No numerical performance
details were given. Is anyone familiar with the performance of such an
approach? Can useful electrical power be obtained under normal
(non-thunderstorm) conditions?
Don
Dr. Donald Polvani
Adjunct Faculty, Physics
Anne Arundel Community College