Such is state of a future of renewable energy in the United States as voters try to figure out who they want to succeed President Barack Obama in the oval office next year.
Truth be told, discussion of renewable energy was at a minimum during the early stages of primary season. There was some talk by the candidates about ethanol and biofuel in Iowa, the first state to vote, but the nation's energy future took a back seat to social and other concerns as the race turned to New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.
For those unfamiliar with how America picks a president, a thumbnail sketch of the process: By law, the United States holds a general election for president every four years on the first Tuesday of November.
The winter before this happens, those wanting the job compete in a series of state primaries and caucuses and in doing so win delegates. These delegates then gather in early summer at their respective political party's convention, and formally designate the winner of the primaries as the party's presidential nominee.
A primary is a simple vote. Each party, Democrat and Republican, holds their own, although they are usually on the same day, and for the voter they simply entail showing up at their designated polling place and casting their vote.
A caucus is a little stranger. It requires voters to show up at a given place at a given time and publicly declaring their preference. Others at the caucus can then try to convince them to change their mind or they can argue on behalf of their candidate.
When all is said and done, 2,382 delegates are needed to secure the Democratic presidential nomination. There are 4,763 available. On the Republican side, 1,237 delegates are needed to secure the nomination. A total of 2,472 GOP delegates are available.
Clinton, the former secretary of state and spouse of former President Bill Clinton, has grown increasingly more vocal about renewable energy as the campaign has gone on.
"American isn't a single issue country," she said after defeating Sanders in the South Carolina primary, "We need more than a plan for the biggest banks. The middle class needs a raise. And we need more good jobs ... so let's make new investments in manufacturing and small business, in scientific research, in clean energy, enough clean energy to power every home in America."
Campaigning in the U.S. state of Florida on Friday ahead of next week's pivotal primaries in five states, Clinton also criticized Fla. Gov. Rick Scott for his refusal to acknowledge climate change.
"It is the height of irresponsibility and neglect for anybody in a position of authority not to recognize that Florida will be the most at risk from climate change of any of our states," Clinton said, adding that it is imperative that the United States become a global leader in the creation of renewable energy jobs and technology.
Clinton's solar plan would increase the number of solar panels in use more than seven-fold over the next five years. She also wants to see enough clean, renewable energy to power every home in America by the end of her second term.
"This is not pie in the sky," she says in appearances around the country.
She also says dramatic investment and future development of renewable energy will determine who is the pre-eminent super power in the world.
"It's either going to be China or Germany or us. I want it to be us," she said.
Sanders also talked about climate change during speeches Friday in Kissimmee, Osceola and Gainesville, Fla.
Climate change, he said, "is doing devastating harm in this country and around the world."
He also predicted that future widespread devastation will occur "if we don't have the guts to stand up to the fossil fuel industry and tell them their short-term profits are not more important than the planet we intend to leave to our children and grandchildren."
In an interview with Iowa Public Television several weeks ago, Sanders said "Climate change is real. It is caused by human activity. It is already causing devastating problems.
"I think the necessity we face is transforming our energy system away from oil and fossil fuel to energy efficiency and to sustainable energy," he said.
He noted during the same interview that 30 percent of Iowa's electricity is currently sourced from wind power.
"You are a model for America," he said.
Sanders has expressed concerns about ethanol, saying he has concerns that it drives up food prices, but he's also said the need to move away from fossil fuel is a "moral imperative" and has specifically pointed to wind, solar, geothermal and biomass -- coupled with energy efficiency -- is the preferred alternative.
"It's imperative that we accomplish that," Sanders said.
Sanders has also said that he "believes very strongly" that it is proper for government to subsidize sustainable energies.
"We are heavily subsidizing nuclear right now. We heavily subsidize fossil fuel. And in terms of addressing climate change, I think it is entirely appropriate for the government to say, 'Yes, we are going to be supporting this or that form of energy."
Republicans, who are getting much of their financial support from individuals in the oil and coal industries, are predictably not as interested in talking about either climate change or renewable energy in any kind of positive fashion.
Even Donald Trump, a billionaire in his own right who is financing his own campaign, was a vehement opponent to the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre and battled Scottish ministers tooth and nail to block the installation of wind turbines that he said would spoil the view from one of his golf courses.
He has also repeatedly called climate change "a hoax"
As for Sen. Ted Cruz, he too has dismissed the idea of climate change, calling is a "pseudo-scientific theory."
But he's not entirely against renewables. At a rally in downtown Charleston, S.C. before the state's Republican primary in February, he told a crowd of several thousand that what he would pursue as president is an "all-of-the-above" strategy.
"That means oil, it means coal, it means solar, wind, biofuels, everything," he said. "But what I don't want to continue is the Obama's administration war on coal, oil or other fossil fuels. And we need to end all energy subsidies."
"I'm all for utilizing all of these different things, but I don't want the government to pick the winners," he said.
As for Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, he has said he believe climate change is occurring, but he dismisses the suggestion that it is caused by human activity.
He very much ties his energy policy to his national security plan. While he wants to reduce the United States' dependence on oil for the Middle East, he wants to do so by deregulating domestic oil and gas drilling, opening up new areas to offshore oil and gas drilling and to increase natural gas exports.
Rubio and Cruz both voted against extending production tax credits for the wind energy and for setting a national goal of generating 25 percent of the nation's energy from renewables by 2025.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich is no climate change denier, but he resists calls to reign in the United States' dependence on fossil fuels.
The grandson of a coal miner, Kasich wants to increase oil and gas production on federal lands, approve the controversial Keystone XL pipeline that would link the Canadian tar sands to refineries in Texas and Louisiana, and he wants to end an existing ban of U.S. oil exports.
Broadly speaking, he has also advocated greater energy efficiency and the getting some power from renewable sources, but to date, he has not offered a definitive proposal in that regard.
But energy -- and just about any other serious policy issue -- has been overshadowed in the race for the Republican presidential nomination by the incredible, totally unexpected success Trump has enjoyed at the polls. He's is currently the frontrunner by a wide margin and his insurgency has consumed the Republican party leadership in U.S., who have seen preferred one alternative after another fall by the wayside.
Until either Trump prevails or the Republican party's stop-Trump effort finds a viable way to defeat him, firm answers on how the party's nominee will deal with renewable energy will remain open to speculation.
