$3.4 billion for the smart grid. Yawn?

Just icing on the cake?

Yesterday, the President announced $3.4 billion in grants to help fix our "antiquated" electric grid.

"There's something big happening in America in terms of creating a clean-energy economy," Obama said.

Yet, I cannot help ask, is there really something big happening? In recent years, for instance, I've heard Al Gore put the cost of a new smart grid at $400 - $700 billion. So, $3.4 billion is a step, but not even a baby step.

Likewise, at the announcement many reporters noticed how energy inefficient was the President's motorcade, as members of the motorcade sat in large parked - but running - gas-guzzlers to avoid the Florida sunshine. Even for the President's clean-energy entourage, convenience and comfort trump clean energy.

And that's the case for 90-some percent of Americans as well. Is there any way to address that without selling America's future to China?