Indi, this actually was hilarious in places, I guess you meant it that way. I don't laugh out loud at many stories in Medium, but nearly all of yours hit the mark, tragic though the humor is, thanks again for posting.
Just one quibble with your view of the solution; As long as there is such a thing as businesses in the business of "Renewable Energy", we are stuck in Groundhog day, no matter who is in charge. There is only one raw energy, it comes from the sun, that is the only one we can use to get rid of the greed instrument which is profit, thus also enabling us to start paying back the energy deficit we owe to our planet.
I do wish your direction of research would elicit this to your own satisfaction, thus maybe reflecting in your writing in the future.
You obviously have the courage to talk about it, if you understood it. "Kardashev Money!".