Instead of just "breaking wind" with Boone Pickens, why don't we go "Boom Pickings" from lightning bolts?

Question

Seems like Boone Pickens might be on a "boon doggle" to try and pass gas onto us, but maybe he has a temporary solution to our energy problem, but maybe we don't have an eye on the bigger prizes of Nature's energy production that nearly strikes our fancy every second.

What about harnessing energy from lightning? I mean like how much free energy is out there in thunderstorm lightning?

Could we not build lightning arrestors and collectors using modern materials or using cloud formation techniques to collect and control the discharge to manageable levels, so as to fulfill all our energy needs without drilling of hollowing our our planet?

Answer 1

Well, because lightning is unpredictable and unreliable?  To say nothing of whatever voltage / amperage issues you'd have with the equipment melting when a too big spike hit it, and the whole smoothing the current to a managable level 240V, and transmitting it?  I can't think of anything.