Stump the Scientist: Static Electricity

In this week's Stump the Scientist, our Chief Scientist responds to Lino's question: "Why is it so difficult to harness and predict static electricity? It is inherent wherever opposing charges exist which would seem to make it a perpetual clean form of renewable energy. From that sense, we should be able to charge capacitors anywhere in a variety of environments. Check out the video to hear what Jim has to stay and tune into GE's Facebook page to submit a question of your own!

[SlaveSociety]

hey i work for an insulation company, why is it that when you coil insulation static grows exponentially the more you coil it.??? I can send u a video to show you what i mean if you don't understand what i mean

[magnet]

Sir, You experiments are more attractive.
IS it possible to make  static energy permanent in the material or in a metal?
Is it possible to find the static energy in the materials with the static energy detector?.
Is any device to attract thunder?

[rageonyx]

blah. Guess the question I thought this was is more like.. "Why can't we make wind/watermills that rub combs against hair to produce electricity, like we do with magnets? " Seems like you could use all that waste plastic, and all the waste hair from a hair salon, to produce "wind" power in the thousands of Volts...