Mandatory not Alternative Energy

[QuestionAuthoriTees]

We keep hearing the talk about change, and needless to say we all remain skeptical. I will define change for you this way. We are no longer pursuing alternative energy, we are pursuing “Mandatory Energy”. Our economy, national security, health, and yes even environment are demanding change.

The energy and automobile industries have far too much influence to be ignored. They have a responsibility to their stockholders to try and be as profitable as possible, our capitalistic system requires it. It is not their responsibility to determine the best direction for our country, that is supposed to be the responsibility of the politicians, and more importantly ourselves. The pursuit of profits is determining the direction our nation pursues… again: pursuit of profits is determining the direction our nation pursues. When you look in the mirror, think about that, do you want that to be your legacy?

When you watch a commercial from one of the big petroleum companies talking about all that they are doing in alternative energy, why do you think they are playing that commercial? They are playing it because they know it's good publicity and makes you look at them in a positive light. When you view them this way you are more likely to spend money on their products and services. Yes, they are pursuing those alternatives, but that is exactly what they are, alternatives. Those are part of the business plan for them to be successful years and years down the line. At the same time, they are lobbying, spending enormous amounts of money, playing dirty, and doing everything they need to to remain as profitable as they can… that's what they get paid to do. I know, I know, deep inside many of us are aware of this but we just believe there's nothing we can do… this is how you change it.

First, understand that change and truth are very much the same. They're both inevitable and uncomfortable. “All truth passes through three stages, first it is ridiculed, second violently opposed, third accepted as being self-evident”… Arthur Shopenhauer. Think of that as you remember the following…the Wright brothers airplane, a man on the moon, the pyramids, cloning, a compressed air engine, an economy based on renewable energy. We Americans talk about accountability, ingenuity, responsibility, and work ethic… it's time to Walk the Walk, Cowboy Up, Git’er Done. People need to start talking about what could be done and what the possibilities are instead of why it won't work…. Tell me what's wrong with that Mr. Limbaugh?!

Solar thermal and wind energy are somewhere in between being ridiculed and vitally opposed , we need to reach self evident very fast. The environmental reasons for this are now accepted by something like 60 to 70% of the population, this is good but not enough. We need to focus on economic reasons. The combination of the rise in petroleum prices, increased energy demand, the world economy make this mandatory. The nations that lead the world in renewable energy technology will be able to compete economically and ultimately win economically over those with most of the natural resources like Russia, the Mideast, and Venezuela. Remember that renewable energy does not required the purchase or production of natural resources once the plants are in place. This means that over the long term the cost of producing energy decreases rather than increased due to inflation. Billions of people in third world countries will be using electricity within 10 years, these are people who don’t currently have electricity. How would we like them to produce their electricity? Where would we like them to buy the equipment to produce the electricity? Will the United States of America be a leader in the next worldwide revolution… the green energy revolution?

[Clara]

... Remember that renewable energy does not required the purchase or production of natural resources once the plants are in place...

That's simply not true, renewables do not last forever, all technology wears and breaks down in time; solar panels, batteries etc etc. They have to be replaced, materials have to be mined, components assembled etc. Currently there are no factories producing renewable energy components using renewable energy, I heard of a solar panel factory in China which is aiming to be the first - it's entire production from the first 3 years will be needed to achieve this. Even if we put all the oil we have left into manufacturing renewables, I doubt that we could achieve what you speak of. And of course this isn't going to happen.

The problem with any of these arguments is the glaringly obvious elephant in the room - most of the electricity we use is not vital to life, ergo we have to accept that we must GO WITHOUT, not reduce, but GO WITHOUT. We do not have the right to fry the planet so we can stay up late at night chatting on internet forums. Which brings me on to the other assumption that is overlooked and erroneous.....the planet doesn't need us, we can cause our own extinction (and take a load of others with us) in the blink of an eye in geological time. Perhaps there is no solution to the problem we have caused in terms of preventing climate change that will wreck the planet in terms of its ability to support us, why should there be?

And that's your breakfast time gloom today, now have a nice day.