Originally Posted by
fit29
I think that we should all press our candidates to accept the "Gore Challenge" to produce all of our electricity from renewable sources by 10 years, Obama has accepted the challenge and McCain says it is Doable.
Facts are that the US is too Automobile oriented, I sincerely hope that the current energy crisis has put an end to our dependence on cars and more public transportation is built. Once we have efficient fast public transportation along with Hybrid/Plug Ins/Electric coupled with electricity that does not come from Coal or Gas we will see such a huge drop in oil demand that the US will be able to satisfy its remaining demand with domestic oil and lower prices will allow our industry (since there is no practical oil replacement for airplanes yet) to prosper.
One of the risks of allowing oil prices to go back down is setting the stage for a rebound in demand, therefore it is important that governments tax gasoline to keep it at 3-4 dollars ensuring that people drive only as a necessity, it worked in Europe, were most people use public transportation and have a "weekend car" and it can work here too.
And thus the rub. Alternative energy is not an alternative because it is not efficient enough to use unless the government forces its citizens to use it through the force of law or tax the undesired behavior so high that alternative fuels can actually be considered competitive. Someone already posted it here. You can buy electric plug in kit cars. You can retrofit a junker with an electric engine. You can buy an ethanol burning car and force the cost of corn up even higher, not to mention depleting the fresh water supply. You can buy solar panels for your house and actually provide electricity to the grid. You can do all these things now. All it takes is money. But you don't want to spend your money on these sources because it is inconvenient and costs too much. Therefore the market is correct: oil, coal, and natural gas it is. They are the most efficient energy on the market now. Leaving it in the ground on purpose is not responsible energy policy. It just drives prices higher so the "alternative fuel" crowd can say "See? Alternative is almost affordable at these high prices. Where is our government subsidy?"
It isn't that hard folks. Develop the most efficient energy first to stay competitive. Or we could willingly choose higher energy costs than others and watch the competitive advantage of the American worker erode further. But hey, we can feel good about ourselves and all that environment we're saving while we sit unemployed.