Should all energy companies be required to produce a certain minimum amount of renewable energy?
 Previous Question What is your opinion on nuclear energy?| Poll Archive | Next Question The U.S. should take a leadership role in addressing global climate change: Energy and The EnvironmentComments (4)
The entire Southwest is bombarded _daily_ with billions of photons. They crash on the ground, wasted. Where are the great PV harvesters of this free resource? 
We have seen the utility and effectiveness of the lukewarm application of incentives by the government that brought us to the energy crisis. We don't have a nationwide system of mass transit and do not have plans to exploit the vast energy resources (sunlight in the plains and deserts; windmills in the mountains and plains where wind blows incessantly; harnessing the tides to turn turbines, to name a few) that have always existed in plain sight. These projects never attracted the interest of private enterprise, so the government must take the initiative.
I voted yes on this, but think that the federal government needs to step in also. Just as the investment this country made in the GI bill after WWII, the Marshall Plan, the massive construction on roads, highways, and bridges in the 50s and 60s paid off in enormous prosperity for the entire country, so too will investment in alternative energy. How about the feds starting to put solar panels on federal buildings, especially in those parts of the country known for high air conditioner usage? How about 50% of post offices getting 50% of their energy from alternative sources by 2013? How about all new federal buildings being cutting edge, state of art energy efficient? How about all new cars being bought based on energy efficiency? Just putting such a bill through Congress would reduce the cost for everyone!!
|
About the Energy Forum Powered by BP
Topics For DiscussionSend to a Friend |
Copyright © 2009 by The Atlantic Monthly Group. All rights reserved.
I voted yes, but really I think incentives and disincentives would work better than just giving companies an order. Perhaps something to do with the judicious use of taxes? I wouldn't want to leave this entirely to the free market, and just assume that the eventual competition from companies using renewable energy would prevail.
Posted by Laura | July 8, 2008 9:51 AM