Home Mobile Archives Reader Blogs Register Login

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Energy Expert: America Should Get 50% Of Its Power From Renewable Sources Within 20 Years

This is the problem with green advocates: They make bold pronouncements like this one and then expect everyone to live up to it regardless if it’s even possible.

The reality is that energy is a market much like any other.  Unless energy from alternative sources can compete with energy from traditional sources (fossil fuels, etc.) nothing short of government mandates (and/or big time subsidies) will have those sources being used.  But the problem with mandates and subsidies is that they rely on politicians to choose the right energy sources to mandate/subsidize.  And what if they choose the wrong source?  What if they base their choice more on political expediency and the influence of lobbyists than on which source is the most reliable and viable?

I think it’d be great if we could find an energy alternative to fossil fuels.  I think it’d be great if we could get all of our power from solar or wind sources or something like that.  But I don’t think it’d be great if we leave the choice for where we get our power up to politicians instead of millions of free people making free choices in a free market.

Comments

Avatar for Hannitized

Obama bad.  McCain good.

Hannitized on May 21, 2008 at 10:21 am

Eunichized a simple child.


Out Here
Rodney G. Graves

Ceterum censeo Parthia esse delendam
Latin: “Furthermore, Parthia (Persia aka modern day Iran) should be destroyed.”

Rodney Graves on May 21, 2008 at 10:31 am

Comment I posted at the Bismark Tribune:

Too bad you didn’t ask Chu to project where those 50 percent were coming from especially since the best estimates today place renewable energy at less than 20 percent of our needs.  The not so hidden agenda for the 50 percent estimate is the drastic cutting of consumption which could only be accomplished with Dranconian government measures and it would take that since I don’t believe that the people will accept that level of ‘conservation’.  As for me, I think this move to a more totalitarian state is unacceptable, to put it mildly.  There is still plenty of oil/gas/coal if it is allowed to be processed.  More reasonably the 50 percent goal could be met with nuclear power.


You don’t have to be a moron to be a liberal Democrat but it sure helps.

docdave on May 21, 2008 at 10:39 am

Good luck with that.  Especially since enviro-extremists won’t let wind farms go up because a blade might kill a bird.


Fileitunder.com

Hoodlumman on May 21, 2008 at 10:53 am
Avatar for Hannitized

My comment was supposed to be under the cartoon of Obama and Hitler.  My bad.

Hannitized on May 21, 2008 at 10:58 am

If I were in power I’d declare a “Manhatten Project” on Hydrogen power starting tomorrow.

I want my GREAT BIG HEAVY V8 SUV...450+ horsepower, running on basically water power!

Oh how the libs would be crushed!

golfmann on May 21, 2008 at 01:07 pm

Where does hydrogen come from.  Like electricity it is a secondary energy source.

You have to consume energy in order to make it, and you lose some in the conversion.

Hydrogen may be useful but it will not solve our energy needs.


What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.


The Whistler's signature
The Whistler on May 21, 2008 at 02:56 pm
Avatar for Fred

There are no near or medium term alternatives to oil and other fossil fuels, that include the current global population and lifestyle, let alone future growth.  The worlds political, business, and religious leaders know this but cannot admit to it because of the obvious consequences.  In short, inexpensive, high density energy - oil - is the sap in the tree of modern life. When it stops flowing, the tree stops growing and possibly even dies.

The goal is to be the last man (Nation) standing, because that’s who will be able to pick up the pieces and start over.  It’s going to get very ugly, people.

Fred on May 22, 2008 at 07:23 am
Page 1 of 1        

Post a Comment


Before commenting, please recite:

Grant me the serenity to ignore the trolls,
the courage to debate with honest opponents,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Name   
Email   
URL   
Human?
  
 

Upload Image    

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?

Note: Notifications will only be sent to confirmed email addresses.