What will finally trigger a lasting commitment to "alternative energy" development in the U.S.?
Oil spill disasters, failing economies, rising gasoline prices, global warming, health problems... nothing has yet inspired the research and development necessary to break free of fossil fuel dependence.
"Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing...after they have exhausted all other possibilities."
-- Winston Churchill
The only thing that can ever force Americans to go "green" is the opportunity to make money out of it. They aren't concerned about global warming or climate change issues; at least not until it does something terrible in NY or Wshington and they have no other option but to act.
Virtualedu has neatly summed up US mindset through quote of Winston Churchill
Both goodpal and virtualedu have it somewhat well summed up... however, to further expand upon and hopefully better answer your question - one of the final triggers is when renewable energy generation reaches grid parity. While this may seem far off most "experts" predict the US will reach grid parity by 2015 - Hawaii, has already reached grid parity.
Good answers here. Isn't it possible to artificially drive us to grid parity? Would putting more money into our universities for R&D get us there faster? We put a man on the moon...
It is a dirty cyle. The auto makers and the oil companies are all in bed together. Thier goal...to get as much money from us as possible.
Great question. I think it's a matter of economics. It's going to become more expensive to use fossil fuels that alternative ones, that's when will switch.
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The recent events in the Gulf after the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon, reminds us again that offshore oil drilling is too dangerous for marine ecosystems and coastal communities and economies, I think it should not be allowed. Much less in such a corporative culture where there is no ethics,...
by Aya Katz 12 years ago
Which alternative energy source is more efficient and cheaper to maintain: solar panels or windmills?
by Kathleen Cochran 10 years ago
The Iraq we know is not the Iraq the factions have ever recognized. If the Middle East consumes itself for the coming years with fighting each other over creating new states along sectarian lines, how is that a bad thing for the US?
by Jimbo'daNimbo 12 years ago
Watching the failures of companies such as Solyndra that the public was forced to subsidize, when and where will we find an alternative source of energy that could replace our fossil fuel needs?
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by Xenonlit 12 years ago
Should America take oil and gas subsidies and apply them to alternative power and fuel resources?Why American stubbornly continues to support a fossil fuel industry that is swimming in money from inflated fuel prices is a confounding issue.
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