What must we do to move to alternative fuels and renewable energy?

[coloradodem2005]

The fact is, we as Americans cannot afford to stay on oil. It pollutes the air, creates many of the car problems that we have to repair, it funds terrorist organizations and we will inevitably run out, and what we can get, we have to sacrifice our land for. But the greedy people of this country will not allow any of this to happen, unless we, as Americans stand up and essentially say "Fuck You." We want better.

Furthermore, what are the best alternatives? Wind? Solar? For long-term, people say hydrogen fuel cells. I have also heard that they can be dangerous if not harnessed properly. What are your thoughts?

[aquart]

1. First, make 90% of the cost of solar panels and windmills deductable.

That's right. Subsidize the hell out of 'em. At the same time as tax inches up on the already rising costs of non-renewable fuels.

Carrot and stick.

THEN, sponsor contests, grants, awards for the best, most practical invention, plan, or research toward the goal of energy self-sufficiency.

Remove the tax benefit to buying an SUV. Replace it with a fuel-guzzler tax.

[Old and In the Way]

3. Indeed!

Lot's of jobs adding solar electric panels and passive hot water onto homes. What an electric grid every homeowner in the country could be.

China has taken to passive hot water heaters in a big way. Lots of sun, lots of heat, and lots of cheap hot water.

PS, it really is the funding priorities and how we want to tax/tax break our options. A $100K tax breaker for a hummer is truly obscene.

[jerryskid]

2. Good question

First we must have a president who is willing to spend something on something else then war, then we can put solar panels everywhere especially where i live, the central valley of california, bush town, but that is besides the point. the first step is the investment and research and then we can see where that leads.

[juajen]

4. In order to move to renewable energy, we must first

diminish the power that oil companies have over our representatives in congress and the white house, and plan a media blitz to educate, and encourage renewable energy among Americans. Probably the best way to encourage renewable energy is to begin training the cronically unemployed to work for government sponsored renewable energy companies. When America sees that this can be good for unemployment, they will see it as good for America. It would also be helpful to find a legal way to divest oil companies of patents they have purchased to keep innovations in the energy field out of circulation; perhaps by claiming an issue of national security. Where there is a will, there is a way. (Excuse please, I don't know any fresh cliches.)

[sam sarrha]

5. W's vetoed the funds for the first big prototype test for the new

generation technology solar collectors..his 3rd day in office. The estimates are that 3 or 4 farms 10 miles square would supply about 80 percent of the day time energy for the USA. places where they could use the solar energy to pump water up 120 feet could get 92 percent of the energy back out through pelton generators.

The use of products such as Amsoil, a synthetic oil in connection with a filter system that removes particles .4 microns and nearly all impurities and has a change schedual around 250,000 miles.. and extends engine wear up to 1,000,000 miles would make us oil independent of foreign oil.

Agricultural hemp could make us oil independent of outside oil.. hemp oil can be run in easily, cheaply modified engines and needs little refining and burns significantly cleaner than diesel. the oil, paper and Cotton industries pay the government to demonetize Ag hemp to eliminate competition..

there are numerous renewable systems that could eliminate foreign oil and improve the environment at the same time. and create jobs and reduce cost of energy.

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. If there's an answer buried in a vault somewhere that reveals plans

for a clean, alternate energy source, now is the time to bring it out. I think we can all agree that anyone who is holding out is committing a crime against humanity.

[coloradodem2005]

7. I agree.

Unfortunately, that covers a lot of people.

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Keep talking up the fact that

reduced reliance on fossil foils means more self-sufficiency for us (Just loook at $hrub begging Opec for a fair deal. That gets conservatives upset.)

renewable energy creates new jobs (Cons only think about jobs lost in the fossil fuel industry)

overall savings to the average consumer, especially in light of the fact that fossil fuels will become more and more expensive as they become harder to retrieve


Unfortunately cleaner air and water and the lessening impact on the greenhouse effect are not selling points for your average Fox watcher, so bringing those up actually will shut down conversations about alternative energy sources with these folks.

[Toucano]

9. The most important issue facing the world

should merit a government sponsored investment akin to the Manhattan Project or the Lunar Mission. We could lead the whole world on this issue if we had the political willingness to do so. I'd feel far more patriotic about bringing the world clean, renewable, efficient energy than putting a man on Mars.

Candidate Kerry could make enormous gains if he would develop a truly bold plan.

In addition, the energy companies have to start looking beyond the next quarter's profit and understand that they can make money in the long term if they develop new technologies. It needs to become more expensive for them to use fossil fuels in order to make the new technologies profitable. That appears to be happening already, but the government could enhnace it.

Look at the popularity of the Prius. They can't (or won't) make them fast enough to meet consumer demand. Tax breaks could be linked to production numbers. It would beat tax breaks that ask nothing in return.

There's a lot of hope and potential for success. We need leadership that is committed to success.

[Touchdown]

13. Agreed. Kerry should run on this.

Make a bold plan, like the man on the moon missions, that within 10 years, we can not only develop, but install alternative energy sources and make obsolete and demolish 30% of our coal, oil, and gas burning power plants. Also, that we have a goal of 25% saturation of hybrid cars of all styles for sale, and a 20% ownership in such vehicles. He should also pledge that by the end of 15 years, that Hydrogen fuel cell cars will be a viable market option, with a marshall plan to get filling stations to add in hydro pumps.

Nobody would vote for Nader if he ran on this, and when he follows through once elected, re-election in 2008 is almost assured.

[keithyboy]

10. Sell all your oil company holdings...help the bottom line sink.

If the Iraqis would ignitie every oil pipeline in operation, the US would pack up and leave. There would be no reason for them to stay and fight...no more reason to lose the lives of our children for the corporate pigs!

[hatrack]

11. Simple - pay a national average of $3 a gallon for a year

It would be very painful, and probably very effective.

[MadHound]

12. I have a solution, but it will mean taking the matter into our own hands

We cannot afford to wait for government programs, or for the petroleum corporations to wean themselves off of oil. Instead what we need to do is to use the market forces for our own benefit in order to benefit the rest of humanity. Here's how it works.

Biodiesel is a cheap, renewable, very clean burning fuel. It is also pretty easy to make, something anybody can whip up in their basement or garage. A couple of recommendation to make, the first a book: "From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank", by Joshua Tickell, <http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0970722702/inktomi-bkasin-20/ref%3Dnosim/104-1392346-9204762>. An excellent book to get you started making you own biodiesel. Easily read, easy to follow.

The second link I recommend is The Dancing Rabbit <http://www.dancingrabbit.org/biodiesel/>. Good links, good overview of the real world troubleshooting you have to do when making and using biodiesel.

The kicker to all of this is that thousands and millions of us have to all start to go with biodiesel. Once we create a demand that cannot be ignored, market forces will take over. Commercial producers will spring up as they realize there is money to be made, PACs and lobbyists will innudate politicians with requests for favorable laws, cities, counties and states will start going with the green fuel, critical mass will be achieved, and biodiesel will become the fuel of the future. But don't expect any sort of corporate/political solution folks. The powers that be in both sectors are entirely too entrenched in the current fossil fuel addiction to see beyond their next barrel. WE, you and I, have to create the demonstrable demand in order to get the rock of market forces rolling favorably in our direction.

My personal goal this summer is to get my recipie down pat and personal production facilities in place. Hopefully by this fall I will be far enough along that I will be buying a diesel car to run as personal transportation. Pending car trials, within two years I hope to be producing enough that I can supply my surrounding farmers enough product in order to fuel their farm machinery.

So the ball is in your court. Are you going to get up and do something about this looming crisis, or will you stay on the sidelines and complain? If we create enough of a demonstrable demand, we can harness these market forces we currently bitch and moan about for our own good. But each and every one of us has to do our part.

Here is a solution, the rest is up to you.

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. We have a biodiesel co-op in my area.

http://www.downeastbiodiesel.com/

[MadHound]

16. Very cool GPV, I wish we had one here

Unfortunately I live in the wilds of Mid Mo, and petroleum is still king. Hopefully I can get the ball going by supplying farmers with biodiesel. They may be conservative, but hell, they respond to cheap fuel prices like everyone else.

[librechik]

14. When gasoline hits 10 bucks a gallon. n/t

[radwriter0555]

17. Get rid of the PNAC and the bush regime...

then it would be clear sailing.

[MadHound]

18. LOL my friend

The Dems are just as oil soaked as the BFEE. Except for them, it is different companies, like BP-Amaco, or Shell. Just take a look at the campaign finance reports, and you'll find the Dems up to their ears in oil money too. Just one more symptom of the two party/same corporate master system of government that we are now living under.