If all the homes in america got solar panels and we started strongly supporting wind energy, our energy dependence in the middle east would be significantly reduced and I'm sure it would cost about the same as the war in Iraq has cost so far, if not less. Why aren't we doing it?
2006-09-23 18:16:18 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Government
To: kfaulk211, it is not "relatively" expensive. The cost of the war in Iraq will end up being at least 750 billion dollars (there are only 300 million americans, so that's about 1/4 or that in homes: a guess of at most 75 million homes comes out to about $10,000 (per home) which could have gone to installing solar panels into every home in America. You also mention that solar power is not efficient but that is only if you use ONLY solar power, it works perfectly fine if used in conjunction with other sources of energy. As for energy being produced by private companies, I don't see why the gov't couldn't have a private company produce these products and offer them to the American people.
2006-09-23 18:41:37 · update #1
It does...
2006-09-23 18:23:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because, they haven't figured out a way to tax sunshine, and or wind. If you refuse to pay those taxes, what are they going to do? Keep the wind from blowing. Take the sunshine away. Lock you in a dungeon.
By the time the war in Iraq is over, every home in the USA, could have alternatives to gas to run their homes efficiently.
A couple months ago, I saw a contest between college students. They actually built homes, and incorporated their innovations into those them. The homes were completely independent of any outside sources of energy. Most of them were not that expensive to produce. I would like to know if any of those plans have been sold to the public.
I am confident, that this generation of people will solve our energy problems, if they aren't politically stopped. I am seeing more alternatives in my area of the country. Midwest.
The Amish have used wind-power for generations. Many no longer use the windmill, but a wind generator for their energy needs, many have solar panels for their lighting needs. Some even sell the products. I've seen water stoves, wind generators, corn stoves, solar panels, to reduce our dependence on the power company for our needs.
2006-09-23 20:31:06 · answer #2 · answered by Schona 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's expensive and relatively inefficient. Perhaps in the future solar power will be more useful for practical use, but energy is produced by private companies anyway.
Solar power also cannot support a power grid alone. Even with a held charge, the power plant is all but useless at night or in cloudy weather. Some places, particularly in California, use a combination of solar and wind power to supplement existing power production (usually coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear).
2006-09-23 18:24:40 · answer #3 · answered by Soda Popinski 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You've got a lot of good, accurate answers already, so I'll simply add my "amen" to those savvy enough to understand that we have the available technology, and it's not as expensive as it once was. The simple reason our government is not jumping all over it is money: They want it, and there isn't enough money to be made from solar and wind energy. After all, how can you patent the sun or the wind? And if someone doesn't want to pay for using them, how are you going to shut off their power? And most importantly, how can you develope a monopoly on something that is freely available to all?
2006-09-23 18:36:35 · answer #4 · answered by therealme 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the political lobbiests prefer oil as a source of energy.
That's the problem: these people are elected for short periods of time, and so they implement "short term" solutions.
2006-09-23 18:26:33 · answer #5 · answered by uofgleam 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
THEIRS NO MONEY IN IT!!!! Haven't you figured out that the only thing people seem to think that matters anymore is just money! That is why we don't do anything about the environment either because their is no money to be made in doing so. Its a pretty ill world to live in. Its always been this way and probably always will be.
2006-09-23 18:19:44 · answer #6 · answered by soniaatcalifornia 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Greed
2006-09-23 18:23:48 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The wind is free and the sun is free. We already pay for water and that is also free.
Give them some time. They will come up with a price for this free resource.
2006-09-23 18:20:40 · answer #8 · answered by triniqueen40 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
1
2017-03-04 05:02:17 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because once the panels are installed, they can't make you pay for it! And 'cause they're greedy, money hungry, power mad ogres!
2006-09-23 18:32:21 · answer #10 · answered by bougainvillaea 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's genetic... Bush Jr. inherited from his father the love for oil... some people say that they bathe in oil! So no matter how many solutions you'll provide him, he'll still want oil.
2006-09-23 18:19:31 · answer #11 · answered by RigorMortis 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋