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Even if we all drove Priuses I don't think that alone would make that much a dent in energy demand. The US has had a great many opportunities for conservation and even more to tax gasoline to fund other energy initiatives. I read that Southwest Airlines were behind the defeat of the high speed rail project in Texas and the car lobby was behind the delay in progressing with California's high speed rail project. We have given special interest groups and corporate lobbyists too much power amidst dwindling energy supplies.
In Japan about 45% of transit is by train. The electricity is generated by nuclear power to a great extent (they have had maintenance problems with some plants though)
I spoke to my local utility about solar and the marketing rep there said that if 2000 of their 20,000 subscribers put up two solar panels each, that would obviate the need for a new gas-fired power plant.
Wind, coal, solar are domestic energy sources that we can get on the road to independence with . Companies like RTK, HDWR can help, and are leaders.
You'll notice I didn't mention hydro. With rainfall decreasing around the world, this is becoming a potentially unreliable energy source. Already at Glen Canyon Dam the difficult questions are being asked. Drinking water or electricity?
Aside from hydro, these areas provide investment opportunities for the oil and as companies of today.
Imagine if several million homes had several solar panels each, nuclear power was behind out mass-transit and hybrids were mass-produced. I think some of our problems would be solved. We have to be careful though, as some states (Maine, New England) have pushed alternative energy as a way to stimulate in-state jobs. Sometimes that has not worked. Here in WA state the state wants to assemble solar panels as part of a solar initiative. In Maine, the leaky panels are being torn down by frustrated owners.
Just as a stable dividend policy encourages fiscal responsibility among corporate leaders in a dividend-paying firm, paying the full price for energy will help us with energy independence. This is a good thing. We will make better choices, both as consumers and investors.
The obvious question is 'Who will pay for all this?'.
We will pay for it one way or another.
Investing in an independent energy policy may help us with the deficit and with foreign relations. We will all feel better too. |
