PV Gap

Michele Said:

If the USA became more energy independent would individual income per capita increase as in other countries?

We Answered:

I think your data is skewed. There are very few countries that do not rely on oil. Iceland is the only one that comes to mind.

The reason we have become dependent on foreign oil is that buying oil from other countries was seen as the cheapest way to get energy. Had we made the investment in alternative energy sources, our per capita income would have been lower, not higher.

Even now, at oil's high prices, solar, biofuel, etc. are still generally more expensive per unit energy. All the solar panels going up across the United States are doing so only because the government is subsidizing them.
http://www.technologyreview.com/read_art…
http://www.xomba.com/government_rebates_…

If oil prices continue to rise, or if technology improves, then alternative energy sources may well become cheaper than petroleum, but it will be a while.

On the other hand, some people have argued that even if it is more expensive in the short run, starting now will give us an advantage later.
And there are certainly specific cases where using alternative energy is cheaper (solar water heaters, etc.)

But there is an alternative approach to becoming more energy independent. If we stopped wasting so much energy, then we would spend less on energy, import less, and so be both more independent and better off on a per capita basis.

Mario Said:

In the USA, can you order clean energy from your local supplier?

We Answered:

California deregulated for a brief period of time allowing people to pick and choose their energ source/supplier etc. It turned into a complete disaster. People's bills went from $100/mo to over a thousand. As a result the power purchase system was switched back to the utilities.
California is making a goal of having 20% of their power come from green sources (nuclear, hydro, wind, solar, geo).
I have heard rumors that the European accounting for power is somewhat of a shell game. For example a nation may brag that it is 40% wind. That is great but what happens when the wind suddenly stops? It is now 40% deficient. The neighboring country has to make up the 40% difference. That means they have to have more units in reserve. Now who do they use for reserve? The French nuclear plants. So one country brags that it is 40% wind but it is actually getting backup from its neighbors who are then getting back up from the nukes and coal plants. I am all for reliable 24/7 green power like geothermal and hydro. And I believe there is a place for unreliable green like solar and wind. But I think there has to be a limit put on unreliable sources because it becomes a shell game otherwise. For every unreliable MW there has to be a reliable MW in backup.

Thomas Said:

Have you heard that some Republicans are talking about taxing solar energy?

We Answered:

soon they will tax the air anything to make money.

Tyler Said:

if, years ago we(usa) had focused on solar and wind energy and demanded higher mileage standards on cars......

We Answered:

I'll bet we'd have cleaner air and water, not be at war now, and we would have some new industries of alternative fuels leading the world and competing with OPEC. Of course the stockholders of the oil companies would never let their pawns allow this to happen. They're still fighting it and their pundits are paid to ridicule ideas of alternatives to oil guzzling.