Originally Posted by Dave Cutter .
You have no idea! You apparently didn't read any of MY posts. I live one of the greenest lifestyles of anyone you'll ever meet. I use less energy in a year than the average person uses in a month. When most people just discovered the compact fluorescent bulbs... I was already using LED. I always choose to live close to work [or work close to where I wanted to live]... often a gallon of gasoline will last BOTH my wife and I for a week. I bought my first windmill in the late 70's... and I've tried solar panels. I am not quoting a targeted google search .... I live what I speak.
What makes me Conservative.... is I spend my own money.
I think it's GREAT you have some high-minded ideas about what could be (if that is the truth). But it's time to grow up and be a man [or woman] and pay for your own stuff. The current green (scam) movement is simply a money grab.
If you're silly enough to not take advantage of 'energy incentive' rebates then that's your problem. Fail to dip from the money pot and someone else will. You've paid for it already in the form of taxes so not taking it back is just dumb - and that's why we got our new high efficiency HVAC early on in the year because the rebate "money pot" was still full. Get the best on the market for the price of average. A few years before that, same deal with replacing all the windows in the house. Get the best and get almost $5,000 back. Whole house fans... same deal. Refrigerator... you get the idea.
But your thinking that we need to use fossil fuels because it's cheap technology that we already have isn't entirely correct. Do you fail to realise that despite not having built a new refinery in the US that most of the refineries in the US have been updated piece by piece during that 30 years to incorporate the latest and greatest 'new' technology it increase safety, product quality and quantity and well, profit, and they have taken advantage of tax benefits in order to do so... Think about that, it's like they're milking a similar rebate "money pot" to develop and implement that new technology...
... which leaves you, being the only one not cashing in, Mr "I Spend My Own Money."
Do you think the likes of Shell or Chevron pay for all their own R&D that brings new technologies in their chosen fields? If you thought that they did then you're mistaken. They don't so much skim the top of the government funding pot - they insert a massive pump to grab as much as possible and I wouldn't be to surprised if they got more governement funding than the solar and wind folk combined.
Someone has to fund new technology. If the private sector doesn't think there's enough of an initial incentive and the government wants that technology in place then some "carrot" needs to be put forth. Then you have the issues like those facing California - you need more power but the chances of getting a new power plant build is zero to none - even if State law said a buggering great big coal powerstation was OK to build. NIMBY's across the state would kybosh that plan during the first planning meeting.
The funny thing is, the last time I checked, the neighbors, the state, or the government didn't pay for all my stuff
I personally couldn't give two hoots whether you're a Conservative. Why you put that in bold I have no idea but I'll leave you to go back to your energy efficient hand crank generator to power your 2.5" TV.