Alternative Energy Survey/From user Jeff K?

Question

1. Do you believe the government focuses enough attention on alternative energy?

2. Should the government focus more money and legislation towards improving existing energy sources or alternative energy sources?

3. What do you feel is the biggest concern regarding alternative energy? (Cost/Efficiency/Emissions)

4. Should the government put price limits on gas?

5. Do you believe that alternative fuels would increase the prices of materials used to make them?

6. Do you feel that the government should cut other spending and use more money to research alternative energy sources and fuels?

7. Do you feel that the government should offer tax deductions to businesses that use alternative energy sources and fuels?

8. Should the government mandate that gas stations offer alternative fuels to their customers?

9. What type of home heating do you use?

10. Have you thought of using an alternative form of heating in your home? If so, what?

Answer 1

1.  The government is paying far too much attention to "alternative energy" scams, throwing our tax dollars at businesses that are not viable.

2.  No.  The market does the job far more effectively.

3.  Cost & efficiency.

4.  No.  Price controls always create shortages.

5.  Yes, that's the law of supply & demand in action.

6.  No.  Governments invariably waste money.

7.  No.  The purpose of taxation is to pay for the cost of government.  Using it for social engineering is economically foolish and morally reprehensible.

8.  No.  What gas station operators choose to sell is their own business and they will sell what their customers want.

9.  Oil.

10.  No.

Answer 2

There is no better fuel than fossil fuel. U are so brain washed that U don't know that the plants are taking care of the problem. All fuels produce about the same CO2 for the work done.

Answer 3

1 - no

2- yes

3- related infrastructure to maintain and contribute to its daily integration

4- no, that would run counter to market driven forces which would drive alternative solutions

5- no

6- yes

7- yes

8- yes

9- ground source heat pump (geothermal)

10- i did it see above - I eliminated a dependency on 550+ gallons of heating oil annually and will make return on the investment in less than 5 years

Answer 4

1 yes

2.existing...but y not both

3..cost

4 price controls cause shortages...i remember 1979...Jimmy Carter   [idiot]

5..more demand=higher prices

6..yes but with free meds and health care and everything else free..never happen

7.. yes..smart idea

8..no govt mandates cause unintended problems

.9.LPG forced hot air

10.. i have a wood stove i heated with for 20 yrs,,,i still use on super cold days and spring/fall

Answer 5

1. No, this is much too important of an issue, and I think the governments of the world are just starting to get on the ball. But they will get the picture soon.

2. Yes, certainly, any massive social change will need government legislation.

3. Cost - people just have a hard time shelling out $20k up front for a system that has a 10-20 year payoff period. Fortunately and unfortunately at the same time, energy prices are likely to rise, and therefore alternatives are quickly becoming more attractive.

4. I don't know how they could in an open market, they have to pay a certain price. So if the question is should they subsidize, I don't think that helps anybody. We still have to pay taxes to pay for the subsidy then. Its our money that runs the governments anyways. Cheaper energy....

5. Its possible, but I don't think a problem.

6. Yes, referring to number 4 answer. Increasing energy prices are going to be a thorn in all our sides until we implement widespread renewables.

7. I don't know about tax deductions, but there certainly does need to be some sort of push in the right direction for business to join in. Whether that is via taxes or something else, I'm not a politician.

8. No, the free market will demand this soon enough.

9. Normal so far.

10. I would like to install a geoexchange system.

Answer 6

1. No, and the reason being is lobbyist for the oil company helped them get elected

2. The government should increase their spending on altnernative energy by at least 100 fold.

3. The use of corn is NOT the answer. it will only cause food prices to go up...but maybe thats their goal.

4. NO. Keep the price of gas going up so more people will scream for alternative energy.

5. YES

6. Absolutely. The government spends about $ 500 BILLION a year on the military. $ 500 billion. INSANE

7. Yes

8. YES.

9. My thermostate is set at 60 deg. during the winter. Theres a reason why they make clothes to keep you warm.

10. Yes, its my clothes

Edit 40 minutes after post: How in the h**l can this get a thumbs down. Its morons like you that will be the death of this world. My children and grandchildre as well as billions more thank you for you stupidity and selfishness.

Answer 7

1. Definitely not (Canadian or American govts)

2. alternative energy sources - the fact that oil and gas is destroying valuable forested land and polluting the air, water and soil (not just with refining crude oil but all the activity associated with extraction and transportation of it and the final products) we need to find alternatives that require less refining, transportation and less habitat destruction.

3. Tough question.  No I don't think that they should limit price because more cost to the consumer might lessen the demand. I think that it should be open market BUT the royalties received by the govt from the producers should be sliding - if producers reach a certain income, they start paying the gov't a higher percentage of this income.  In turn a percentage of this revenue received by the govts by the producers (a large portion) should be put into alternative energy development/research (as well as ecological restoration research), with matching grants by the oil and gas producers.  These research projects should be INDEPENDANT of producers and the gov't (reducing the potential for the reserach to be swayed/biased).

5. No, not to a large extent.  If they become too pricey, people will reduce the use of them.  it's important however, that the balance between crude oil use and alternative energy use is met however.  If alternative energy costs get too high, people will likely not return to crude oil use because extraction and refining will decrease, thus increasing it's cost - which as an alternative, will not be viable for most people.  An open market seems to keep prices relatively stable (when you consider infaltion and such) and I assume that alternative energy cost will fall into that scenario as well.

6.  I do!  I think the gov't should also increase the revenue they get from the oil and gas producers (through taxes - they aren't going to stop producing, and it's not like those companies can go elsewhere to extract the crude) and funnel that additional money into research and development.

7.  At this point, absolutely.  Alternative energy sources and equipment used to reduce energy consumption are still pricey.  People and companies using these alternatives should be acknowledged as leaders and rewarded to some degree for it.  Also, the more demand there is for alternative energy, the lower the price goes (eventually).

8.  That would be fabulous.  There are so many alternatives out there that it would be hard to madate as of right now.  I think eventually gas stations will have to add these alternatives to survive.  Right now, I think the gov't should give incentives for each gas station company to implement these alternatives.  I think if there are places to 'fill up' with alternative fuels, people will start to buy more alternative cars/vehicles.

9.  natural gas (with a programmable thermostat)

10.  right now, no since this is my first home and I can't afford to retrofit.  I eventually want to build a home mostly off the grid and use geothermal heating and other passive heating/cooling systems.

Answer 8

no

alternative energy sources.

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=a-so...

politics - influence of existing big business locked into oil dependency

no

obviously

they wouldnt need to cut much off the bloated military budget

yes - even cutting the tax breaks given to fossil fuel producers would be good

yes

wood burner  (local wood)

ground source heat pump