Why do so many Republicans think we don't have the technology for alternative energies?

Question

and what does t boone pickens do with his t-bone pickins?

Answer 1

As many have pointed out, it's not so much that they don't "believe" the technologies exist, just that they aren't enough or economically feasible.

The truth is there are many cheap, viable alternatives.  Without government intervention it will be a long time before any take off.  Many people will make any excuse (if we can't replace all of our oil then why replace any of it, if there were money to be made with alternatives they'd be happening, scale-up is nearly impossible, the environmentalists are blocking everything, and so on), but most of those excuses are simply talking points that quickly break down with a little knowledge.

It would be very difficult to completely remove ourselves fom oil, as we need oil to make much more than just gasoline.  Oil is the base for much of our plastics, food additives, building materials, and so on.  Replacing that would prove to be extremely difficult, but certainly not impossible.

Currently there is not a level playing field between oil and alternatives, which is where government needs to step in and make it level.  If the governement removed military protection, tax loopholes and subsidies from oil companies the result would initially be skyrocketing prices for everything, but we would quickly move to alternatives.  Necessity is the mother of invention and we don't currently feel a strong enough need to invent.

Probably more practical than removing the benefits from oil companies would be to extend the monetary equivalent to alternative companies.

The problem with some alternatives, contrary to what many here state, is there is not tons of money to be made.  If a company were to produce electricity for a large city using geothermal wells, the energy source would be virtually unlimited, self-sustaining and therefore not necessarily subject to the whims of supply and demand.  

I've only touched the tip of the iceberg with my answer, but the facts are clear.  Alternatives are out there.  They are being built and used on large scales in other countries.  While many technologies are relatively new, many have been around, virtually unused, for decades.  If the people and the governement wanted it to happen, it could and would.  Obviously, though, many people simply don't want us to be independent.

Answer 2

Because we don't.  We have no company that can mass produce a electric car, we don't have enough corn or other products that could produce enough ethanol to replace oil.  We don't have enough nuclear energy plants to eliminate diesel electric plants, we don't have enough hydroelectric plants to eliminate coal plants.  Sure we have some things that conserve and relieve a small amount of demand, but with growth and our consumption we are a long way from alternative energies being able to stop our dependency on oil.

Answer 3

Because we don't, currently.  That technology needs to be pushed and improved but to exclude proven energy technologies in the meantime is simply foolish..

Answer 4

Although we have technology for alternative energy, there is yet to be a more efficient and cost effective energy than fossil fuels.

You think people want to pay higher prices for less effective energy?  

Answer 5

What Republican said that?

Answer 6

LOL

Answer 7

LOL. Because oil companies (who own republicans) will loose profit.

THEY are not ready for new technology.

Answer 8

First, YouTube is a bad source for info.

Second, we do have technology...in the works so to speak. Drilling for oil now is a good thing because it already exist and the tech to extract it exists. Alternatives are just around the corner, but not the primary source...yet.

Answer 9

It's not that it's unavailable, it's not financially feasible.

Also, many stumbling blocks (thanks to our sensitivity to the environment) stand in the way of implementation of such technologies.  Wind farms will kill migrating birds; hydro power will kill some fish; the list goes on.

Answer 10

Why do democrats think we have the viable technology for alternative energies and don't use them?

Answer 11

They're right we don't yet  have it But we don't need so-called -high tech solutions to solve this problem .This problem is easily solvable using no tech or low -tech solutions.tried and true off the shelf  equipment and  all it requires is a little political will to do so.

Answer 12

We don't have it yet, where is it?  There may be small scale implementations and proofs of concept around, but going from small scale to large scale is a different beast in itself.

Answer 13

because republicans do not support any programs in order to help the masses  they only help themself by putting the money in their pockets  like !!  hurra for me and f... you

Answer 14

There is no practical alternatives; If there was a buck to be made from alternative energies, believe me, you wouldn't need government intervention pushing it.