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A Respite and a Warning

Thursday, December 10, 2009


As oil creeps below $70, realize that we are experiencing a respite - a bit of a breather in a market constrained by booming demand, restricted supply and unforseeable price shifts. While we should rejoice at the lowered price of oil, the last thing we should do is take advantage of it, for it will be on the move again.

To date, Congress has appropriated $70 billion in incentives toward clean energy. Nevetheless, since the 1970's (the last big focus on renewables and alternatives), our total renewables share has remained in the SINGLE digits.

Two large problems confront our renewable supply - first, getting technologies to mass market (ie, making them affordable) and second, having the infrastructure to support them. Hydrogen powered cars could be a huge part of the solution to our energy puzzle, but as of now there's no infrastructure to support the technology.

Looking back at my blog of yesterday, and focusing again on possible government policy roles, one thing the government can do is open the doors to and incentivize (and dare I suggest it - possibly privatize??) new energy infrastructures. Rolling out viable infrastructures to support alternative fuel developments is the vital building block to supporting our energy independence.

posted by Amanda Voss at 12:55 PM


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