Government Investment in Alternative Energies

On average, the Sun shines 341 watts of energy per square meter on Earth. The Sun beams more energy to our planet every hour than humanity uses in a whole year.

In the current fiscal year, the Energy Department plans to spend:

$159 million on solar research and development.

$303 million on nuclear energy research and development.

$427 million on coal.

$167 million on other fossil fuel research and development.

Most technological developments require monetary investments. We would assume the need for clean alternative energy sources would promote investment in wind, solar, or nuclear power over coal and oil, but that is not the case. Even into the year 2030 the United States government is projecting more investment in coal burning technology than solar. The private sector is also holding off investing in solar technology. If the old timers have it their way, we are going to be using fossil fuels for a long time.

The government has promoted the use and development of alternative energies through tax breaks, but they have been taken advantage of by the likes of prominent tax lobbyist Kenneth Kies. Kies pushed for a “synfuel” tax break and then dubbed a diesel + coal combination “synthetic fuel” and Stole millions of dollars in tax breaks for some of this nation’s wealthiest corporations (diesel sprayed on coal is not good for the environment).

Why is investing in Solar Technology not a high priority?

There are many factors, some of which are mentioned here, but summarizing:

1) Storing the energy is a much bigger problem than you would think

2) Current solar panels just do not produce enough energy for the dollar

3) The nuclear and coal camps have much more lobbying power

4) The money intended to promote alternative energies does not necessarily end up in the right place

The bottom line is unless there are breakthroughs in solar technology it is not going to be worthwhile to invest in solar technology… sound like the chicken and the egg?

Maybe we should be investing more into solar power?