Can alternative energy survive in a free market?

[Massachusetts]

I've been thinking about this for a long time. We live in a country where oil essentially has control over the energy industry. Oil prices are high, people can't afford to pay their bills and fill up their tanks with the rising prices (which I acknowledge has a lot to do with the deflation of the value of the dollar) and people are looking for alternative fuels to heat up their homes, keep the lights on and get them from point A to point B.

I have not seen any sources of alternative energy thrive in this economy, but then again this economy is hardly a free market with all the government intervention. However, can alternative energy survive in a free market? It has worked in some other countries around the world, but it has yet to stand the test of time. Oil makes the world go round and there don't seem to be a lot of deep pocketed investors that are willing to put their capital on the line in the name of alternative energy. And as we have seen with Solyndra, government money doesn't necessarily help either (of course not).

So I have a few questions.

1) Can alternative energy survive in a free market?

and

2) If so, how?

[Elfshadow]

Seeing as Oil been supportted by the government? Who the hell knows we have not had a free market in years.

[Black Flag]

Absoultely.

People pay money for things they value.

Many people value clean energy.

Thus, many people will pay for it.

Now, the subsidies distort the actual price necessary to provide this energy and distorts the reality to both the users and suppliers to what the real costs are.

In such ignorance, who can really understand things?

But free from subsidy? - Branson expects people to pay $250,000 for a day's flight into space.... so, I'm sure there are many, many more people who would pay the real price to have "clean" energy.

[Massachusetts]

Absoultely.

People pay money for things they value.

Many people value clean energy.

Thus, many people will pay for it.

Now, the subsidies distort the actual price necessary to provide this energy and distorts the reality to both the users and suppliers to what the real costs are.

In such ignorance, who can really understand things?

But free from subsidy? - Branson expects people to pay $250,000 for a day's flight into space.... so, I'm sure there are many, many more people who would pay the real price to have "clean" energy.

Right now, in America, the price of hybrid vehicles is very expensive. Can we assume that this is because of high cost of production, government plundering or both? In today's economic climate, it just isn't economically feasible to invest in a lot of alternative energy because it is expensive and trying to compete with the oil industry.

[Professor8000]

I would say that alternative energy could and would thrive if the Government would get out of the energy business.

The major benefits of solar and wind generators is that your monthly costs are very low because you are just paying to maintain your systems. You are also not affected by power outages. You have no real need to be hooked up to the grid.

Many. MANY people would jump at the opportunity to invest in their own energy independence so that they don't have to rely on someone else for the things that they require for their lives.

[roho76]

I think it would have already. Oil, even at cheap levels, would go away because you always have to rely a third party so true energy independence is not possible and people will always strive for independence.

[specsaregood]

LOL, the better question would be if oil can survive in a free market. hell, none of us could afford oil now if the rest of the world didn't subsidize its cost for us.

[Professor8000]

Everyone should strive to get off of the grid.

[revned]

I believe the fact that our government subsidizes oil makes it extremely difficult for any alternative energy sources to thrive in the current market.

Personally, the way I see alternative energy sources thriving in a free market is through more exposure and hopefully more education on other possibilities. No one wants to buy a bad product and oil products should be well-known by now to be bad products based on the fact that it pollutes our environment and is in limited supply. The only thing that keeps us buying this product is our government's involvement in keeping it at a relatively low cost. My understanding is, if our government didn't subsidize the cost we probably would be less likely to buy oil and would probably seek alternatives anyway.

[specsaregood]

I believe the fact that our government subsidizes oil makes it extremely difficult for any alternative energy sources to thrive in the current market.

Personally, the way I see alternative energy sources thriving in a free market is through more exposure and hopefully more education on other possibilities. No one wants to buy a bad product and oil products should be well-known by now to be bad products based on the fact that it pollutes our environment and is in limited supply. The only thing that keeps us buying this product is our government's involvement in keeping it at a relatively low cost. My understanding is, if our government didn't subsidize the cost we probably would be less likely to buy oil and would probably seek alternatives anyway.

our country and govt is broke and 15trillion in debt,we have no money. it is the rest of the world that is subsidizing it for us.