I will admit I am not well versed on the technical issues that face alternative power sources; however, I know that the current method of powering everything with coal and gas is not a sustainable option. I also believe that alternative power sources have not caught on because the coal and gas companies have one of the biggest lobbying efforts in the world. In my opinion coal and gas companies would rather we use coal and gas until it is gone and only once the entire world is without power look at alternative power.
One of the big detractors to alternative power is that they are expensive.
However, there has been an Infographic making headlines recently. This graphic states and I fully believe that in the past 5 years fossil fuels have received $72 Billion in subsidies. Solar power has only received $1 Billion in subsidies. If Solar power received $72 Billion in subsidies it would be a cheaper alternative to fossil fuels across the entire country.
My current fossil fuels bill for a year is roughly $1,600. This includes $600 for gas for my car (I work from home), $600 in coal generated Electricity, and $400 in Natural gas. As a taxpayer I also pay $104 a year in subsidies for this power. In the past year as a taxpayer I have only payed $1.45 to subsidize solar energy. Something seems terribly wrong about this picture. The energy source that is already well established and should not need subsidies receives billions of dollars in unnecessary help to increase their outrageous profits, but solar power which is not an established industry and needs subsidies to get off the ground receives next to nothing and struggle to make profits.
Take a look at the infographic and spread the word.