The problem that we have is the disconnect between the price of energy and it’s costs. The price of energy in this country is subsidized in a few ways. There are price supports as well as allowances. When I say allowances I mean that they are allowed to do things and not pay for them. Like mountaintop mining. They are allowed to cut the top off of a mountain, remove the coal, then just put the dirt back and plant grass. They are allowed to destroy ecosystems, whole river ways, entire mountains. Plus poison groundwater, and pollute the surrounding areas with the tainted runoff from these operations. whole communities are displaced and whole ecosystems are destroyed. What if that had to buy all the land that they destroyed at market value, and the mountain had to be put back together, and the whole thing had to be monitored and maintained for the next hundred years. Perhaps the price of mountaintop removal would not be so cheap.

Subsidizing energy is like feeding wild cats, it doesn’t fix the problem it just makes it worse. Look at the effect. We have less efficient vehicles. We live in larger homes. we have more stuff to throw away. and the average commute is growing every year. At what point does the price of energy start to effect the decision making process. twice, three times? My energy costs are quite low. I drive an electric car, which cost me about $80 bucks a year. I don’t have A/C and I use my heat only rarely. It’s not that I choice to be uncomfortable or scrimp. I live in a building that is naturally comfortable in an area that gets a breeze almost everyday in the summer.  I have high efficiency appliances, compact fluorescents and LED lighting, and not wasteful. When I put photovoltaics on my building I won’t ever have to pay a utility bill again.