Putting this issue into perspective, I wonder how much federal dollars were initially invested into oil and coal companies before they became the main energy resources for America?
How about Bell Telephone company before they became the nation's #1 telecommunications company (prior to being forced to split-off into smaller regional telephone companies due to anti-trust suits)?
Point: Every energy start-up in this country has needed an infusion of federal dollars to get it going. While I do worry about the amount of money likely to be poured into such energy ventures, I do believe that unless we really get serious about changing our views on energy consumption and use, we will eventually be foreced to make drastic changes in our national energy policy. The time to start re-thinking energy alternatives, conservation and consumption is NOW!
Sidenote: Former President Jimmy Carter tried to warn us about our continueous dependency on foriegn oil. Other Presidents since have talked big talk about America's need to become energy independent, but none have put forth any meaningful policy that moves this country in that direction. To that, I give President Obama credit where it's due. He is at least trying to make an effort to wien this nation off big oil and coal and in effect saying to the American people - those who will listen anyway, "What if we stopped being the largest consumers of oil and coal and start EXPORTING these natural resources to other countries who need it...becoming the West's version of OPEC"? Frankly, I like the idea. Unfortunately, people who lack vision and would rather stay put, stand firm, stick with the status quo are those who are most resistent toward making such changes. IMO, that's sad. For all the talk of America being such a powerful nation, our national politics on energy consumption and use is so dumb! I mean, you don't see OPEC scrambling at the pumps everytime a national conflict in the Middle-East threatens to raise fuel prices? And yet here we are again just a mere TWO YEARS LATER with ANOTHER MIDDLE-EASTERN CONFLICT only this time it's not just one Arab country up in arms, it's MASSIVE! Every country in the Arab world it seems is thirsty for regime change as orchestrated by their own people. But as they seek democracy of their own choosing, our fuel prices are slowing creaping up, Up, UP! And we're bitching about a small multi-million dollar investment to a California-based solar panel company in its attempt to break into a competing market with China - the nation we seem to be the most concerned about these days.
WAKE UP, AMERICA! For if we don't, China will own us, and OPEC will continue to control us if we don't change our energy policies NOW!
