The Oil Drum: Australia/New Zealand | Being green and spending green

34 comments on Being green and spending green - the trouble with rooftop solar

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jetgraphics on May 26, 2009 - 5:06pm

That which powers our civilization is derived from the sun, or our parental star, whose nova created the heavier elements that compose our planet.
At this time, we're consuming prodigious amounts of a finite, irreplaceable resource made of accretions of solar input, aka fossil fuels.
No matter which economic argument is advanced to justify it, there is no such things as "cheap and plentiful" fossil fuels. Consuming them to the point that they are no longer accessible, is patently short sighted, and irresponsible.
Once consumed, from that point onward, future generations will be deprived of them. Is that what we wish to endow our children's children with?

What does it take to persuade people to realize that it is inherently wiser to only use PRESENT solar input (light, wind, water, tidal, etc) for our source of power?

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Kiashu on May 26, 2009 - 6:50pm

I think people in Australia are largely convinced that using renewables is wiser than using fossil or nuclear fuels. However, they're not convinced it's possible - that "intermittency" nonsense - nor are they convinced that change must be soon and quick - "haven't we got years of supply left, and isn't the climate slow to change?"

And our elected representatives don't do what they think wise, but a balance of what they think popular, and what their corporate sponsors want them to do. When it comes to elected representatives and the public, silence means consent. They don't change unless we loudly demand they change.

The public think renewables are wise, but they're not making a loud demand that we change to them.

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