America's Green Policy and It's Roadblocks

The majority of Americans are in agreement that the United States people are in need of more alternative energy sources. The US government has made lackluster responses is supporting this initiative. Offering a tax rebate, or a tax credit does help ease the burden on the consumer. But for a large scale benefit of green power to occur to aid in the United States energy consumption, a more comprehensive plan must be in effect.

The first step is for government to stop the partisan politics when it comes to green power. Some of the arguments for and against green power is only designed to sway public opinion and is not beneficial to America. For instance, democrats will argue that we need green power to stop the spread of CO2, republicans will argue that CO2 and global warming is not proven science. The republicans will argue that America needs energy independence, the democrats will argue about a global economy. Caught in the middle of this lame argument, is the American public and the green energy initiative.

All people can agree that reversal of wealth from America to the Middle East is damaging the American economy. Moreover, America is being held hostage by the control of oil prices by leaders whose only interest is their economic growth and the decline of America as a world power. America's security would be greatly increased by America being not so reliant on foreign energy sources.

It is also agreeable that the American energy grid is aging and in need of an enormous amount of continuous maintenance. By increasing the amount of home installed energy systems (solar/ wind, etc.) we would decrease the demand on this energy grid. The emphasis of installing a solar or wind system should not be to sell energy back to the grid. The reason for this is that the electric company does not pay electricity at the same rate the sell it to you. The motivation should be self sustainment and national security.

The difficulty in this national shift to green energy is not government tax incentives or the initial cost of going solar. The difficulties are our retirement and investments. Many Americans have 401k retirements and mutual funds. These investments are generally heavily invested into the oil industry, which historically has been viewed as safe, steady, dividend rich investments. If the US government officially stated a shift in policy "by 2014 America will be off home heating oil by 50%." Mutual fund managers would be taking their money out of oil, which would cause a major collapse in the oil company revenues, and a major shift or decline in our public retirement annuities. This decline in retirement income annuities would be worldwide, not just in America since most people are invested in oil companies.

This would also create tensions with world politics. Just like how we saw major tensions after the deepwater horizon oil spill in the Gulf Coast. Many Americans protested or refused to buy oil from British Petroleum after the spill. This caused tensions between Britain and America since most British retirements are funded by British Petroleum.

The US government should and cannot make a dramatic shattering statement stating America's energy independence. The US government does need to take drastic steps in order to make it easier for the average consumer to go green. National building codes need to be changed to include electrical hookups for solar or wind power generators. That way as the American family grows, the consumer can add panels or a wind generator safely and conveniently without hiring a contractor.

Tax incentives must be provided for consumers going green. Some people may argue that a tax incentive should not be offered since adding solar to some one's house is only increasing the houses value and is not the burden of the tax payer. While this argument is valid, it must also be weighed on the additional load lifted off of the aging electric grid, the lessoning requirement for electrical plant equipment and personnel, etc. The tax incentives offered to consumers will greatly enhance the community.

Overall, it is truly a bipartisan effort for America to be energy independent. It also needs to be easy for consumers to go green. Solar panels need to be sold at Home Improvement Stores like lumber! Only then would Americans embrace solar quickly and affordably.