Energy Alternatives: The Time Is Now

Don't you get the feeling that given the hostilities with Iran, Venezuela, Iraq and now the UAE (because of the collapse of the ports deal) we're about to find ourselves in a historic energy squeeze?

While the government seems entirely focused on oil, there are lots of companies exploring alternatives. Some we hear about at the edges of the news Soy Bean Oil Car. Many are proved to be hoaxes or are never substantiated. But many others continue.

Apparently a NJ company called Blacklight Power has been discussed and dismissed as a hoax here in the past. But they seem to be continuing just the same and there are some independent scientists coming forward vetting at least some of the company's claims:

Article about Blacklight Power and other Alternatives

Independent Work


There's also alot of information on the comapny's website:

Blacklight Power


I feel we are now at a point historically where we need to act. The instability that's on the horizon could significantly impact this country and much of the world and it won't be pretty. If there are promising alternatives we need to do everything we can to push them forward post haste. If we have learned anything at all from recent history is that we cannot, as a people, rely on our government. The momentum needs to come from us and from private industry.

What can we do to push these technologies forward? There isn't a whole lot of time.




[edit on 10-3-2006 by jtma508]

War over Middle Eastern oil was inevitable. It was just a matter of time. And the UAE? There's no conflict there. They would be shooting themselves in the feet... hands... chest... if they got any more than huffy puffy with us. They need us. Badly. They cut and walked away from the ports deal keeping their existing relations intact rather than letting us completely cut them off.

There's nothing that can be done "right now." It must be gradual. Even if some revolutionary form of transportational energy was developed tomorrow, it would take 15-20 years or longer to fully migrate. Fact is, nothing will come to the open market unless it is decently profitable.

That's largely my point. We had our first major energy crisis back in the '70s. The price of gas skyrocketed, there was rationing, gas lines, some violence and the economy took a major hit. There was alot of talk about alternative fuels and many gas stations started offering Gasahol. That was 30yrs ago. Think where we would be today if we had used that 30yrs to push forward alternatives. If we had really gotten behind research and development as a nation.

Again, it is evident that our government is entirely focused on oil. It has little REAL interest or motivation in moving away from oil. It's left to us to make this happen. As a nation we actually do have the power to force this change. We just need to make it happen. And if we don't do it soon we may be forever and truly screwed.


[edit on 11-3-2006 by jtma508]

Here is an Article you might be interested in.

Are we there yet? (There being the tipping point of Alt Energy)

Greetings Fellow Believers,

If you recall (risking showing your age) the oil-scare in the 70s wasn't real. The hype was only psychological in nature--perpetuated by the media to scare United States consumers to believe that there was a crisis.

The fear could have been leveraged by Middle East interests. However, look for the facts yourselves.

OPEC is only one global consortium. Do not blame the UAE.

Jack... your point is well taken. However, it doesn't matter what "is". What matters is what is perceived. If people think there's a shortage and react accordingly there is a shortage. My point is simply that there are viable alternatives that have not been responsibly developed. Sure, maybe bio-diesel fuels (like the soy bean oil car) can't completely replace oil but it should be evident that it could potentially replace enough oil to completely change the political dyanamic associated with the oil trade. Here are some facts: Bio-Diesel

And what about companies like BlackLight Power? Shouldn't we be forcing these kinds of developments to the forefront to either vet them as potential solutions or discard them as distractions? We put important, promising drugs on the fast track why not energy technologies?

The oil economy evolved from oil that was inexpensive, readily available and easy to get --- relatively speaking of course. Well that was then. Now it isn't inexpensive and the cost will continue to rise, it's becoming less available, more difficult to extract and interwoven with world politics that are quite unlikely to improve for a very, very long time.

We need multiple alternatives and we need them quickly.