The push for alternative forms of energy has been felt stronger in the past few years than it ever has before.  With people such as Al Gore pushing a political agenda to lower carbon emissions and adapt a newer, cleaner fuel driven lifestyle, alternative energy sources have hit the forefront of environmental topics.  Politicians are pushing for energy reform namely by legislating the economy.  Many environmentalists and average people find these actions to be noble or at least acceptable to some measure.  However, is there any real justification for pushing legislation which would expediate the natural and inevitable development and implication of alternative sources of energy into society?  Many politicians want you to believe so, and their actions will pull directly out of every American’s pockets through taxes and would cause a disruption in the economy.  If we allow alternative energy to develop within the natural laws of economics, then the best and most reliable energies will become as standard in society as gasoline.

The benefits of establishing an alternative energy based society are innumerable, and it appears that the world is on the verge of making this transition.    Yet, what exactly is an alternative form of energy?  According to Paul Rosenberg, to be considered an acceptable form of alternative energy, five requirements must be met.  First, the energy must be of sufficient quality, especially if it’s seeking to replace oil or coal.  Second, it must be easily deliverable to the point of use.  Third, it must be readily available.  Fourth, it certainly must be affordable.  And finally, it must be cleaner than oil or coal in order to be beneficial to the environment as well as to be considered as a replacement for fossil fuels (1).  There are four ways to harness energy that are primarily being focused on; hydrogen, solar, geothermal, and wind energy.  All of these sources are renewable and don’t emit any sort of pollutant into the environment.  Hydrogen fuel, though still not mature enough to be incorporated into society, is proving to be the main fuel source of the future.  It is “pollution-free” and “carbon-free” and if its efficiency and affordability match that of oil-based products, then it will quickly be endorsed by governments around the globe (Brown 117).  Both wind and solar energy are also important energy sources of the future.  These are clean sources of energy, as they do not burn fuel and release harmful byproducts into the atmosphere.  Also, because they exist in nature, they are very abundant and as a result of their properties, nearly infinite.  As long as the sun burns and the wind blows, humans will have the ability to harvest these natural resources to our advantage.  Also, below the Earth’s surface, energy could be tapped and harnessed in order to provide energy for humanity.  This type of energy is known as geothermal energy.  Geothermal energy, much like solar and wind energy, is virtually infinite.  Therefore, we could use as much as it needed and never run out of it.  These reasons are why alternative energy sources are becoming popular.  They are clean and safe for the environment, but they also seem to have an edge over the slow decline of the oil and coal industries, which are proving to be far most costly than we have previously expected (Brown 100).  Yet, the cost of alternative fuels is crucial to their survival.  If they are not affordable, it really does not matter how clean or efficient the fuel is.  People simply won’t be interested in any new form of energy (Rosenberg 12).  In recent years, the United States federal government has stepped in and has begun to provide incentives for various states regarding the development of alternative fuels.  Grants, loans, tax incentives, rebates, and discounts are just a few of the incentives that are offered through the government (Incentives and Laws).  The only constraint on the further development and implementation of alternative fuels into society is its costliness.  Yet, what is more costly; alternative fuels or the environment?

Since the market is more of a controlling entity than humans could ever think they are, we should allow alternative fuels to be integrated into society under the control of the free market.  This will allow for the least number of people to become unemployed as well as incorporate the benefits of clean, efficient fuel into society.  If the theories of demand are correct, then alternative energy will be expensive and limited in its early stages.  However, once it begins to develop and more is produced, then the price will dramatically fall (Hubbard and O’Brien 66).  Since more alternative fuels will be affordable and readily available, two of the initial five requirements of an acceptable alternative fuel are already satisfied.  It is important to allow the market to take control of the issues concerning the energy industry.  In theory, the most affordable and efficient energy source will have to emerge because a vast majority of people will not purchase something that is more expensive than gasoline.  It wouldn’t make sense to expect an average person to switch to an expensive, alternative energy fueled vehicle simply because it’s better for the environment.  It makes far more sense to expect people to react to the market and the prices of various fuels whenever they are making the decision regarding what type of vehicle or house they should purchase.  As oil reserves become lower, the concept of demand will come into play again.  If there is a limited supply of oil, then the price of oil will go up (Hubbard and O’Brien 66).  It is important to focus on what is right in this issue.  It is right to let the market rearrange itself so that unemployment does not skyrocket and so that most humans have the ability to feed, clothe, and house themselves.

Though evidence suggests that human involvement in the Earth’s natural cycles tend to have a negative impact, it is important to analyze every aspect of the issue and uncover what is most important.  On one hand, it is important to protect the Earth and to create environmentally sound policies.  However, it is just as important to make sure that businesses are able to run and that people have jobs.  If the average worker cannot feed himself, he has no incentive to work any more (Hubbard and O’Brien 5).  This is the most important idea regarding environmental issues: incentive.  This is why the market must be given the chance to rectify human environmental damage.  If people are given an incentive to protect the environment or make purchases, they will do so.

Brown, Lester.  Eco-Economy.  New York: Norton, 2001.

Dresselhaus, M.S. and I.L. Thomas.  “Alternative energy technologies”.  November 11, 2001.  November 6, 2006.  http://moab.colorado.edu/GEOL1110/AlternativeEnergy.pdf

Hubbard, R. Glenn and Anthony Patrick O’Brien.  Macroeconomics.  Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2006.

“Incentives and Laws: State Summary”.  U.S. Department of Energy.  November 6, 2006.  http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/progs/in_matrx.cgi

Rosenberg, Paul. Alternative Energy Handbook.  Lilburn: Fairmont, 1993.