What are some of the barriers to sensible energy policy and sustainability? There are many:

	Legislative Barrier: The need is not seen or understood. Continuous short term view

	NIMBY Barrier: Many things are now unnacceptable to the public who continues to act only in their own self-interest

	Ignorance Barrier: The public doesn`t understand the need to invest in alternative energy sources now.

	Industry Barrier: Economics of alternative energy are not well understood, can industry make a profit? If not then their smokestacks will stop. Who decides to give up jobs for sustainability considerations?

	Capital Cost Barrier: Without government subsidies, some facilities just can't get built

	Uncertainty Barrier: Will new technology come along and obsolete what has been done? Do we just have to wait to be "saved" by fusion, or a better mousetrap?

	Environmental Barrier: The perception of "damage" to the environment greatly exceeds the actual risk. Whatever alternative is proposed a self-interest group will arise to veto it

	Energy Storage Barrier: All forms of alternative energy require efficient and reliable energy storage to compenesate for low duty cycle. We are still awaiting a technical breakthru here.

Breaking Down These Barriers:

• Legislative: Difficult, traditional energy providers are a powerful lobby --> employment issues are very important --> does the alternative energy field give enough jobs? Will the product be affordable for the consumer?

• NIMBY Barrier: --> I have No Clue!

• Ignorance Barrier: Use the WWW, clue the public in! Reducate Joe Six pack! Unless the population is better educated, there seems to be little hope for progess.

• Industry Barrier: This is difficult, several new startup companies in the energy generation field are required, many will fail. Taxing fossil fuel use as a means of subsidizing these startup companies would be a good idea.

• Capital Cost Barrier: --> Your congress at work. Only TAX breaks and low interest loans can solve this one.

• Uncertainty Barrier: --> this can never be solved, just pick something and go with it but its important to remain flexible and modular

• Environmental Barrier: --> Shoot the Media! Poor media reporting (in particular, total failure to articulate a global view) combined with NIMFBY is a real problem.

• Energy Storage Barrier: --> again a sizeable investment needs to be made in energy storage technology. In the area of batteries, this at least is recognized and progess is being made.

Seizing the Initiative:

• Public cooperation, change of conscience and habit?
• legislation at the local level (Eugene is a fossil-free zone)
• Legislation at the state level --> California will clearly be the leader here
• Legislation at the Federal Level --> probably unconstitutional so we need another FDR to just do stuff, unconstitutional or not

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