by Daniel J. Gansle

Created on: April 17, 2008

On December 18, 2007, President G.W. Bush signed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act which, among other initiatives, specifies a six-fold increase in the production of ethanol to 36 billion gallons by the year 2022. The problem? While ethanol may help wean nations off foreign oil, it also increases the price of food worldwide as corn, soybeans, and sugar are used for fuel. In turn, it leads to increased hunger, not to mention global warming.

I believe the government should subsidize renewable energy sources, but it should be very discerning about which ones are the most eco-friendly and efficient. For example, let's take wind energy.

The State of Texas, well recognized for its historical role in oil production, is now experiencing a new energy boom: only the energy in question isn't bubbling up from wells in the ground, it's being generated from huge wind turbines whirring and humming their way to energy independence. The ecological impact of wind energy is minimal and includes some cases of avian bird deaths and erosion.

Solar power is another clean renewable that should be increasingly subsidized by the government, particularly in the area of nanotechnology. Imagine one day the paint on your entire electric car is manufactured with tiny nano-solar collectors. Imagine if all paint everywhere; on buildings, homes, streets, rooftops, and buses; contained these tiny nano-solar collectors. While it may sound fantastic, it is possible; and increased government subsidies in this area would help speed along research and development.

Yet another alternative energy that is becoming increasingly popular is tidal stream. Essentially, tidal stream is a wind turbine that sits on the ocean floor, collecting electricity by harnessing tidal currents in much the same way that a wind turbine harnesses wind. Tidal stream is yet another example of a clean, eco-friendly renewable.

In summary, the government should most certainly subsidize renewable energy sources. In doing so, it performs its duty of protecting the American people and setting us on a course of energy independence. However, it must be very careful about which renewables it chooses to subsidize, ensuring not only energy independence but also the health and well-being of the environment.

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