Does talk of conservation sound too much like Carter?

[Anonymous]

Is that why the politicians don't mention conservation?
Also, there is not enough talk about solar or wind. Does that sound too cookey to be an election topic?

[Anonymous]

The same reason that they don't talk about recycling.

It's not interesting/eye-opening/astonishing/headline-making to talk about conserving, but "scare" people about ice cap melting, polar bears drowning (from no glaciers), and super warm Gulf waters fueling hurricanes and you got yourself an audience.

As for solar and wind power - great in theory and on paper, not so practical and realistic upon application.
Not all places are ideal for wind power (where could the turbines be set up here in the DC area? Hawaii, on the other hand, is ideal) plus some argue that the environmental impact (of manufacturing the metal, interupting bird migration, etc.) outweighs the energy benefits. Solar panels are expensive (we got an estimate which was 10K to put solar panels on our roof).

[Anonymous]

I heard that use of renewables where applicable (wind in the coastal areas and wind belt, solar down south) plus geothermal would make a big dent.
My mother uses a solar swimming pool and hot water heater in FL. Her bills are zero, with a start up of 4k (10 years ago). Her neighbors still use gas! In a place that is always hot and sunny, you would use gas?