Money. GWB’s largest campaign contributors come from the energy sector. The Carlyle Group, of which Bush Sr is a member, is heavily invested in oil, especially in Saudi Arabia.

Investment in alternative fuels would require rethinking the oil company written national energy policy. It is impossible for BushCo to rethink anything. Rethinking something would imply that mistakes had been made.

Thee Staple King – all sexist comments aside, the government already subsidizes the record profit-earning oil companies.

The 2005 energy bill dedicates more than $8.5 billion in tax breaks over the next 10 years to oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear power, and electric utilities. After the bill was out of committee, our friend Mr. DeLay snuck in a $1.5 billion fund designed to funnel taxpayer money to oil and gas companies, with some $1 billion of the fund to be administered by a private consortium composed largely of — you guessed it — oil and gas companies. Coincidentally (cough), the consortium is based in DeLay’s home district in Sugar Land, Texas.

As for solar and wind power, plus conservation and efficiency initiatives, over the next 10 years they’d collectively see about $4.3 million a year (yes, million not billion) in tax breaks.

Well come on now…Silly questions from the left coast. Why is the job of the govt. to look for alteranative fuels? Why do we, as taxpayers, have to help fund such research? Is not the way a free market society operates involve LESS govt.? If you, me or anyone wants to get into the alterantive fuels market, then we..have the right to invest money, speculate that consumers want out product, create the product, advertise market and distribute the product…Then if it actually works and makes money…..thats about the time Liberal politicians want to get involved and tax you back to poverty… Ill stick with good ole black gold, oil that is…..

ps…but you are more than welcome to start up michelles house of fuel and im sure people will line up for miles…if it comes with bikini car wash haha

He has been supporting energy reform. It isn’t getting done in congress.

Now oil prices are going down. The same way they aways do when ever there is intrest in alternitives. George Washington Carver(The former Slave) Invented Bio Mass fuels. The oil companies responded with lower costs.

The question is what have you done to support alteratives?
Do you own a flex fuel car? HyBreds Don’t count.

Good point Bush likes the oil companies ’cause they give him kick backs

The alternative fuel solution will be provided by private industry, not government. As yet, hybrid vehicles have not lived up to their hype, and ethanol really reduces gas mileage.

PLEASE, don’t think that anything Jimmy Carter did in relation to energy is a possible solution. I am barely old enough to remember the days when my parents had to wake up at 4:00 on a Saturday morning just to be first in the gas line. I hope we never return to that.

alternative fuel sources are great but getting the funds for them is hard…it is very costly to start the programs

The problem with the government financing this sort of thing is it ends up being used as a way to reward people loyal to the party, that goes for both parties. Nothing gets done with the money and the tax payers end up holding the bag.
The price of oil is actually set by commodity traders and by supply and demand. The only way the OPEC countries can raise prices is by cutting output.
Alternative energy is already being used in this country in the form of nuclear power. We should build more reactors but it is a political and emotional issue instead of a common sense one. More forms of alternative energy on a large scale will eventually show up as market forces make them cost effective.

This question would have made more sense before I bought gas for 1.94, this morning.

Why bring up Carter? IF he did such a great job, where are these alternatives he got started? Why are we still dependent upon oil?

Don’t you recall ALL the speeches given by President Bush about conservation and research in to alternative fuels?

Personally, I think we should tax the crap out of gas and use that money to get alternative fuels on track. That along with free-market entrepreneurship will get things going.

We are using ethanol…good or bad….it is an alternative.

Also, I believe the administration said that they feared the drop in gas prices was going to deter conservation and investment in alternative fuels.

I think your question shows a lack of information on the topic. Whoever you are listening to has an agenda other than just sharing the facts. College professor or high school teacher, perhaps?

We got no oil during Jimmy’s bright idea. I was there and in those damn lines or saw the NO GAS TODAY signs at the gas stations, so don’t talk about Jimmy Carter. I had to live though that moron. Just because you don’t that see the initiative up in your face it does not mean we aren’t supporting it. Do some research. You should know by now that anything good will not be reported in the freaking media, so you are on your own to find it.

Well Michele apparently you think of yourself as a genuis, all knowing and correct. Sooooooo Why don’t you back up your statement, lack of initiative….on alternative fuel research. Prove your point or stop yourself from making a fool out of yourself. The ball is in your court and we’re all watching and waiting……Use your EDIT*….if you can…

EDIT* – Oh I’m sorry dear. The Carter plan worked??? You are apparently too young to know the truth. We had huge increases in gas prices and there were lines down every street waiting to buy gas. Explain the rationing issue as well. Ya see, you don’t have a clue, do you.

EDIT* Doncha just hate it when a Liberal spouts-off with no knowledge about the topic, is clearly proven wrong with simple facts accessible to anyone, and then hides like a coward. Turn on the lights and the cock-roaches go runnin’.

I think it’s about equal to the past several administrations.

Why don’t you nutcase libs let us drill in Anwar so we are less dependent on foreign oil for now and can spend our resources DEVELOPING alternative fuels?