|
The problem is that like with gasoline, we here in the US continue to fail to pay the true cost for the energy we use until something like the spill in Gulf of Mexico occurs. Now, just like with the Valdeze, the oil company is again hemming and hawing on responsibility, exempted from liability over $75M, and likely to drag out any judgements against it for decades. In the interim, we the tax payer get to cover the cost - and will probably never be rightfully repaid for their careless profit mongering.
As with Valdeze, the highest costs of this incident will be borne by the local population in the form of increased pollution, poor health, and a damaged economy.
My point is, that like with oil, we the taxpayer are subsidizing other forms of energy; Sources like coal and nuclear plants with their own legacy of poisoning our planet for a few extra watts. If we paid what those sources really cost us every month, every one of us would be using as much low wattage lighting as we could.
|