Leading energy companies are intent on pushing the world in the opposite direction, expanding fossil fuel production and insisting that there is no alternative. It is evidence that they are motivated not by record warming, but by record profits, experts say.
Yes, because oil companies are totally NOT spending millions of dollars fighting every possible movement, organization or act to hold them responsible for the damage they’re causing. Clearly, we just need to hold hands and everything will be solved!
Also, as an individual, you don’t choose whether the electricity you get comes from a gas power plant, hydro dam, coal or something else. You don’t get to choose whether the thing you’re eating was transported from a diesel truck or an electric vehicle. There are many, many steps before you get a final product that needed fossil energy
Actually, you can change your provider and chose more green provider. Also, if you own the house, you can put solar on your roof.
Maybe you can, but much of the world operates under effective utility monopolies. On your other point, how is that helpful when the average cost to do so is in the dozens of thousands of dollars, while the average American holds less than $1000 in savings?
When I was installing it on my house it costed me exactly 0$. Essentially the solar panel company rented my roof space installed panels there and sold me electricity. The cost of electricity was even cheaper for me, since there were no delivery charges.
Alternatively - take credit. While I have not done these calculations, it is plausible that you get even or even benefit from installing solar panels while taking credit (this would work better few years ago, when the rates were low)
I cannot change my energy provider. I cannot install solar either, because I live in an apartment. I can maybe put some cells outside my windows, but they’d only be effective for less than half the sunlight hours.
Even if solar was installed in the building I currently live in, we’d have to pay the energy provider for any excess electricity we generate into the grid. Yeah, it’s that fucked up where I live.
The world isn’t a copy of where you live.
Then the only thing which is left for you is voting and convincing other people to vote for representatives who can change these laws.
I do my part, but I don’t have the money to fight rich assholes and their seemingly endless supply of money financing bullshit arguments and political lobbying.
No I can’t. I have one option. One company. That’s it. And solar would cost me about $15,000. And that’s not counting a battery. Maybe you’re rich, but I’m not.
15K is not rich for US. It is 1/3 of a new car price ($46,290 in 2022). It might be not very doable for you, personally, but I bet that majority of households can afford this, especially since they will get free electricity after that, and if they truly worry about climate change. If not, then why do they require for oil companies to make financial sacrifices, but not for themselves (even if it is a sacrifice at all)?
People can’t even afford food right now because of inflation. 60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. They can’t afford solar panels either.
Some people, not all.
Yes, 60%. I just said that.
i.e. the majority.
That statistics might be true, but at the same time 90% of US households have at least one car, and about 60% have 2. Installing solar panels is roughly cash neutral or even positive depending on location. You can take a bank loan and install the panels and the payment back to bank will be comparable to savings you get from not paying for electricity.
Oh sure, that’s what Americans need. Even more debt. Great idea.