Alternative energy isn’t reliable yet

I remember standing in lines during the Arab oil embargo of the 1970s on those odd and even days and thinking, there has got to be a better way. And these last 50 years I have been wondering why this country has not been able to develop alternative cleaner fuels so we do not have to depend on anyone else for our energy.

I have realized over time that nothing in technology is developed without a foundation that was based on past research, meaning that you can’t get to step 3 until you have developed steps 1 and 2.

I have solar panels on my roof but not a storage battery because they are expensive and not the best yet.

The problem with any alternative form of energy is that the excess needs to be stored for use when the sun does not shine and the wind does not blow. If a community depends on solar power and the sun doesn’t shine that day, how are you going to charge up your electric vehicles overnight, or heat or cool your homes? Where do people who promote electric vehicles think the electricity comes from, out of nowhere?

Until batteries and other technologies to store electricity are developed that are efficient and reliable, solar and wind will not be reliable forms of energy for this country and for all of us to depend on.

Shari Yudenfreund-Sujka Winter Park