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Over the years, efforts have been made to reduce the use of fossil fuels. Solar power, a renewable energy source, may possibly be one of the best technological advances of this century in order to resolve the problems associated with our dwindling fuel supply. While solar energy has already been developed and even in use in some areas of the world, the United States has yet to fully execute this initiative. In the 1980s, campaigns by utility and oil companies argued that solar power is impractical and not cost effective. Unfortunately, the fossil fuel lobbyists succeeded and the federal government ended incentive programs for renewable energy. The 1990s continued to discourage the use of solar power largely in part by the relatively low (conventional) energy prices. So now, in the 21st century, when energy prices are beginning to climb again, we should be looking more seriously into the possibilities of alternative energy, and moving with intent toward sustainability. The major problems facing the use of renewable resources are those of economic and social barriers. Renewable resources tend to be capital intensive, so often compare unfavorably in cost terms with existing fossil sources, especially when operating in a privatized energy market. Open markets tend to favor a fast return on capital which acts against most renewable energy sources which are capital intensive, and often need significant development work.
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