Each time there was a good reason to develop alternative energy (at least in the U.S.) there was some reason not to. That is, we were told alternative energy didn't make sense, there really wasn't an oil shortage or whatever. Well, I think I just woke up.

In the past, people switching to alternative energy sources would have meant a great loss of control. What if, for example, people could economically meet their energy needs rather than having to purchase energy every month? Someone might get a one-time profit but that would be the end of Mr. Average American as an ongoing customer. This could be the case whether that new source was solar panels or a nuke in the basement.

Well, the U.S. has shifted from a manufacturing economy to a financial services economy. That is, more money is handled by moving paper around than actually making anything. Note that I said handled, not made. Moving paper around does not produce any money, it just changes who has it. Or, more accurately, where there appears to be money because, of course, those pieces of paper really aren't money either.

As I write about alternative energy and such, I watch the Google adsense ads that show up. I used to see ads about producing energy from alternative sources. Now I am seeing more ads about financing such systems. Click! How logical. If your main business is moving paper around, when someone wants something real, you just need to figure out how to turn their need (for something you don't make) into an income stream.

Note that a lot of solar PV panels are still produced in the U.S. But, for how much longer? China has been ramping up production and even today, Chinese panels are now cheaper than U.S. made ones.