Free energy suppression

Free energy suppression is a conspiracy theory which states that advanced technology which would allow us to better meet our energy needs exists today but is being suppressed by special interest groups to whom the status quo is advantageous.

The theory holds that perpetual motion machines or other devices capable of extracting significant and usable power from pre-existing energy reservoirs for little or no cost, are possible, but are being suppressed ^[1][2][3][4]by governments^[5] and special interest groups (such as the oil/petroleum industry^[6]) and that suppression has been going on for some time.^[7] There are also individuals that claim that certain extraterrestrial technologies are suppressed by national governments around the globe from researchers.^[8] According to energy suppression conspiracy advocates, the main motive behind this is the preservation of the economic status quo and sustained increase of fuel prices. Variations on the energy suppression conspiracy state that free energy cannot be allowed in a capitalist system because it would break down if it was introduced.

Many free energy claims, such as extracting zero point energy, are demonstrably impossible under modern science^{[citation needed]}. Conspiracy advocates therefore claim that the scientific community has controlled and suppressed research into alternative avenues of energy production via the institutions of peer review. Other claimed means of suppression include buying the patent of the free energy device from the inventor or his family, suing the inventor or patent holder, and even murdering the inventors of free energy devices or associated efficiency technologies.^[9]. This conspiracy theory goes back to at least the 1930s, when Thomas Henry Moray claimed that he and his family had been threatened and shot at on several occasions and his lab ransacked to stop his claimed free energy research and public demonstrations. No evidence has been provided for any of these claims.

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Theory analysis

The standard rebuttal to the theory is that these devices are absent in the market because they do not work. In the case of such concepts as perpetual motion or extracting zero point energy, basic physics dictates that they cannot work. Claimed positive results are due to poor experimental controls.

With respect to physically possible technology being suppressed, economic arguments hold. Various energy commodities are in some form of competition in the market place, with oil, coal, and natural gas in competition with known renewable energy methods. Any truly effective free energy technology would provide vastly more benefit if widely employed than if kept secret.

The American TV show MythBusters has examined some claimed free energy sources. All of the tried methods failed.^[10] Several other reports have been exposed as hoaxes and scams.^{[11][12][13][14][15][16][17]} Conspiracy advocates claim these represent attempted suppression. However, governments have not imprisoned individuals for research concerning solar cells, windmills, and geothermal energy production, nor have they closed down research centers investigating such topics. The United States government, the European Union and the Japanese have invested some amount of resources in developing alternative sources of energy, typically with the goal of gaining energy independence and a competitive market edge

The usual claimed justification for alleged suppression is to maintain the current economic system. But from an economics perspective, the existence of free goods contradicts the idea that free or very cheap energy would destroy a market economy. Air and water, necessary raw materials in many processes, are available to anyone at no cost except transport and storage. Furthermore, if energy were in fact free, then there would still be charges for costs of delivering that energy to the end user in conventional transmission lines. In many parts of the world, water is free in the sense that anyone can pull it out of a river; purifying and delivering it, however, has profit potential. Moreover, according to established economic theories, significantly lowered energy costs would result in increased economic growth, since the costs of producing goods and services would drop. "Free energy" would produce a fast growing economy and enable huge economic growth.^[18] Increased economic growth from lowered energy costs has occurred before: raw material and resource commodities (notably coal, aluminum, textiles, and labor) dropped in price as a consequence of the industrial revolution. Generally, when a resource becomes cheap, other economic sectors absorb the loss, or new demands will be created.

Gary McKinnon

Further information: Gary McKinnon

Between 2001 and 2002, Gary McKinnon carried out what has been described as being the "biggest ever military computer hack" in history^[19] when he gained access to 97 computer systems belonging to the US military and other government bodies, claiming to have seen designs for free energy devices (specifically, zero-point energy devices), and other potentially beneficial technologies. ^[20] No evidence for his claims has been provided.

See also

• Rudolf Diesel, whose death may have provided the template for rumours of free energy suppression
• Great American Streetcar Scandal
• History of perpetual motion machines.
• Unlimited energy in science fiction.

References and external articles

Citations and notes