Free energy suppression

Free energy suppression is a conspiracy theory that claims that advanced technology that would reshape current electrical generation methods is being suppressed by special interest groups. These groups are usually related to the oil industry, to whom current energy generation technology is profitable.

Description

In this context, the term "free energy" is not well-defined, and should not be confused with thermodynamic free energy. Generally, it is used to refer to purported transformative technologies which have the potential to dramatically reduce personal energy costs with relatively little capital investment.

Many free energy claims, such as perpetual motion or extracting zero point energy, are impossible according to currently accepted physical laws.cite book | last = Gribbin | first = John | title = Q is for Quantum - An Encyclopedia of Particle Physics | publisher = Touchstone Books | year = 1998 | id = ISBN 0-684-86315-4] Others, such as cold fusion, while not impossible, are not accepted as established by the scientific community. 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. [citation |last=Sarewitz |year=2002 |title=Public Failures in US Science Policy |page=12 |quote=as the paradigmatic means of choosing among research projects and, more recently, programmatic awards and grants for new research centers and national science and engineering facilities, sometimes has the effect of suppressing consideration of public values]

In addition, some claim that perpetual motion machines or other devices capable of extracting significant and usable power from pre-existing energy reservoirs for little or no cost exist but are being suppressedFrissell, Bob (2002), "Nothing in this book is true, but it's exactly how things are: Esoteric meaning of the monuments of Mars", Frog Ltd, ISBN 1583940677] Mad Macz (2002), "Internet Underground: The way of the hacker", PageFree Publishing, Inc. ISBN 1930252536] David Alison (1994), "Another free-energy cover-up?: The Dennis Lee Story", Nexus Magazine, (June-July 1994)] ["Free Energy - A Reality Not a Conspiracy". (Video) Time frame 00:35 - 00:45.] by governments and special interest groups (such as the fossil fuel and nuclear industry),Charles D. Jaco, "The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Politics of Oil". Politics of Energy, Page 191 - 198] and that suppression has been going on for some time.Tutt (2003), "The Scientist, The Madman, The Thief and Their Lightbulb: The Search for Free Energy". ] 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 the system would break down if it were introduced.

Only small parts of evidence have ever been presented for free energy suppression, and the basic premises of the theory are flawed according to mainstream physics (see "Theory analysis" section).

Proponents of this conspiracy theory also claim that certain renewable technologies (such as solar cellsSolar development cooperative/smith's amended, motion of notice of intent to claim compensation, Solar development cooperative 'Lighting the Way With Creation’s Original Remedy', Corona del Mar, CA 92625 July 19, 1999. Retrieved April 2007. [http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=3&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.geocities.com%2FEureka%2F1905%2FAMENDEDNOI.doc&ei=JbYmRsepNJv0iAGav7nGCg&usg=AFrqEzcCY33_r96zQdk0Ju48-epJ1AMOMA&sig2=nxUh7KRMfoU4IfrPCMnfwQ Original location, http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/1905/AMENDEDNOI.doc] (ed., there was a notice of intent decision at [http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/Published/Final_decision/1792-01.htm#P29_1614 cpuc.ca.gov] ) [cf., "Enron-Amoco began using Solarex patents to sue major American PV leaders that attempted to evolve new or innovative PV applications or technologies in this nation"] ] and biofuels) and other efficient technologies (as electric vehicles) are being suppressedEric Lerner, " [http://www.progressiveengineer.com/PEWebBackissues2002/PEWeb%2028%20Jul%2002-2/28editor.htm Stop the Suppression of an Alternative Energy Source!] ". Progressive Engineer.] or weakened by governments Paul Ballonoff, " [http://books.google.com/books?id=ONmpxiQUa8oC Energy: Ending the Never-Ending Crisis] ". (ed., The book states that governmental energy regulation only help special-interest groups at the cost of energy consumers.) ] and special interest groups.Richard A. Smith, "Interest Group Influence in the U. S. Congress". Legislative Studies Quarterly, Vol. 20, No. 1 (Feb., 1995), pp. 89-139 doi 10.2307/440151]

Alternative and free energy research is typically considered to be pseudo-scientific or unrealistic by the scientific community. Conspiracy theorists allege that this is a deliberate attempt by conspirators to suppress this research. There are various other factors which can prevent funding of some alternative energy development, such as "time and information" and capital costs. [Weinberg (1979) "Are the alternative energy strategies achievable".] Groups behind "the conspiracy" have been said to include various national governments, international automakers, and the petroleum industry. An article in Nexus magazine claims:"The spread of working free-energy technologies has been prevented by wealthy elites governments, deluded inventors and con men, as well as a non-demanding public". [ [http://www.nexusmagazine.com/articles/freeenergy.html Where in the World is all the Free Energy?] , Nexus magazine, V8#4 (2007-06/07]

Theory analysis

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. In 1979 Carter installed solar panels on the roof of the White House and said he was going to: "move our nation toward true energy security and abundant, readily available energy supplies." [http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/greenblog/2008/06/jimmy_carters_solar_panels_hel_1.html Jimmy Carter's solar panels help power a Maine college, then star in film -The Green Blog - A Boston Globe blog on living Green in Boston ] at www.boston.com] In 1986, President Ronald Reagan took the solar panels down when the White House roof was being "repaired".

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. To the contrary National Renewable Energy Laboratory employs many such researchers and is dedicated to alternative energy research with select energy projects being conducted at other national labs such as Los Alamos National Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The United States government (DOE, NSF, DOD, and others), the European Union and the Japanese have invested 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. 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.

Alleged suppression history

In the "history of free energy", some have attempted to construct means of overunity energy production and suffered specific instances of alleged suppression. Inventors have used other various terms to describe their inventions including free energy devices, mechanisms, or formulas.

The conspiracy theory holds that certain renewable technologies (such as solar cells, [http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/1905/AMENDEDNOI.doc. Solar development cooperative/smith's amended] , motion of notice of intent to claim compensation, Solar development cooperative 'Lighting the Way With Creation’s Original Remedy', Corona del Mar, CA 92625 July 19, 1999.] which are a type of renewable free energy technology) and other efficient technologies, capable of tapping into reserves of energy, that could provide energy at reduced cost to consumers, reduce pollution levels, or increase energy/fuel efficiency, exists, but is being suppressed [J Struben, J Sterman, " [http://esd.mit.edu/wps/esd-wp-2006-06.pdf Transition challenges for alternative fuel vehicle and transportation systems ] ". esd.mit.edu.] by governments [Herman Daly, " [http://dieoff.org/page88.htm Steady-state economics] ". dieoff.org. (cf., The largest resource owner, the government, has followed a give-away and low price policy, both on resources it owns and on those, such as natural gas, whose price it regulates (Energy Policy Project, 1974, Chapter 11). It has done this to favor certain capitalists, to promote growth, and to ease the labor-capital conflict and win votes in both camps.).] [ [http://www.phact.org/e/dennis2.html Examining claims by Dennis Lee of UCSA BWT & ITEC that the government suppresses inventors] . phact.org.] and special interest groups (such as the oil/petroleum industry) and that suppression has been going on for some time. There are also individuals that claim that certain extraterrestrial technologies are suppressed by national governments around the globe from researchers.Eaton, Barry (2007-04-06). [http://radiooutthere.com/blog/?p=9 Program 121] , Discussion covering the oil industry and the free energy conspiracy in the context of the disclosure movement, Radio Out There (2007-04-13)] According to the energy suppression conspiracy, the main motive behind this is the preservation of the economic status quo and sustained increase of fuel prices. Peter LindemannLindemann is an author, inventor, and researcher of energy alternatives] has stated that a "energy revolution" could occur, but “ [...] "unless something really changes on the social or political or economic level, the technology is irrelevant; it will not be allowed to happen".”J Manning (1996), "The Coming Energy Revolution".] 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. Nikola Tesla stated, when asked if the principle of his worldwide wireless system of "free energy" would upset the dominant economic system, "It is badly upset already". [Nikola Tesla, "Tesla harnesses cosmic energy". Philadelphia Public Ledger, November 2, 1933. (cited in: Margaret Cheney, et. al., "Tesla, Master of Lightning". Page 142.)]

Nikola Tesla

In June 1902, Tesla moved his laboratory operations from his Houston Street laboratory to Wardenclyffe. However, in 1903, when the tower structure was near completion, it was still not yet functional due to last-minute design changes. Tesla intended for the tower to demonstrate how the ionosphere could be used to provide free electricity to everyone without the need for power lines. Morgan, who could not foresee any financial gain from providing free electricity to everyone, balked. Construction costs eventually exceeded the money provided by J. P. Morgan, and additional financiers were reluctant to come forward. [When Morgan wanted to know "Where can I put the meter?", Tesla had no answer. Tesla's vision of free power did not agree with Morgan's worldview; nor would it pay for the maintenance of the transmission system.] By July 1904, Morgan (and the other investors) finally decided they would not provide any additional financing. Morgan also encouraged other investors to avoid the project. In May 1905, Tesla's patents on alternating current motors and other methods of power transmission expired, halting royalty payments and causing a severe reduction of funding to the Wardenclyffe Tower. In an attempt to find alternative funding, Tesla advertised the services of the Wardenclyffe facility, but he met with little success. By this time, Tesla had also designed the Tesla turbine at Wardenclyffe and produced Tesla coils for sale to various businesses.

Soon after Tesla's death, the FBI instructed the government's Alien Property Custodian office to take possession of his papers and property, despite his US citizenship. His safe was also opened. After the FBI was contacted by the War Department, his papers were declared to be top secret. The personal effects were seized on the advice of presidential advisers; J. Edgar Hoover declared the case most secret, because of the nature of Tesla's inventions and patents. [Hoover, John Edgar, et al., [http://foia.fbi.gov/foiaindex/tesla.htm FOIA FBI files] , 1943.]

However, the likely cause for the seizure of Teslas' documents was that he had been working on the teleforce weapon, or death ray, that he had unsuccessfully marketed to the US War Department - not because of his work on free energy devices which had ended eleven years earlier.

Tomas Henry Moray

In the 1930s, Thomas Henry Moray reported that he and his family had been threatened and shot at on several occasions and his lab ransacked to stop his free energy research and public demonstrations. The 1975 book "The Sun Betrayed" claimed solar energy production was being suppressed by the US governmental bureau allocated to help its development. [Ray Reece, "The Sun Betrayed", page 14-15]

Wilhelm Reich

Wilhelm Reich claimed the existence of "Orgone energy" - a bioenergetic extrapolation of the Freudian concept of libido. Reich's ideas were quickly denounced in the American press [Mildred Brady, The New Cult of Sex & Anarchy, article in "The New Republic" printed 1947] as a "cult of sex and anarchy". Following widespread outrage, the FDA successfully sought an injunction to prevent Reich from making claims relating to orgone. [cite web|url=http://www.orgone.org/wr-vs-usa/wr40319d.htm|title=DECREE OF INJUNCTION ORDER (MARCH 19, 1954)] When he defied the order, Reich was jailed and the FDA destroyed all of his books relating to orgone. [ [http://www.orgone.org/wr-vs-usa/wr40319d.htm DECREE OF INJUNCTION ORDER (USA vs Wilhelm Reich) by JUDGE CLIFFORD MARCH 19, 1954 - USA vs WILHELM REICH 1954-1957 ] at www.orgone.org] cite book | author=Gardner, Martin | title=Fads and Fallacies in the name of Science | publisher=Dover | year=1952 | chapter=Chapter 21: Orgonomy] [cite book | author=Gardner, Martin | title=On the Wild Side |publisher=Prometheus Books] [Lugg, A. (1987). "Bunkum, Flim-Flam and Quackery: Pseudoscience as a Philosophical Problem." Dialectica, 41(3), 221-230.]

tanley Meyer

Stanley Meyer produced nine patents relating to his water powered car. Following his sudden death, an autopsy showed that he died of a cerebral aneurysm. [cite news
last = Narciso
first = Dean
url= http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2007/07/08/hydroman.ART_ART_07-08-07_A1_4V77MOK.html
title= The Car that Ran on Water
work = The Columbus Dispatch
date = July 8, 2007
accessdate = 2008-03-24] Meyer's supporters continue to claim that he was assassinated by 'Big Oil', Arab death squads, Belgian assassins or the US Government.cite web
url=http://waterpoweredcar.com/stanmeyer.html
title=Water Powered Car report on Meyer's death
accessdate = 2008-03-24 states (as of January 2007):: "It was a shame to hear that he was poisoned .... He died in the parking lot of a restaurant in his home town of Grove City, Ohio. Sharks came a week later and stole the dune buggy and all of his experimental equipment, according to his brother, Steve. Stan said while he was alive, that he was threatened many times and would not sell out to Arab Oil Corp."] cite web
last= Ball
first=Philip
authorlink = Philip Ball
title=Burning water and other myths
url= http://www.nature.com/news/2007/070910/full/070910-13.html
work= Nature News
date= September 14, 2007
accessdate= 2007-09-14
quote=He died in 1998 after eating at a restaurant; the coroner diagnosed an aneurysm, but the conspiracy web still suspects he was poisoned.] [ [http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/export-content/sites/dispatch/multimedia/audio/2007/07/Robinette.mp3] Lieutenant Steven Robinette of the Grove City Police Department talks about the investigation into Stanley Meyer's death. Robinette was in charge of the detective bureau at that time. quote: "The one thing that was based on science."] However, Meyer's patents are readily available online, and his many supporters continue to discuss his ideas at great length on the Internet. So any attempt at suppression appears to have been fruitless. [US patent|5149407,US patent|4936961,US patent|4826581,US patent|4798661,US patent|4613779,US patent|4613304,US patent|4465455,US patent|4421474,US patent|4389981]

Tom Bearden

In spite of the difficulties and delays in bringing the MEG to market, Tom Bearden maintains that a number of free energy technologies have been available for well over a century, yet have been actively suppressed by government or private interests.

Bearden and his colleagues have proposed a simple modification to the magnetic Wankel engine (Takahashi Motor [ [http://www.cheniere.org/images/takahashi%20article.jpgArticle in The Sunday Times, 1995: "'Accident' in lab creates super motor."] ] ) which he claims would deliver "over-unity performance" through asymmetrical regauging.He believes that this technology is known, and suppressed, by the Japanese. [ [http://www.cheniere.org/misc/wankel.htm The Magnetic Wankel Engine] (retrieved 6 August 2007)]

He has repeatedly expressed his belief that the key to over-unity systems was present in theoriginal form of Maxwell's Equations, and this potential was realized by Nikola Tesla; however, he claims that part of the equations were deliberately suppressed in their vectorization by Heaviside and Lorentz in the late 19th century. Bearden claims this was orchestrated by industrialist J.P. Morgan, in order toprotect his oil interests [Tom Bearden, " [http://www.cheniere.org/correspondence/050207.htm Correspondence 050207] ", Date: Wed, 2 May 2007 00:07:54 -0500]

He claims that "nuclear power plant consortium" has worked to "ruthlessly suppress" cold fusion, and further that this consortium "is almost certainly to blame for the murder of Gene Mallove, the main proponent and activist for cold fusion". [Tom Bearden, " [http://www.cheniere.org/correspondence/011105.htm Correspondence 011105] , Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2005 11:14 AM]

He has hypothesized that the [http://www.wbtv.com/home/11188186.html death of Arie M. DeGeus] inCharlotte, North Carolina was actually a murder carried out to suppress his development ofa "self-powering battery" . [Tom Bearden " [http://www.cheniere.org/articles/Coincidence%20or%20Suppression%20of%20the%20Self-Powering%20Battery%202.doc A Curious Coincidence] ", "posted on his website", 2007]

Bearden has published no evidence for any of these claims.

Gary McKinnon

Between 2001 and 2002, Gary McKinnon carried out what has been described as being the "biggest ever military computer hack" in historyCampbell, Duncan (04-04-07), "Hacker faces US justice after extradition appeal fails", The Guardian] 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 that the US government has suppressed. [http://www.wired.com/news/technology/internet/0,71182-0.html?tw=rss.technology "UFO Hacker" Tells What He Found] , Wired News, 21 June 2006] No evidence for his claims has been provided. McKinnon's appeals against extradition to the United States in both the United Kingdom and the European Court of Human Rights have been unsuccessful, and he is due to be extradited in early September 2008. [cite news
author=
title=Hacker loses extradition appeal
date=2008-07-30
work=BBC News
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7532713.stm
accessdate=2008-08-05] [ [http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/cybercrime/mckinnonIndict.htm usdoj.gov, London, England Hacker Indicted Under Computer Fraud and Abuse Act For Accessing Military Computers] ] [cite news
author=
title=Hacker loses extradition appeal
date=2008-08-28
work=BBC News
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7585861.stm
accessdate=2008-08-28]

Cold fusion

Researchers in the field of cold fusion have been claimed to be subjected to suppression via academic pressure as well as via lack of funding. [Phenomenon Archives: Heavy Watergate, The War Against Cold Fusion. Channel One. (video)]

ee also

* History of perpetual motion machines

References and external articles