Energy

There are at least three primary concerns about energy: 1) running out (renewable); 2) independence (create our own); and 3) clean (no pollution – no greenhouse gasses, no particulates, no residue). We must solve all three. There are also economic issues to consider, and I’m sure there are other issues to include – but I think the three listed are primary in this discussion.

Renewable - When I was in high school, and that was a long time ago, they taught me that based on the then current projections the world would run out of oil around 2050. Although there seem to be continuing arguments about this ‘fact’, ranging from ‘never run out’ to ‘very soon’, to me it seem obvious that at some point we will have pumped the last drop. Oil is not a renewable energy source – it took millions of years to create what we have today. I don’t have much patience with anyone who refuses to acknowledge that we will run out if we don’t change our ways. And, by the way, it will happen in this century – again, if we don’t change our ways. We must develop other sources – it is as simple as that. Drill, baby, drill is not a solution to anything.

Independence – “The largest transfer of wealth in the history of the world”! That’s what the present situation has been called. There are so many things wrong with the present situation – being dependent on other countries, many of which are not exactly our friends being the most obvious problem – that again, it just seems like a no-brainer to be able to create our own energy. We have the technology. It’s cost effective, and getting more cost effective all the time. Why haven’t we done more? Big energy lobbies would be my guess. We could be way down the road to being independent of foreign oil. If only ….

Clean – Whatever our sources of energy, they must be clean. They cannot increase greenhouse gasses, or put any potentially harmful gasses into the atmosphere. The must not pollute the air – no particulates. And they must not create waste products that cannot be disposed of (spent fuel rods, anyone).

There are other things, of course. For instance, if fuel made from corn (or other plants) is part of the solution, then we must solve the problem of balance between raising crops for fuel and raising corps for fuel.

In this election, it seems to me that one side is giving lip service to this subject while the other is offering an approach to solving the problem. One side is infiltrated with energy company lobbyist, the other side does not seem to have any obligations to big money.

What do you think?