[The Vector] Obama’s Oval Office Address and Renewable Energy
Any energy newsletter, including those covering renewable energy, must pay attention to what is happening with oil and other fossil fuels. Vector is no exception.
Oil currently dominates the energy world. Let’s understand energy use in the U.S., courtesy of the Energy Information Agency (EIA):
Oil and other fossil fuels, as can be seen in the chart, clearly dominate. Oil is in the limelight right now due to the disastrous Deepwater Horizon Gulf spill, and was in similarly the object of attention two years ago when prices rose to an unprecedented $140 +/- per barrel (prices have “stabilized” between $70 – $80 per barrel over the last year.)
There are many issues related to oil that Vector will cover each month that play into the renewable energy story.
Oil is unsustainable for at least six reasons:
1) Scarcity – the world has a finite amount and it is running out.
2) National Security – we are more and more dependent on foreign oil, often from untrustworthy sources.
3) Ecology – global climate changes, ocean acidification from fossil fuels.
4) Economics – we are going into more debt every day buying foreign oil, which transfers wealth elsewhere.
5) Terrorism – we are enriching countries that support or may be terrorist states.
6) Health – Cancer rates, in part, can be caused by fossil fuels.
Clearly a transition to other sources of green energy is well overdue. Rather than opine on President Obama’s Oval Office address (June 15th) related to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, we have highlighted his points on the subject of renewable energy:
. . . But a larger lesson is that no matter how much we improve our regulation of the industry, drilling for oil these days entails greater risk. After all, oil is a finite resource. We consume more than 20 percent of the world’s oil, but have less than 2 percent of the world’s oil reserves. And that’s part of the reason oil companies are drilling a mile beneath the surface of the ocean — because we’re running out of places to drill on land and in shallow water.
For decades, we have known the days of cheap and easily accessible oil were numbered. For decades, we’ve talked and talked about the need to end America’s century-long addiction to fossil fuels. And for decades, we have failed to act with the sense of urgency that this challenge requires. . . The consequences of our inaction are now in plain sight. Countries like China are investing in clean energy jobs and industries that should be right here in America. Each day, we send nearly $1 billion of our wealth to foreign countries for their oil. . . We cannot consign our children to this future. The tragedy unfolding on our coast is the most painful and powerful reminder yet that the time to embrace a clean energy future is now. Now is the moment for this generation to embark on a national mission to unleash America’s innovation and seize control of our own destiny.
. . . The transition away from fossil fuels is going to take some time, but over the last year and a half, we’ve already taken unprecedented action to jumpstart the clean energy industry. As we speak, old factories are reopening to produce wind turbines, people are going back to work installing energy-efficient windows, and small businesses are making solar panels. Consumers are buying more efficient cars and trucks, and families are making their homes more energy-efficient. Scientists and researchers are discovering clean energy technologies that someday will lead to entire new industries.
Each of us has a part to play in a new future that will benefit all of us. As we recover from this recession, the transition to clean energy has the potential to grow our economy and create millions of jobs -– but only if we accelerate that transition. Only if we seize the moment. . .”
So what specific recent actions is the government involved with to jump-start clean energy? What does this all mean? The U.S. does not have an energy plan, nor has it ever had one, and we need a clear vision of action.
There are various actions and fronts, and Vector will be reporting on these in each newsletter post. From coalitions and public sector efforts, to private sector movements and innovations, university research and consumer education on clean energy, and more, the tide may be turning.
