Clean Energy Actually DOES Lie In Our Future — It's Only a Question of Time
Here’s an article that does a good job discussing voter suppression – to be sure, off-topic for a clean energy blog by a long shot. I bring it up only because it ends with words that resonate with me: “It’s only a question of time.”
Compare the abundance of white faces at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., with the multicultural, multiracial faces at the Democratic Party’s meeting in Charlotte, N.C. Whatever we may think of the current policy shortcomings of the Democrats—and there are many—that multicultural, multiracial base is the nation’s authentic present and its certain future. Sooner or later, that base will lay …voter suppression … to rest. It’s only a question of time.
It’s true that we’re marching inexorably in the direction of so many triumphs that can turn around the gigantic challenges that face humankind; it really is only a matter of time before technology, if we pursue it aggressively, enables us to solve many of our most pressing problems. Of course, I’m more tuned into the energy and climate change situation than the myriad of other issues confronting us, but I clearly see breakthroughs that can avert the global warming that threatens to damage our civilization on a scale that we have never known. Our achieving those triumphs really is only a question of time. In particular:
- The levelized cost of energy of various forms of renewable energy, wind leading the way by a significant margin, continues to fall, representing a significant and ever-growing challenge to the prevalent “drill, baby, drill” mentality.
- Even the rank and file American is starting to understand that energy generated from fossil fuels comes at a huge and uncaptured cost in terms of national security, lung disease, and long-term environmental damage.
- Popular culture, even here in the U.S., is starting to wrap its wits around the most basic notions of sustainability. When was the last time you saw a Hummer on the road? Young people, in particular, really get this.
The author of the piece above noted something profound about the progress we’re making in many areas. It truly is, only a question of time. But exactly how much do we have left?
