Macro-Trends in Energy and the Environment

A friend who had been out of town just returned and asked what I’ve been observing in terms of energy and the environment, to which I respond:

I can’t say that there’s anything new.  There are huge forces pulling in both directions; it’s the proverbial “immovable object and irresistible force.”  I.e., there are dozens of reasons to believe that this will turn out OK for humankind, for instance:

• New and better technology for renewable energy, storage, transmission, and efficiency solutions

• Plummeting costs of all this stuff, especially solar and wind as they begin to achieve scale

• Growing public awareness of the problem’s importance

• 200,000+ groups whose mission is social and economic justice

• Some hope for international cooperation after decades of frustration

On the other hand, we have the traditional energy industry, the most powerful force on Earth, fiercely dedicated to pulling the last molecule of crude out of the ground. These people essentially own our electoral and law-making processes here in the U.S., and their stranglehold doesn’t seem to be loosening.

An interesting time to be alive. 🙂