|
Home| About Us| Background | Related Links | Issues | Events | |
LOUISA VIRGINIA
Energy Plan
|
Home| About Us| Background | Related Links | Issues | Events | |
LOUISA VIRGINIA
Energy Plan
The Problem:
The energy crisis that America and the rest of the world are facing is not going away for a long time. We will not be able to "drill" our way out of this crisis. Prices for energy will only continue go up. You haven't seen anything yet! Twenty years ago China used 3 percent of the world's energy supply and the US used about 25 percent. Today, the US still uses about 25 percent and China uses about 26 percent. They passed US consumption in 2009. Their demand will continue to skyrocket as their dramatic economic growth continues. Adding to world demand are similar developing nations and areas like India Brazil and indeed the rest of the developing world.
Background:
Three years ago; with gasoline prices at over $4.00 per gallon. a "tipping point" was reached for the American consumers. People start making a mad rush for smaller less gas guzzling cars. The US Auto Industry scrambled to close SUV factories and start making new smaller cars and hybrids. A similar "tipping point" had been reached in the home energy arena. As the world demand for more energy continues to skyrocket, people will come to realize that prices are not coming down but will only be going up, up and away
While $4.00 per gallon gas had temporarily eased up somewhat, in the future costs will continue to escalate to $3, $4, $5 or even $6 per gallon over the next few years. With the easing of energy costs over last few years, people have reverted to buying and driving SUV's. They have also been putting off making energy upgrades to their homes. People will soon come to realize that this was only a temporary easing of energy costs. Every higher energy costs are going to be the single biggest problem we will face as a nation and throughout the world in the next few years.
The only way ordinary people will have to affect the price they pay for energy will be to use less of it. Buying more fuel-efficient cars, taking the bus to work or simply traveling less will become the norm. There are many things that homeowners can do to save energy such as better "weatherizing" their homes, adding more insulation, purchasing more energy efficient heating and cooling systems and appliances, and turning the thermostat down.
Similarly, policy makers, in Washington and throughout the world will be forced into taking drastic steps to increase energy production. Of course contributing to the problem are the unwanted consequences of increased energy production. Continued proliferation of fossil fuel use will lead to undesirable pollution, potential massive oil spills and yes - even contribute to global warming. Nuclear energy has unresolved issues such as disposal of spent fuel and accidental catastrophes such as recently seen in Japan. Biofuels drive up food prices, etc etc etc.
The Solution:
As energy prices continue to grow, we, the people, have no alternative but to use less of it by buying more efficient cars and making our homes much more energy efficient, etc.
From a national perspective, the government must quit kicking the energy can down the road by continuing current primary energy policies like "Drill Baby Drill!" We as a country must face the realities of a global energy crisis and marshal our resources to develop and expand all sources of energy. Although I am convinced that our current policies contribute to global warming, I am also convinced that our current energy policies (or lack thereof) are leading us to a much more critical crisis. Insufficient energy will stymie our economic well being such that it could lead to complete economic collapse within the next decade. Facing these two major catastrophic crises, I feel we must take both into consideration in resolving them. The most immediate problem is our energy shortage but while we may have a bit more time before global warming really hits us, we must take this matter into consideration while dealing with increasing energy production.
Considering how polarized dysfunctional our congress is, I see little chance of sensible energy policy emanating from it any time soon. It will be up to us MOTRA'S to push our government to proper solutions. I set forth herewith what I consider to be the best energy policy going forward. The bottom line of my proposed policy is "Full Speed Ahead" on EVERYTHING. If we expect to avoid economic collapse within the next decade, we much drastically pursue every initiative toward such avoidance. We must significantly expand our energy production (all sources), we must drastically adapt measures of conserving energy, we must build improved energy infrastructure and we must pursue technological innovation. BALLS TO THE WALL ON ALL FRONTS! While we are doing that however, we MUST do so in a manner that minimizes unintended consequences such as global warming, nuclear disaster, oil spills, ecological damage and health hazards.
Contrary to the views of tree huggers everywhere (I am one myself) we must not only continue with fossil fuel sources in the immediate future, we must in fact expand their use. Today we get at least 75% 0f our energy from fossil fuels. In view of our ever-expanding needs for additional energy, there just is no alternative to expanding their use for the next decade or two. This means expansion of drilling and mining, opening up more opportunities for off shore drilling, increased usage of natural gas etc. As we continue with this undesirable but badly needed source of energy, we must incorporate all feasible safety measures, pollution reduction and environmental protections currently available and do research for improved methodologies in the future.
In my view, a good place to start on an alternative energy source in the immediate future is nuclear. We have not built a new nuclear facility in over 30 years while the rest of the world has accelerated their nuclear energy production. The classic example of this is France who now derives over 90 % of its energy from nuclear.
In addition to accelerating nuclear energy production, we must VIGOROUSLY pursue development of new alternative technologies and implementing those currently available such as biofuels, solar, wind, geothermal, gas and hydrogen technologies. In addition to pushing development and implementation of alternative energy sources we must also provide incentives to consumers to transition to energy saving, to manufacturers to produce energy efficient products and to energy producers to transition to alternative energy methods.
Of course these initiatives must be paid for and what better way than through a "Carbon Tax."
TO BE EXPANDED!!!