Earth's fossil fuels are not unlimited. We must begin preparing now with clean, renewable energy sources.
Real Energy Independence
President Bush has stressed the need for American "energy independence;" that is, America must rely on its own resources for its energy.
But for President Bush energy independence seems to mean little more than opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil production. That is lamentable because America does indeed face a future energy shortage of critical proportions, and here is why: Those same analytical, geological models that predicted accurately that America's domestic petroleum production would peak in about 1973 are now predicting that world petroleum production will peak at about the end of this very decade. After 1973 America could turn to the Middle East and to other foreign sources to continue fueling its airplanes, ships, cars, and SUVs. After 2010 there will be no place to turn.
There are other reasons that America must declare and achieve real energy independence:
- Continued consumption of fossil fuels exacerbates the grave problem of global warming even to the point of threatening life on earth.
- America's reliance on imported oil compromises American foreign policy.
Fortunately, there are practical, realizable solutions to these problems that can ensure a continued high standard of living of Americans. The real problems are political rather than technical. We know how to solve the technical problems.
- The solutions involve distributed energy production including energy sources of wind, geothermal, photovoltaic, solar heating, biomass, and synthetic fuels.
- Conservation measures are required including massive governmental support for high speed intercity rail and metropolitan light rail transportation and energy efficient personal transportation such as hybrid and electric vehicles.
The question is not whether America will eventually stop using fossil fuels; Nature has already answered that question in the affirmative. The question is whether we will have the courage and foresight to begin this change now when it can be done smoothly and with a minimum of pain.
We call on our state and federal legislators to initiate and support legislation to fund research into alternate energy sources, to begin conversion from fossil fuels, to promote energy efficient transportation and buildings, and to implement other needed programs.
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