What Are Our Choices?

I am prompted to write this particular thought because of a conversation I had the other day and an e-mail that I received. The conversation had to do with electricity-based cars and the e-mail related to the use of solar energy in the state of New York.

I will admit that I long for the days of “cheap” gasoline but I also know from personal experience that whatever the price of gasoline might be in this country today, it is still cheaper than what other countries are paying for the same product.

And that is the key point in any debate on the price of oil and alternative energy. If there is no incentive, then there will be no exploration. Why did Christopher Columbus sail west? Because he was looking for a shorter route to the spices of the Far East; his desire was not to discover a new country (in fact, I believe that the common thought in the 15^th century was that the Atlantic was a single ocean with Japan and the Far East on the far side of the “pond”.) All Christopher Columbus wanted to do was find a shorter route so that he could cut out the middle man and get the spice trade for himself.

Right now, there is no incentive to develop new sources of oil in this country; I believe that the laws of this country discourage such work. People may be clamoring for more refineries but that won’t solve the present and immediate problem (since building a refinery will take time) and I don’t believe that the oil companies want to build them anyway (for one reason, the environmental laws discourage such new construction).

Now, I am not arguing for a removal of environmental laws. That would simply trade one problem for another and while it may solve short-term problems, it may also create more dire long-term problems.

Let us therefore begin a discussion and a consideration for alternative energy sources. What are the potential alternative resources?

They are, in no order of importance,

1. Nuclear fission
2. Nuclear fusion
3. Solar
4. Geothermal
5. Wind

Each of these energy sources has its own advantages and disadvantages. But, as things are the present time, none of them is considered because of our reliance on fossil fuels. So we me must find ways to encourage the development and use of alternative energy sources.

We must also consider other alternatives to fossil fuels. Electrically powered cars are a possibility but how will the electricity be generated? Storage batteries could be the answer but there are environmental considerations to consider. Fuel cells are, perhaps, cleaner and more environmentally friendly but storage of the fuels would be a problem.

In the end, any option that we choose is probably going to be more expensive that what we have now but that is only because our thinking is short-term. We want the solution now when the solution will actually take time.

That is not to say that there are not things we can do. We can do an energy audit of homes and find out where energy is being lost. (By the way, there is an advertisement on some of the cable channels for a device that you can hook into your household circuit that will cut your energy bill by perhaps 25%; it is as best not the answer and at the worst a scam). Examine the possibility of solar energy for the home (many utilities offer such opportunities and, in some states, if you generate more electricity than you consume, your local utility will buy it from you).

We can do things like using public transportation or car-pooling when going to work. If you have to buy a car, consider the newer models and the mileage rather than style and size alone. There are ways to reduce your energy bill; the rising fuel costs should be incentive enough.

But we still must begin the discussion with regards to alternative energy sources. It requires not only alternatives but a consideration for the environment. It is both a local, state, and federal issue. It will require a change in the laws and it will require incentives. But it will require that we get involved by doing more than simply complaining that our energy bills are getting too high.

Cross-posted to RedBlueChristian