Idea of the Day: Securing Energy Independence Through Energy Diversification

May 1, 2009

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For two decades, we repeatedly made mistakes of inaction. Rather than pursuing longterm sustainable goals, policymakers were swayed by the prospect of immediate benefits, and the public was too focused on the falling prices at the pump after successive energy crises to see the bigger picture of ever escalating oil imports. Today, we stand at a similar crossroads, but this time it is no longer a matter of financial inconvenience but of national security, global economy, and sustainable human existence.

The installation of smart grids and the development of domestically produced renewable energy are imperative for current and future national security and economic stability. Continuing to rely on fossil fuels will only defer the inevitable switch to renewables, and the delay will only raise the costs for future generations. To make up for the past two decades, we must quickly diversify our sources of energy to overcome our overreliance on dirty fossil fuels. We must realize the full potential of effective legislation, address consumer behaviors, and invest in scientific development. These steps toward renewable energy will not be the first, but we have the opportunity to make them the last.

For more on this topic, please see:

• Securing America's Energy Independence Through Energy Diversification by Shiyong Park, Winny Chen, and Rudy deLeon