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I had an interesting conversation over the weekend with an alternative energy entrepreneur. I write that this was “interesting,” because he seemed to be a bright, competent individual. He is the kind of individual I want to see in an industry I believe to be vital to our nation’s future (as I stated back in April).
I also say interesting because as bright and competent as this man appeared, he was completely unaware that there is any intelligent disagreement (more links at the bottom of this post) with the belief in a man-made warming catastrophe, a la Al Gore. Further, he was as just as surprised to learn that there is a burgeoning recognition of the need for alternative energy based solely on national security and economic needs, with little or no concern for global warming.
Folks, the extremist, catastrophe oriented global warming crowd is doing more damage to the alternative energy potential of this country than they are advancing alternative energies. The problem is credibility. I have pointed out on this blog before that we have to quit the name calling if we want to change people’s minds. In terms of global warming and alternative energy, that means engaging in meaningful debate, not ignoring their legitimate doubts and challenging questions. We certainly need to stop equating opponent’s views with the fake lunar landing crowd, as Al Gore did back in April.
I think it is time to take a rational look at a few facts about alternative energy that get lost in the shouting between the catastrophe peddlers and the absolute deniers.
National Security: We have to stop sending billions of dollars a year to countries that support terrorists (with all due respect to Canada and Mexico, our two largest oil providers). In fact, we can not simply reduce imports, we need disruptive technologies that marginalize the worldwide need for oil and thus end the terrorist supporters’ endless pipeline of cash.
Economics: Energy is the foundation of a strong economy and our way of life. Everything from our computers and IPods to the farm equipment that produces our food requires energy. That means that plentiful, low cost energy will help spur every economy in the world to growth. Growing world economies will provide more people on this planet the opportunity to prosper than ever before.
Alternative Energy provides the greatest economic opportunity in human history.
Technology: The current state of Alternative Energy technology combined with costs of implementing these technologies mean that alternative energy is unlikely to make a large dent in our energy needs for many years. Understanding and accepting that simple fact is very important to accepting Alternative Energy because Alternative Energy is still a viable and valuable option. There are two reasons that make this true.
First, a small improvement in alternative energy availability can have a huge impact on our energy needs and the environment; a sort of Pareto Principle on steroids (See Demand response). Second, there is no source of energy that provides anything close to the raw power of oil. This is true today but it won’t be true for long and if you doubt that, go back and look at the volume of “Experts,” that were convinced human flight was impossible, even after the Wright Brothers and others had proven that it was. If there is money to be made, businesses will figure out how to earn that money.
Climate Change: Millions of years ago jungles covered what is now the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula. That is why there is oil there. On the North American continent ice once extended almost as far south as the state of Georgia. The Great Lakes were formed by glaciers as were the Finger Lakes of New York state.
Climate changes constantly. It always has and always will.
Have human’s influenced that change? Some people will respond yes, others no. For those that don’t think humans are influencing the climate there are other reasons for reducing the volume of carbon we pump into the atmosphere. Just take a look at the skyline of any major city on a hot summer morning during rush hour. That orange haze you see hanging over the city will be smog. If you think that it is okay to breathe that smog, the onus is on you to prove it.
Government’s role: Supporters of Alternative Energy advocate for massive government funding. Opponents of Alternative Energy efforts are really opposing government spending and regulation (with the exception of traditional energy industry proponents that want to slow alternative energy adoption). I recognize that there may be a role for government because of the national security component of Alternative Energy. I also realize the difficulty of bringing Alternative Energy options to market because of the cost. Government funding looks very attractive at first.
However, we have not attempted to use the free market to promote alternative energy. The free market tells us that government has a role in bringing Alternative Energies to market. That role should be to seek out and minimize every regulatory barrier alternative energy entrepreneur’s face, and further, to seek out and eliminate all influence on government from power brokers and special interests that have a stake in blocking alternative energies. We need to let the free markets be, well….free. I’d hate to see this vital industry fall even further behind other nations due to layers of bureaucracy and regulation. I challenge doubters to compare the United States’ leadership in the lightly regulated internet vs the mobile communications market where this nation fell behind Asian nations early and has stayed behind.
Whether you agree or disagree with global warming theorists, there are myriad reasons to support America’s development of Energy Alternatives. However, supporting Energy Alternatives shouldn’t mean ignoring or disparaging critical thoughts of those that disagree. Persuade those that disagree by pointing out the vast benefits that will come from energy alternatives. If you consider climate change and clean air, plus national security and the economic opportunities, alternative energy offers something for everyone.
Enabling the free market to rule this industry will enable the people the best ideas run by the most competent people to provide this vital resource. Just as the free market internet has brought major changes to communications, commerce, learning, medicine, (this list could go on…) entrepreneurs will create energy alternatives.
I provide these links challenging global warming to encourage intelligent discussion, not advocate a position.
Denver Post
Aim
Australian News
Daily Tech
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi,
You are using false pseudo, science from newspapers. Science is done in open world wide, refereed, peer-reviewed juried journals and scientific meetings with presented papers which is on record for the rest of human history to examine. It always has been.
Some of this printed climate science which we still use today goes back to the 1600s with the French Royal Academy of Sciences with Edme Mariott and Fourier from 1827.
I have been in the climate science field for 11 years and have been at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)-look me up there on search engines.
I’m sure you mean well, but you are politicizing science because of your ignorance and doing a disservice to humanity and this country.
If you need brain surgery, you don’t have your spouse (usually) do it. You have someone proven and trained in the field operate on you. Otherwise, you would be committing suicide.
Best,
If explaining the additional rationales for alternative energy that appeal to different audiences than those normally inclined to support alternative energy is ignorance, I’ll take it. The basics remain the same; the climate has always been changing, and economic and national security needs for alternative energy are far more immediate and pressing than climate change.
Oh, I just want to make it clear that I don’t represent NCAR and that I retired a few weeks ago from NCAR to start a non profit where I do not get paid a cent.
“… and economic and national security needs for alternative energy are far more immediate and pressing than climate change.”
Indeed, this is a legitimate debate even in the refereed literature.
I would like to publicly state that the refereed literature has stated that we need to act now on climate change.
Romm, Nature, 2008 and “Time to act”, Nature 2009
There is certainly literature that does state that need. There is also literature that supports the need to improve the economy, and dramatically reduce the billions of dollars and other currencies sent each year by western nations to terrorist supporting nations. Further, there is plenty of evidence showing that the economy and national (and international) security are higher on the priority list than climate for a large segment of the U.S. population. Right or wrong, that is what it is.
By demonstrating the value of alternative energy to those concerned with the economy and security I attempt to find common ground, i.e. that alternative energy has benefits for all. Perhaps people that support alternative energy will do so for the economic or security benefits as opposed to the climate. They are still, in the end, supporting alternative energy.