Originally conjured up during the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo, the expression “Energy Independence” has become a powerful verbal icon. Over the last 40 years this term emerged as a catchphrase for nearly every public office-seeker promising to make America strong once more.
Although largely thought of today as only a transportation sector issue – it should be noted that this hasn’t always been the case. The U.S. electric utility sector responded to the 1973 call for Energy Independence by converting its petroleum-fueled electric power plants to American produced fossil fuels – coal, nuclear and natural gas.
At present, the electric utility sector is in the midst of another transition -- one with consequences every bit as serious as those we faced more than 40 years ago. Today, Americans are clamoring for cleaner alternatives to the current inventory of energy resources powering our society, as we grapple with how to reduce carbon emissions that are feeding societal and climatic disruptions.
America’s quest to become a clean energy nation is like the proverbial three-legged stool. Each leg of the stool (technology, finances and policy) is indispensable to the stool achieving its goal. Minus any one leg and the stool will topple over.
Case in point – 90 percent of the world’s clean energy technologies were invented in the United States. Still, for many years the financial investments in clean energy were not forthcoming because public policies did not provide the certainty the investment community needed. Only in the last decade has that paradigm changed – and the clean energy sector flourished.
As we celebrate another year of “political” independence and freedom – it is even more obvious that US citizens are demanding its political leaders sustain and enhance the policies to facilitate our “clean” energy independence.
It is also abundantly clear that this clean energy independence can’t be achieved with a silver bullet -- but rather silver buckshot. We have solar recources in the southwest, wind in the central plains, hydro in the northwest, biomass in the southeast and offshore wind in the northeast. We have ethanol, biofuels and energy efficiency opportunities throughout the country.
Yet, political campaigns to dismantle the public policies leading toward a clean energy future are dominating the airwaves and campaign mailers this election year. Bought and paid for by an industry that is heavily invested in today’s mix of fossil fuels – these campaign advertisements are only providing part of the narrative. Unfortunately, if we lose focus on what is really needed in this country to address our energy needs for the 21st century, then we will spend the next 100 years buying clean energy technologies -- invented in the U.S. -- but commercialized in Germany and China. In that world we will continue to send $400 billion a year to foreign countries for the “fuel” to power our society.
This Fourth of July weekend let’s celebrate our political independence and freedoms – but keep the pressure on to make sure the right policies remain in place that offer the opportunity to make America stronger than it has ever been.
Jim Arwood
Communications Director
Arizona Solar Center
Question: What does energy independence mean to you?
