The triple challenge of a new energy policy

[XemaSab]

There are three major goals in energy policy right now.

The first goal is to slow global climate change. If you believe climate change is a real and imminent threat, this will require as much renewable or CO2 friendly energy coming online as quickly as possible. In addition to solar thermal and large-scale wind, even such ideas as nuclear, large-scale hydro, and "clean coal" should be considered as emergency measures in the face of this threat... if you believe it's a serious threat.

The second goal is to achieve energy independance for the United States. Right now we're selling our souls to people who want to destroy us every time we go buy gas. We're making ourselves targets, and we're making the world more dangerous. In order to achieve energy independance, we need to use coal, explore further domestic oil resources, and use all of the aforementioned renewable energy measures in order to wean ourselves off foreign oil.

The third goal is to decentralize the grid. Right now big energy companies have a stranglehold on the consumer, and the technology exists for many people to get off the grid entirely, or at least create energy at home to feed back into the grid. Solar PV, solar hot water, and small-scale wind can do this.

The problem lies in the fact that these three goals are not the same. The rationalizations are different, and the technologies to achieve these goals are different.

It seems to me that many environmentalists are a bit disingenuous when discussing energy goals. I've heard a LOT of greenies use the language of global climate change when the real intent is a sort of libertarian ideal of energy self sufficiency.

The problem is we're not self sufficient. We're all in this together, both as Americans (or what have you) and as members of the global community. Fighting big energy companies is a noble goal, but spending 20 thousand dollars to make your house an energy fiefdom is not the best use of community resources. Okay, so you personally want to have electricity when global warming turns America into downtown Mogadishu overnight, but then where are you?