Our dependence on dirty 19th and 20th century fossil fuels has to end. The United States needs to transform into an economy based on clean, sustainable 21st century energy. This is essential for our economy due to rising energy costs, air and water pollution, and global warming -- as well as to prevent wars for oil in the name of national security.

The United States has the sustainable-energy resources needed to transform our economy. The people of America are ready for this transformation. The only thing missing is political leadership.

Oil production peaked in the United States in 1970 and has been declining steadily since. Today, U.S. production is only about half of what it was in 1970. M. King Hubert predicted this peak and decline in the 1950s, and his theory is now known as Peak Oil. Many experts believe that the world-wide peak will occur within the next few years; it may have already happened. In fact, world oil production has been flat for over a year.

The U.S. government needs to reduce and rapidly end the $25 billion in annual corporate welfare to the oil industry. This subsidy creates an unfair market where clean, sustainable energy sources cannot compete. We need to encourage the development of alternative, renewable energy sources, e.g., solar, wind, hydroelectric power, tidal, ocean currents, geothermal, and biomass energy sources that can end U.S. addiction to fossil fuels.

A major part of this transformation is changing energy use in transportation. Automobile technology can greatly reduce the use of gasoline. Hybrid plug-in cars should be able to plug into homes that generate their own energy from solar, wind and other sustainable sources and then drive for 100 miles on electricity. A regional mass transit system that connects the major cities and towns of Maryland can dramatically reduce dependence on automobiles.

The United States must move in this direction quickly. New satellite measurements show the Antarctic ice cap shrinking -- rather than growing as previously thought. The Greenland icecap is also shrinking faster than expected, and the Arctic Ocean ice cap reached a record low last summer. Further, the permafrost in Siberia, northern Alaska and northern Canada is melting; as it does, it releases into the atmosphere large amounts of ammonia, an even stronger global-warming gas than CO2, causing a positive feedback loop that will worsen global warming. To counter our destructive trends, we must:

• Reduce corporate welfare to the fossil fuel industry.

• Invest in companies that apply cleaner, more sustainable technologies (see discussion of corporate welfare vs. taxpayer investment)

• Provide tax incentives for Americans making environmentally friendly purchases, especially transforming their homes into energy producers through solar.

• Incorporate sustainable technologies in government facilities. This would result in reduced operational costs, more efficient production, and less waste.

Facing up to the creation of a new energy economy and the efficient, non-wasteful use of energy will spark new economic growth and create jobs at all levels of income. Indeed, new industries will be created. Please visit the Zeese Wiki site for more information. And see: National security and climate change

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.

Powered by AkoComment 2.0!