Issue 21: Energy
Arthur O'Donnell || Executive Director, Center for Resource Solutions
The immediate, profound impact of the new Obama Administration for green energy advocates will be the immense relief that the US will once again be part of the world community’s movement to seriously address climate change. Environmentalists and concerned citizens will no longer feel we are fighting against a tide of federal government indifference, but that we have allies in and support from the White House and Congress. Over the long term, we expect green energy to become far more mainstream through a national renewable energy goal that commits the country to building a clean energy infrastructure that prioritizes renewable resources like wind, solar, and geothermal over fossil fuel generation.
We are also encouraged by the priority Obama has placed on encouraging energy efficiency, he recognizes that there are huge opportunities to reduce the amount of energy we use currently without having to sacrifice our way of life.
As more organizations and individuals realize the importance of developing clean energy resources and continue buying renewable energy to reduce the carbon impact of their energy use, it’s our belief that any future cap and trade system on carbon will reduce the number of allowances available to polluters, thereby giving these voluntary purchases credit under the system. Renewable energy is the key to our healthier (and low-carbon) future, and we are heartened that president elect Obama understands this so well.
Prior to joining CRS in January 2008, Arthur was an independent business, energy and environmental writer for more than 25 years, winning many national and regional awards for his energy reporting. He was senior reporter for E&E Publishing’s Greenwire.com and editor of the Land Letter. He also frequently wrote for Public Utilities Fortnightly, the California Energy Circuit newsletter and he was Editorial Director for EnergyCentral.com.
He is the author of several books, including: ‘Soul of the Grid: A Cultural Biography of the California Independent System Operator’ and ‘The Guilty Environmentalist.’ He also has contributed a chapter on California’s contributions to energy innovation to Peter Asmus’ orthcoming book ‘California Energy’ set for publication by the University of California Press during 2008.
What Do You Think? Post Your Response
Recent Responses
What you write sounds okay, but the devil is in the details, and we no longer have the leisure to pursue ideas that don’t really work. Example #1 - cap and trade sounds good in theory, but the administration of it is problematical - to the point where I don’t think it is effective. Example #2 - wind power has yet to demonstrate any significant CO2 savings anywhere in the world. After close to 100,000 turbines, you’d think someone would publish such a demonstration. Example #3 - ethanol has yet to do so as well.
I could go on, but please everyone - before we go off half-cocked pursuing these new schemes, let’s make very sure they are effective. We don’t have the resources or the time to keep getting it wrong.
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44 Issues in 44 Days
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Inaugural Insight
- The inauguration for the first U.S. president, George Washington, was held on April 30, 1789 in New York City.