For the past 5 years I have espoused a general thesis that in a post credit bubble world there is less money–less money to waste on non-essentials, less money to spend on essentials, less money to export to other countries. Seems obvious: getting more for less is key. (Always is really, but while credit and cash flow are easy many people forget about efficiency).
As one of our largest necessary expenditures, energy is an obvious area of focus. Countries, like households, must find every intelligent way to stitch up the pocket holes that are draining precious cash flow and escalating debt. All western countries must focus on reducing their imports and developing domestic energy sources of all kinds for different applications. The solution is not one type of energy, but many. This is no time for pig-headed dogma and rigid attachment to old ideas. We humans must evolve or die–I vote evolve. Yes we can.
For all of these reasons, it makes perfect sense that North America will continue to develop, consume and sell its own domestic natural gas. But at the same time, it is critical to comprehend that while Nat Gas is presently serving as a bridge fuel toward stronger fiscal health, it is far from the end goal of free, clean, renewable energy that does not add to our carbon emissions. See David Suzuki Foundation’s explanation here: BC’s gas plan is a short-sighted pipe dream
The end goal is literally a smorgasbord of low-carbon energy options that are available and developing as we breathe:
- Solar Photovoltaic
- Passive Solar, Solar Thermal, and Solar Hot Water
- Wind
- Hydropower
- Large-Scale Hydro
- Small and Low-Head Hydro
- Nuclear
- Bioenergy
- Biomass
- wave and tidal
- geothermal
- hydrogen combustion
Along with a whole bunch of other smart solutions being imagined and invented today that most of us have never even dreamed about. See: An inventory of Low-carbon energy. and Life after Oil and Gas for solutions that are available here and now. (Remember 20 years ago when we could not imagine how or why the world would ever use an “internet”? Same thing with alternative energies today.) This progress can and will be done. It is happening, and all the passionate naysayers are just making fools of themselves again.
p.s Just saw the excellent movie “42-The Jackie Robinson Story” last night. Further reminder on how resistant and biased the masses generally are against major turning points in human thought and behavior. Worth some reflection.
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