Becoming Energy Independent

Written by: Richard R on Nov 24, 2008 11:09 AM EST

A New Strategic Energy Reserve:

If energy independence is a national security interest, then why not accelerate the process through direct government investment?  Why not have an army of builders whose mission it is to carry out national security projects of construction and maintenance?  Perhaps we could re-task portions of our military to utilize carrots, or bulldozers, as well as it utilizes sticks, or tanks.  

In concrete terms, how many windmills could be built for $2 billion, or the cost of eliminating 1 attack submarine from the military budget?  The management, engineers, construction workers and materials are already in place at the shipyard. 

Further, we could also engage in a national re-construction program.  Siting, purchasing and maintenance of land costs could be defrayed by taking advantage of land already used for another purpose. 

Take highway dividers, for example.  Many of our nation's highways have long stretches where there is a grassy divide between opposing lanes of traffic.  This divide can be as wide as 100 feet.  It is unused space and a perfect siting for strings of windmills or solar collectors.  

There is a natural security buffer, with streams of traffic both ways, and with the normal complement of state police traffic patrolling.  There is open space for wind to flow, and the public resistance to windmills over acoustic and aesthetic issues is neutralized.  Highway traffic is louder, and, well, highways are already unsightly.  

Further, the land is already owned, maintained, and easily accessible for both repairs and proximity to our electrical grid.

Highway dividers are really the perfect choice for siting of windmills and solar collectors!

Spurring Individual Demand:

In the area of individual or private ownership, consider 2 assumptions:  most people do not want to have to take the time to be fully educated on every economic decision they make, and most people do not make economic decisions based on long-term costs.  There is nothing wrong with this, it is simply how we behave, what our day to day priorities of raising a family, or just simply living, are. 

The cost of oil, in everyday terms, translates into the price of gas at the pump.  When it is cheap, people buy SUVs, when it spikes, people want a tax holiday.  If a washing machine is on sale for 10% less than one that has an EnergyStar certification, many people will buy the one that is on sale.

Yet alternative energy, as an individual buying decision, often requires that people think longer term, that they think about life cycle costs, and that they pay an up-front premium for a 10-year payback.

What is needed is a bridge between the price posted at the register and the long-term interests and savings of our national priorities.  Our government can effectively step in here, not only with with more generous tax incentive programs, but also with lease-back and power purchase guarantee programs.

What if there was a government funded 0% financing program?  What if there was a program where our government would actually own, say, a solar collection system and simply lease it to a homeowner?  What if, like in Germany where solar is so aggressively being implemented, our government committed to purchasing power produced by a residential energy system at above market rates?

Overall, I believe that we should throw down a gauntlet: total energy independence within 10 years, no ifs, ands or buts.

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Location: Essex, CT 06426