An observation worth noting … and pondering, from the 2012 report “The New American Oil Boom,” issued by the Energy Security Leadership Council (a project of Securing America’s Energy Future).
For decades, long-term energy security has routinely been defined in American political discourse as the attainment of self-sufficiency in energy supply, or energy independence. That is, energy security is often equated with the ability to become independent from foreign oil suppliers. Pursuit of this so-called independence has typically been most intense during periods of high and volatile oil prices, particularly when such periods have overlapped with high levels of U.S. imports. Unfortunately, the concept of energy security through self-sufficiency in supply alone ignores America’s true vulnerability as an oil consumer, driving policymakers toward a goal that is fundamentally misguided.
“Energy security” and its fraternal twin “energy independence” sound wonderful, don’t they? A not-exactly-subtle bow to American ingenuity and innovation (not that kudos are undeserved). Without burdening the public with facts or context, smooth assurances by fossil fuel industry cheerleaders that those objectives are just-around-the-corner-piece-of-cake-ours-for-the-taking-no-fuss-no muss are purposely designed to persuade citizens lacking the means or opportunities to readily educate themselves about the energy challenges ahead.
Not that we want to go around inducing panic in the streets about our energy supply, but the transition from fossil fuels to Whatever is not a two-week project. The complexity is beyond our abilities to grasp in its entirety, and it is not an assignment for a team of experts to deal with while the rest of continue merrily along until we’re informed what to do. It will be a society-wide collective effort.
The strategy of not disclosing those realities and the facts which support it is one employed for maximum benefit. Unfortunately, that maximum benefit does not accrue to the general public.
As long as our economy remains powered by an energy supply source whose most dynamic component (conventional crude oil) is no longer as readily available, affordable, or efficient as we’ve come to expect, we’re going to have some serious challenges in the not-too-distant future. For all the benefits supposedly offered by those pleasant-sounding reassurances, the reality is that Life As We’ve Known It is going to change.
How much of an impact and how adverse those changes prove to be will in large measure be determined by how much knowledge the public has about what we’ll be facing, and the facts—good and bad—about our energy supplies, production, availability, and cost. Those elements aren’t being shared by those in the best position to do so.
It’s not too difficult to understand why.
If we start planning for and then implementing changes which reflect a need to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels in their entirety (and from whatever source), some industries are going to suffer. Some others will surely benefit, of course, but they are not the ones with the deepest pockets and the means to influence others also dependent on those same deep pockets.
It may be how things are done, but it will exact a heavy toll on the tens/hundreds of millions of us who aren’t part of that “how things are done” culture.
Acquiring information and understanding are good things. Making plans and preparing for the realities suggested by that knowledge is even better.
Adapted from a blog post of mine
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