Policy Today

The United States is the single greatest consumer of energy in the world and has been for a large part of the last century. Despite the country’s growing need for energy sources to power virtually every aspect of our lives, as a nation, we have historically struggled to devise policies that would effectively address that need, especially in an era where factors such as independence from foreign oil, implementation of alternative technologies, and environmental protection must be considered and included in the language of new policies. Major decisions on offshore drilling, the role played by non-fossil fuels, conservation, and taxes on oil companies and rebates to consumers provide multiple flash points.

Integrated with these issues are those involving infrastructure: Where do we spend our resources: fuel efficient or battery-powered cars, new power grids to bring solar and wind to market, highways or trains? Who pays and how—federal and state governments or the user? And finally, there is the issue of political process: What role can or should government play in bringing about needed solutions?

Congress has looked at aspects of the issue. In 2007, Congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act, which mandates that fuel producers use at least 36 billion gallons of biofuel by 2022. The EISA also calls for a national fuel economy standard of 35 miles per gallon by 2020, increased energy efficiency in buildings and lightbulbs (www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/energy), and creating carbon neutral buildings.

The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, which was designed to further the commercialization of advanced biofuels, support the production of biomass crops and expand the existing Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program, includes components that would increase our knowledge on agriculturally-based renewable energy sources (www.nytimes.com/2008/05/15/washington/15cnd-farm.html). Despite elements dedicated to renewable energy, however, this bill directed a majority of its dollars to nutrition programs such as food stamps.

So while these bills address important topics, they seem a long way from devising a focused yet integrated national energy policy.

Conservation

There are many questions regarding how we get and use our energy and what type of energies we have available to us. Perhaps the greatest question mark in the energy arena is how a nation used to fossil fuels comes to grip with today’s energy environment. Currently, 85 percent of all of the energy produced in the U.S. comes from burning the fossil fuels oil, coal and natural gas; 66 percent of that fuel is imported. This energy powers most of our electricity and almost all of our transportation. Burning fossil fuels creates harmful greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. Additionally, exploring and drilling for these forms of fuel domestically to decrease our dependence on foreign oil must be balanced against the risks of oil spills in sensitive ocean environments.

How do we protect ourselves and our environment while providing our nation with enough energy? The answer lies in supplementing our use of fossil fuels with a portfolio of alternative technologies and practices. With opportunities to further our knowledge in areas such as biofuel, wind energy and solar energy, we need specific policies and goals set aside strictly for these clean technologies, rather than those that ride on the coattails of larger policies with multiple agendas.

Nuclear energy has been used in recent years as an emission-free source of energy. While an efficient and reliable source, issues of long lead times and waste disposal remain, furthering our need to diversify our sources of energy.

Once we get the energy we need, will we know how to use it? How do we make energy conservation a priority for Americans to avoid energy shortages like those we’ve experienced in the past? How do we make the most of the energy we’ve already produced? One answer will lie in policies that encourage and even incentivize conservation and a national commitment to consumer education on energy conservation.

A further issue is what role the states and local governments will play in the program. California has already experienced some moderate success from the Flex Your Power public service campaign, which educates individuals and members of industry about best practices for saving energy as well as how to respond to a flex alert, which is a call to Californians to voluntary reduce their electricity use at times when electricity demand is at its peak (www.fypower.org).

Many questions exist about the state of energy in America’s future, but one item is clear: as a nation, we need a thoughtful debate – and soon – on the subject.

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