A step toward sustainable energy

To The Campus,

It has been nearly five years since President George W. Bush’s explicit remark on ‘America’s addiction to oil’ in his fifth State of the Union address. Despite the consensus shared by many of us to cut U.S. dependence on foreign oil, this addiction has remained the same — if not intensified. The consequences of this continued reliance on foreign oil have been severe. The environmental damages aside, it has inadvertently strengthened petrodictators, tarnished U.S. reputation abroad and increased the likelihood of conflicts with other powerful energy-consuming nations — most notably Russia and China — over the remaining energy reserves.

The need for clean, sustainable energy that can support long-term growth of our nation is more apparent than ever before. The traditional U.S. energy policy must be revamped so that it pays close attention to developing clean energy sources. As Thomas Friedman proposes, clear price signals and regulations should be established and enforced with consistency. As Michael Klare suggests, the promise of tangible gains in exploring new energy alternatives must be present for any partnerships — local, state or international — to embark on a transformative clean energy regime.

Some progresses are taking place: in September, the 2010 International Environment-Energy Industry Exhibition featuring 200 corporations from 11 countries was held in Busan, South Korea. In Berlin, RENAC (renewables academy) that teaches the public about the viability of renewable, environmentally friendly energy will take place throughout November and December. Perhaps most significantly, the U.S. military has recently announced its plan to vault into clean energy. Incremental, and yet significant steps toward sustainable energy — these are what we need.

Sincerely,
Kevin Beck '11