DC Power and Distributed Energy Blog

The Big Idea community illustrated in the National Geographic November 2009 issue is quite feasible, but don’t expect to see it in the new sub-division next door any time soon. Change does not come quickly, easily or cheaply. Reasonable thinking citizens, business people and governments recognize a new energy model is needed and is the right thing to do. The difficult decision is how soon.

Technology is not the issue in achieving the Big Idea as described in this article. Making the commitment to the new energy model is the difficult issue, as thousands of jobs in the petrochemical industries are at risk. Reasonable thinking citizens, business people and governments also recognize there will be new business opportunities, jobs and wealth created with the new energy model.

It all comes down to money, always does. Petrochemical industries are pumping millions of dollars into the political process to delay or insulate their industry from adding a cost of carbon to their products. So far the carbon coated currency used by lobbyists is achieving what was it was intended to do. The problem is not going away and will only increase everyone’s difficulties and eventual cost to fix. I do not profess to be an environmental expert, but over the five decades I have been around, things have changed and it is only logic that tells me to do something, say something, for my grandkid’s sake.

Reasonable thinking citizens, business people and governments should not expect a radical energy shift tomorrow, but reasonable thinking citizens should expect business and governments to have a plan and see steady progress on that plan. Many European countries have made large strides with the new energy shift in recent decades, yet the North America carbon coated currency continues to blur the vision of our elected members. Let’s hope more reasonable thinkers are elected in the future.