How can we become energy independent?

There is not one straight path to energy independence and efficiency. While some sources such as biofuels and hydrogen are “sexy” and “exotic,” they are not a complete solution to the fix we find ourselves in.

I find that the environmental movement has too many constituencies that can’t seem to agree on anything. Also, what does “green” or “clean” mean? For example, some folks are aghast at the thought of nuclear energy—it’s harmful, dangerous, etc. But France gets 70% of its electricity though nuclear energy, and our current dependence on fossil fuels has a horrible effect on our air, land, and water. Biofuels have the “cool” factor, but the corn ethanol push in the US had a disastrous effect on fuel prices. Solar, hybrid battery and wind also have their toxic issues, and algae and cellulosic technologies aren’t ready for prime time.

There also isn’t enough emphasis on energy efficient technologies—while we wait for the next generation of fuels to become more cost effective and abundant, let’s face it, folks, we’re still using fossil fuels. So why not encourage r&d of technologies that will improve the grid, that will allow large buildings and warehouses to create their own energies through mini-turbines, or battery storage technologies that will allow homes to become mini-utilities?

And I love the idea of the Southwest being a vast solar field, the plains from the Dakotas to Texas living off of T. Boone Pickens’s wind, and Florida becoming a haven for algae. But what works in one region won’t fly in another—some fuels are perfect for a fleet-based approach in the transport sector, such as DME or used cooking oil for buses and trucks, or plug-in hybrid cars for commuters.

In the end, none of these technologies will work if there isn’t a market—it’s not politically correct to say so, but that’s the truth. A combination of government incentives and timely private investment can get us on the right path to a cleaner and more sustainable future.