One of the most important issues facing the U.S. and the world at this moment is energy security. A great many energy concerns face us in the coming years. Fossil fuel depletion is a particular concern, since much of the world relies on oil. There is a distinct possibility that the world is exhausting the finite amount of fossil fuels. Once it is gone, there is no way to replace it. Instead of reducing fossil fuel use, the U.S. continues to rely primarily on oil for its energy needs, and newly developing countries such as China and India are increasing their consumption of fossil fuels. The population size alone in some of the developing countries foreshadows an exponential increase in demand that could put a serious strain on natural resources. There is a growing concern that the world is either close to or has already surpassed such a high rate of consumption that the earth cannot replenish its resources quickly enough to continue at the current rate of consumption. In light of the growing demands on natural energy sources, it makes intuitive sense to begin examining alternate energy options to ensure energy security and stability in the U.S.

Our reliance on oil also makes us dependent on foreign countries to provide our energy needs, gives us no control over prices and supply, and presents an array of geopolitical problems. Concerns of supply and regime stability in countries such as Nigeria, Iraq, and Iran pose a distinct challenge to energy security since unstable regimes cannot guarantee the necessary supply of fuel. Many of the nations that supply our fuel are also potentially hostile to the U.S., which presents the possibility of both price increases and embargoes. The U.S. is completely dependent on oil—any disruptions in supply and price increases would be detrimental to the U.S., particularly in uncertain economic times. These concerns cannot be addressed by nuclear power alone. Most of the electricity used in the U.S. is fueled by coal, while oil is primarily used for transportation. Nuclear energy as an alternate energy source would do little to decrease our reliance on oil, so we must seek an alternate source of energy for transportation as well as electricity. Moreover, as developing countries continue on to evolve, they become important players on the world stage. Large countries that have their own fuel supply, such as Russia, have a more powerful voice in international relations, because they have the carrot. Less developed areas, such as Africa, have the potential to become battle zones as countries vie for regional control in their quest to secure new sources of energy.

Energy security not only makes sense in the economic and security realms, but also for the environmental and climate change issues that the world is facing. Global warming is a serious problem. At the current rate of climate change, within the next 100 years, global warming will cause surface temperatures to rise by between 1.1 and 6.4 degree Celsius, which will cause sea levels to rise by one foot.¹ Both of these effects will impact arable land and natural ecosystems with the potential to cause food shortages, water shortages, and decreasing land available to live on and develop. By focusing on alternate sources of energy, the U.S. can decrease fossil fuel consumption, which will hopefully retard global climate change, and make sure that we have secure and continuous sources of energy at the same time. Research and development of alternative energy sources could also provide a new sector of jobs, which are desperately needed in our contracting economy.

Recognizing the need for energy security is only the first step. What can the U.S. do to make certain that our future energy needs are met? In their memo to President Obama on energy security, William Antholis and Charles Ebinger of the Brookings Institute² prescribe several steps that the Obama administration should take to provide energy security:

• Introduce energy and climate protection legislation that emphasizes energy efficient transportation system through a federal—state partnership. Relying on one commodity for 70% of transportation needs is risky considering the history of dramatic price shifts and current geopolitical conditions.
• Reorganize domestic energy security institutions. The President should implement a domestic cap and trade program, similar to the international program established under the Kyoto Protocol, to reduce carbon emissions. The government can allocate or auction annual emissions rights and companies can buy and sell rights among each other.
• Launch a global diplomatic energy security campaign. It should begin with domestic action and then propose to replace the Kyoto Protocol with a general agreement.

Such proposals make sense and would provide the U.S. with a more secure and sustainable, environmentally friendly, energy source. Energy security should be a top priority of the Obama administration to ensure continued access to the energy we need to survive.

But then, there is the AIG Alternative Energy Plan:

Written by Holly Lindamood, Program Director and Research Associate
Daisy Alliance

1. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change www.ipcc.ch [↩]
2. Antholis, William and Ebinger, Charles. “Memo to the President: Build a Secure Energy Future” http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2008/1111_energy_security_memo.aspx [↩]