Energy Independence

Ever since the Arab Israeli war on Yom Kippur in 1973 the US must have visited and revisited the idea of Energy Independence at least a dozen times. What is ironic about this plan , that has some very influential supporters, is that the concept has the backing of energy industry executives, conservative republicans, liberal democrats and environmental organizations. Such wide support should be a clue that the idea not well thought out. How else could a plan appeal to all segments of the political and environmental establishments.

Lets be clear, energy independence has never been motivated by ecological concerns. It is an idea that is often floated by politicians for purely patriotic, nationalistic and chauvinistic end. The general appeal for energy independence that Thomas Friedman pushes on the Op-Ed pages of the NYT is based on the unpredictability of supplies from the Middle East and the fear that oil might be used as political weapon. Uncertainty in supplies will hamper the efforts to invest, grow and maintain our hegemony. Ecological concerns are not an issue in this line of thinking.

Environmentalists usually lend their support for the promise that energy independence usually includes additional funding of some renewable energy technologies. That is the carrot whose function is to mislead and obfuscate the real issue. The only goal of these, misguided efforts for energy independence, is to enrich the coffers of major corporations , encourage coal mining and provide the nuclear option a shot in the arm.

It is instructive to note that most of the oil that is currently imported into the US comes from Canada, Venezuela and Nigeria. So what would be the effect of shifting, provided it can be done, all our imports to non Middle Eastern sources? The easy answer is nothing since oil is a fungible commodity. Furthermore replacing dirty oil with dirtier coal or potentially cancerous nuclear waste is nothing short of an immoral, unethical and masochistic enterprise.

What we need to promote is not energy independence that will transform so much of our landscape into open pit mines and many areas into depositories that will pose be a threat for many millennia. We need to adopt policies that would restructure society to decrease its dependence on energy in all fields and in all sectors. A piece meal approach even when well intended is bound to fail. We have to tell Washington that we cannot afford to participate anylonger in their meaningless and destructive games. Energy independence is nothing more than a euphemism for more of the same. What do you think?