Opinion Article
Now is NOT the Time for Complacency: We Need a National Energy Plan
Dear Editors:
It is time for a National Energy Plan. T. Boone Pickens and the Pickens Plan offer a viable plan that we can all rally around. There is bipartisan agreement that we are addicted to foreign oil. In 1979 Jimmy Carter boldly proclaimed “Beginning this moment, this Nation will never use more foreign oil than we did in 1977”. In 2003, George Bush hoped to “promote energy independence for our country, while dramatically improving the environment”. We can chart comments like this from President Nixon to President Obama. Since 1970 oil imports have grown from 24% to nearly 70%. Talk about over-promise and under-deliver; we need to hold the elected officials feet to the fire. We need a plan and T. Boone Pickens has come up with a good one. The Pickens Plan involves fossil and renewable fuels alike and allows us to reduce our foreign oil dependency and increase our national security.
In the spring and summer of 2008, American consumers were red-hot with anger toward energy producers. The rally cry went forward and the American consumer began to affect the supply and demand of energy in many different ways. Conservation of gasoline, increased usage of renewable technologies, demand for local, state and national energy policy were some of the unifying efforts to emerge from record setting fossil fuel prices. As the prices fell and we have settled into recessionary economic times, the rally cry for action has been muffled by seemingly higher priority economic problems, like staving off the banking collapse. We have to renew and revive our call for energy action.
The economic downturn is one reason for the collapse of fossil fuel prices. Oil and natural gas prices are inexorably linked to GDP growth. Unfortunately, GDP growth is in a freefall. Don’t be fooled, low energy prices are temporary. Have our fossil fuels supply and demand issues solved themselves during this downturn? Have renewable energy technologies stepped to the forefront enough to relieve us of our fossil fuel dominated economy? Noted historian and Pulitzer Prize winning author Daniel Yergin has dubbed us “Hydrocarbon Man”. The practical reality is that we will be dependent upon fossil fuel for many years to come. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) has recently adjusted projections to include a case for slowing economic growth. The EIA 2030 projections still include significant consumption increases for all energy sources. The greatest growth is for renewable consumption which includes wind, solar, biomass among many others. Fossil fuel consumption will also increase significantly in the next two decades and will continue to make up more than 80% of our total energy consumption. During the current energy demand lull, we have been afforded an opportunity to consider the whole energy supply basket in our state and national energy policies.
Colorado is blessed with a glorious array of natural beauty and natural energy resources. Production of the natural energy resources and preservation of the natural beauty require a delicate balance of policies meant to preserve the beauty and grow the economy. This is difficult task for our elected officials and they need our help and input. We need to help all of our elected officials devise a comprehensive plan that balances fossil and renewables along with preserving Colorado, and our Nation’s, natural beauty. Everyone decries the power and scope of OPEC. I believe that there is a much stronger union when it speaks as one voice: The American People. Let’s make a plan.
Renowned oil and gas tycoon T. Boone Pickens has surprised many in the oil patch by his efforts to redistribute the way we think about and use energy in this country. Careful consideration of fossil and renewable sources of energy alike can help us to reduce our crippling dependency on foreign oil. Please take an active role and support smart energy policy. Support the Pickens Plan.
Michael P. Dolan
Pickens Plan CO-02 District Leader
Boulder, CO
Dear Editors:
It is time for a National Energy Plan. T. Boone Pickens and the Pickens Plan offer a viable plan that we can all rally around. There is bipartisan agreement that we are addicted to foreign oil. In 1979 Jimmy Carter boldly proclaimed “Beginning this moment, this Nation will never use more foreign oil than we did in 1977”. In 2003, George Bush hoped to “promote energy independence for our country, while dramatically improving the environment”. We can chart comments like this from President Nixon to President Obama. Since 1970 oil imports have grown from 24% to nearly 70%. Talk about over-promise and under-deliver; we need to hold the elected officials feet to the fire. We need a plan and T. Boone Pickens has come up with a good one. The Pickens Plan involves fossil and renewable fuels alike and allows us to reduce our foreign oil dependency and increase our national security.
In the spring and summer of 2008, American consumers were red-hot with anger toward energy producers. The rally cry went forward and the American consumer began to affect the supply and demand of energy in many different ways. Conservation of gasoline, increased usage of renewable technologies, demand for local, state and national energy policy were some of the unifying efforts to emerge from record setting fossil fuel prices. As the prices fell and we have settled into recessionary economic times, the rally cry for action has been muffled by seemingly higher priority economic problems, like staving off the banking collapse. We have to renew and revive our call for energy action.
The economic downturn is one reason for the collapse of fossil fuel prices. Oil and natural gas prices are inexorably linked to GDP growth. Unfortunately, GDP growth is in a freefall. Don’t be fooled, low energy prices are temporary. Have our fossil fuels supply and demand issues solved themselves during this downturn? Have renewable energy technologies stepped to the forefront enough to relieve us of our fossil fuel dominated economy? Noted historian and Pulitzer Prize winning author Daniel Yergin has dubbed us “Hydrocarbon Man”. The practical reality is that we will be dependent upon fossil fuel for many years to come. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) has recently adjusted projections to include a case for slowing economic growth. The EIA 2030 projections still include significant consumption increases for all energy sources. The greatest growth is for renewable consumption which includes wind, solar, biomass among many others. Fossil fuel consumption will also increase significantly in the next two decades and will continue to make up more than 80% of our total energy consumption. During the current energy demand lull, we have been afforded an opportunity to consider the whole energy supply basket in our state and national energy policies.
Colorado is blessed with a glorious array of natural beauty and natural energy resources. Production of the natural energy resources and preservation of the natural beauty require a delicate balance of policies meant to preserve the beauty and grow the economy. This is difficult task for our elected officials and they need our help and input. We need to help all of our elected officials devise a comprehensive plan that balances fossil and renewables along with preserving Colorado, and our Nation’s, natural beauty. Everyone decries the power and scope of OPEC. I believe that there is a much stronger union when it speaks as one voice: The American People. Let’s make a plan.
Renowned oil and gas tycoon T. Boone Pickens has surprised many in the oil patch by his efforts to redistribute the way we think about and use energy in this country. Careful consideration of fossil and renewable sources of energy alike can help us to reduce our crippling dependency on foreign oil. Please take an active role and support smart energy policy. Support the Pickens Plan.
Michael P. Dolan
Pickens Plan CO-02 District Leader
Boulder, CO
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