OBSERVATIONS ON REACHING ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

The energy controversy has stirred up much debate and talk of what has been going on behind the scenes to change the way we produce and use energy. Here are some of my observations.

To not drill for oil is wrong and time wasting. We’ve already wasted years in delaying the inevitable. Whatever anyone says we will need gas and oil for many years to come. Count the cars on the road today. Will everyone be able to convert and incur the cost to a new technology? This will be a slow drawn out process and will take years to accomplish. This is a step towards energy independence. We need to be realistic.
Some are pushing for nuclear power to heat and light our homes. It’s been successful in other countries and appears to be safe. My objection is the storage of waste materials. This could prove to be very dangerous in the long run. We need a solution that is safe, plentiful and will not disrupt our way of living. In my opinion coal is the way to go. It is plentiful, not a safety issue for storage and will not affect the use of farm land to feed the population. They say new and better ways to extract and use coal have been developed to make it economical.
A very realistic approach is to develop a smaller, powerful battery to replace the gas engine. Look at the storage capacity and power of today’s computers. We need to follow their lead and ingenuity to bring this to a reality.

My three step approach is:

Start drilling today to make the way for tomorrows goal of energy independence.
Invest in using our coal resources to produce the energy needed to heat and power our homes and industries. If this is found to be a weak argument than I would opt for nuclear energy. The storage of nuclear waste is still a major drawback. This is a serious issue and needs to resolved.
Invest in creating a self sustained battery to replace the gasoline engine. Keep in mind the initial cost to purchase this type of vehicle will be high but it will reduce the demand for gas and lower prices. Just as in any new technology as demand increases prices will fall and become more affordable,

The political statements of today are false and provide very little insight into looking at the problem and the development for a long term solution.