Many thanks to Pat Reid, for sharing this article written for The Sentinel this week, so I can offer it here. Pat has written very eloquently and professionally for our community before talking about ethanol and this week he turns his analytical skills to LNG.
On the energy front, this nation is at a crossroads. Do we continue to throw money at the fossil fuel industry (represented in large part by the API – American Petroleum Institute) or do we finally awaken to stand up against this fossil fuel lobby and the interests that they represent and just say NO. No to greater dependence on foreign sourced fossil fuels which only enrich the oil/gas corporations, undermines our national security and provides funding to our enemies. We the people need to start saying YES to renewable, domestically produced, and sustainable sources of energy that increase the wealth and stability of this country – allowing for an overall national way of life that models sound energy policy for the rest of the world to emulate. In my view, we must come to grips with the reality that there is only a relatively modest amount of fossil fuels left here on our own shores and begin in earnest to invest in & develop our own sources of RENEWABLE energy. Wind, solar and biofuels are viable right now and will only enhance the health of the economy, environment, and national security. The use of fossil fuels, especially supertanker shipped LNG, increasingly makes us less secure as we are forced to rely on countries that are ruled, in large part, by unfriendly dictators who despise countries with democratic forms of government. These dictatorships have and will continue to use a certain percentage of these petroleum/gas dollars to pose a threat to our national security.
LNG is 100% foreign sourced from many of the same volatile countries that provide much of the oil to satisfy our current addiction. We are setting ourselves up for an unhealthy dependence to yet another fossil fuel that undermines our overall security, adds to the global climate change problem, and does nothing to help wean us off our oil habit. LNG coming into Coos Bay, or any other U.S. port, is just a bad idea if looked at with any kind of long term perspective.
Our federal, state & local dollars would be much better spent by developing and establishing industries that harness the renewable power of the wind, the sun, biomass derived fuels (ethanol & biodiesel) and even the tremendous potential energy of wave/tidal action just off the coast. These energy sources would provide many good paying jobs that enable us to use our existing electrical grids and power our cars with very little modification needed. Every state in the union has the potential to harness at least two of these renewable sources of energy and do it reliably within 5 to 10 years. We must commit to stop throwing our money at fossil based fuels (especially those 100% foreign sourced) and demand an Apollo type program be launched that breaks this country free of our crippling dependence on dwindling supplies of fossil fuel and moves us toward renewable energy independence and greater national security.
Ten years from now, I am one who would like to see the goal of having at least 50% of our energy coming from wind, solar, advanced biofuels, and other sources of renewable energy. Tell your elected officials that you want this kind of future and urge them to work toward this goal. Remind them to say no to things like LNG that ultimately undermine our overall prosperity & security.
