| Fully renewing our electricity production will not only be a major step towards addressing climate change, it is critical for an equally urgent crisis, though less understood: peak oil.
What is peak oil? Think of it as the ying to climate change's yang. If the climate crisis calls on us to renounce fossil fuels for the sake of future generations, energy depletion means that we must do so for our short-term economic survival. We will use fewer fossil fuels one way or another; but if we fail to adapt intelligently to the post-carbon era, the next few decades will see ever higher energy costs and continued high carbon emissions--leaving us with a ruined environment and a shattered economy, unable to face a future without fossil fuels.
The solution to both climate change and fossil fuel depletion is to develop renewable sources of energy, use less energy, use energy differently--and to make this transition as rapidly as possible. And so the goal to "Repower America" must be front and center in our thoughts and actions.
The real question now is "how?"
The first step is to join the caucus of those who are supporting Gore's call. You can do so by visiting wecansolveit.org.
The second is to get involved in collective solutions to make this vision a reality. Post Carbon Institute (for which I serve on the Board of Directors) has published a 10-point framework for achieving the goal of 100% renewable energy by 2018--one that recognizes the complex issues of energy depletion, the vulnerability of the supply chain and the limits of technology.
The ten points can be summarized by the following words:
1. Reduce
2. Share
3. Diversify
4. Distribute
5. Store
6. Reinvest
7. Relocalize
8. Reengineer
9. Reskill
10. Remobilize
I've been impressed by the passion, dedication, and ingenuity I've seen in those I've met at Netroots Nation and throughout the progressive blogosphere.
Just look at Energize America, drafted by members of the DailyKos community! And so I encourage you to check out the plan, share your thoughts, and get involved.
Debbie Cook
Board member, Post Carbon Institute
Board member, Association for the Study of Peak Oil
Mayor of Huntington Beach California
Democratic Nominee for Congress (CA-46) |
