While the rest of the civilized world is working on their future energy requirements, including clean, renewable, and locally produced energy that creates new jobs, where is the USA's energy policy. Do we even have one?
Actually we do. Early in his first term, our Vice President Cheney sat down with executives from the oil and power industries to discuss our energy policy. He won't reveal what was discussed, leaving us to guess. Judging by $90 - $100 a barrel oil, my guess is that windmills, solar, and other renewable's were not a big part of the discussion.
Listening to the democratic debate(?) I wasn't impressed with anything I heard about energy policy. Mandating better gas mileage is really not the answer. Coincidently I just heard another report on TV showing a Spanish system that uses mirrors to focus the heat on one area, creating steam to power generators. It will soon power a city of 700,000 people. In the report they mentioned that if a huge system of this type were to cover ONE percent of the Sahara desert, it could produce enough electricity for the entire world!
Given the wave, solar and wind technologies already existing, and the spirit and ingenuity of the american people we should easily be able to eliminate nuclear, coal and oil for electricity, heating and cooling. We just need leadership to clear the way and let us get started.
