[Note: The statements below are intended solely to stimulate discussion among the Expert community, and do not represent the position of OurEnergyPolicy.org. Text in italics indicates clarification or expansion.]
 

The U.S. Energy Policy should be based on the following principles:

Energy Security – an urgent program to move away from oil as fast as possible:

  • Stage 1 – reducing oil’s strategic value by breaking its monopoly in the transportation sector.
  • Stage 2 – drive a worldwide effort to shift away from oil.
We are funding both sides of the war on Radical Islam. Our economy and way of life are in danger. Oil shortage could bring about a world war. We have lost part of our freedom and independence and could lose more.

Climate Change (global warming) – a balanced program between the short and long term goals. Run both programs in parallel:

  • Priority 1 (next 15 years) – Implement oil replacement solution with positive net effect on global warming. Avoid GHG lock-ins (e.g., improve building efficiency, utilities decoupling).
  • Priority 2 (next 50 years) – an economic and scientific based program targeting the main sources of global warming worldwide.
We must accept the current scientific consensus that global warming is happening and it is largely caused by green house gases (GHG). We should start immediately, but understand that it is going to be a continuous effort over 50 years.

Economic Development – all programs should accelerate economic development. The energy policy should provide the U.S. with a competitive and strategic advantage that will improve the well being of our people. We should strive for the most economically competitive solutions.

We are spending $1 trillion a year on importing oil and defending it. It is a liability – a drain on our economy. We should change our energy policy into an economic asset.

Longevity – the policy should take into account the reduced worldwide availability of oil, natural gas and coal and their long term effect on our environment, economy and security. The policy should be built around a gradual but continual rollout plan of new sources of energy to replace the current dominant fossil based resources.

The growth of the developing world and its energy consumption will shorten the current time estimates of the availability of critical resources. We must plan for worst case scenarios.