A NEW ENERGY POLICY
July 21, 2008

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Al Gore’s description last week of the nation’s current energy policy was both succinct and clear, “We’re borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the planet.”  Gore’s observation was right on point and underscored the pathetic state of energy policymaking.  America’s energy policy makes no sense other than to keep things going the way they have been, despite all evidence that such policies are putting the nation — and the world — at great risk.

The former Vice President made his observations as part of his call for the nation to set a goal of generating all of its electricity from renewable resources and carbon-constrained fuels within 10 years.

It’s hard to argue with Gore’s vision, something like that has to happen pretty quickly if the nation is to dramatically reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases.  Experts at the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (which shared the Nobel Prize with Gore last year), have urged that the world must slash greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by the year 2050 if it is to have any chance of steering clear of the calamity resulting from runaway global warming.
Frankly, an aggressive effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions would also address skyrocketing energy costs fueled by the rapid increase in the cost of oil.  As Gore pointed out, “The sun and the wind and geothermal are not going to run out … and they are not increasing in price.”

The nation already has an infrastructure in place to deal with the change.  If cars were fueled by electricity instead of the combustion engine, for example, all you would need to do is to plug your car into a socket to get a charge.  Gore’s vision is to replace the way that electricity is generated, by replacing power generated by the burning of fossil fuels with renewable sources of power.

It makes a lot of sense for policymakers to be moving in the direction outlined by Gore.  Some states are already embracing the policy of meeting the challenge of reducing greenhouse gases by 80 percent by 2050.  New York policymakers debated the same thing during the past legislative session. 

The State Assembly passed its bill to reduce greenhouse gases.  In the Senate, a significant number of Republican Senators supported the same approach – including the new Majority Leader Dean Skelos.  Unfortunately, the legislation was killed in the Senate on the last day of session, reportedly due to a concern that the legislation may undermine efforts to run coal burning plants in Western New York.

As a result, the Senate rejected the overwhelming scientific and economic evidence of moving to renewable power in order to protect some coal burning plants – plants which use the dirtiest form of fossil fuel.
It’s that kind of backward thinking that has kept the nation in its current energy rut.  It is precisely the kind of thinking that must be rejected by New Yorkers and the rest of the nation. 
New York policymakers must focus on an energy plan that:

• Sets a clear goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions;
• Encourages the development of renewable forms of energy; and
• Funds a dramatic expansion of conservation and efficiency programs that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions while curbing energy costs for individuals and businesses.

The State Senate is scheduled to return next month.  It would be a perfect time for the new leader of the Senate to show that he recognizes the scientific reality and economic need for a new energy policy.  Senator Skelos should use the opportunity to push through his house and send to the governor legislation to curb global warming.

That’s all for now.  I’ll be keeping an eye on the Capitol and will talk to you again next week.

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