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The Energy Transformation

We're in a curious time, from an energy standpoint. With "peak oil" as the defining descriptor, and the potential to go several directions with our energy future. Oil is not a sustainable answer, as we know from both dwindling supplies and the impact of burning oil on our climate and ecologies. Natural gas may be a temporary "addiction fixer," but it is by definition (a fossil fuel) unsustainable.

We've been through wood and coal as primary energy sources in the past, and it can be argued that wood, at least, is renewable and its combustion but returns the carbon to the air that the tree absorbed over its life. Coal has some potential in being plentiful, but it's clearly not a clean technology, regardless of hyped-up terms like "clean coal."

In considering current and future energy needs, two main areas of focus seem logical, one on sources and one on distribution. Just as the sun provides the energy for life on earth, it would seem that direct access to solar power is ideal - impeccably clean (at least beyond production of the hardware components) and utterly renewable. Secondary sun-based sources include wind and water energy harnessing technologies. All of these need to be tailored to local conditions and local resources.

The other transition that needs to happen for better energy independence, security and sustainability is the movement toward localized distribution. In the U.S., we have the electric grid and we have gas stations, both symptomatic of the monoculture-based systems of the past. Today (ok, tomorrow for many of us) we have options for solar panels or wind turbines scaled for homeowners. We have "Flex Cars" in Brazil that run on gasoline or ethanol from biomass. We have new technologies that dramatically improve the efficiency of renewable resources, making them financially competitive with fossil fuels.

More importantly, we have an emerging new paradigm that places far greater emphasis on conservation and sustainability. It is this new paradigm that will be key to future decision-making. Do we regress back to nuclear power with its attendant risks? Do we move toward a hydrogen technology, but with a centralized focus? Or do we start over, looking at our communities, ecologies and sustainable resources, and then map out the best energy sourcing for our region. (Is that what people mean by Intelligent Design?)