by MJ Miller

Created on: December 17, 2007

I don't think the real question is whether or not the United States should work toward energy independence. The answer to that question is absolutely, yes we should. The real question is how should we go about it?

With every alternative method put forward for energy production, there will be a hoard of people out there that will tell you how it won't work. It's that way with every good idea. The detractors and nay-sayers will come out of the woodwork to oppose it, but they will have no viable alternatives to put forth. We need to encourage action from not only big business to develop and implement alternative energy through research, but also from every citizen to conserve and use energy responsibly in their everyday lives.

The fact is, we should work toward energy independence with every means and technology available, focusing on solar and wind power to supplement electricity production, ethanol and biodiesel to supplement motor vehicle fuels.

Now, let me explain why I used the term "supplement" in the previous paragraph. While there is nothing wrong with having an ultimate goal of completely replacing the burning of fossil fuels for electricity production, it would be a huge undertaking to reach that goal anytime soon. A far better approach, in my view, is to implement solar and wind power so it can be widely used in smaller applications.

In other words, instead of building huge solar power plants or wind farms that would take monumental planning and cost, we should encourage the use of smaller applications such as office buildings and factories making use of their roof space by installing solar panels and windmills to provide a portion of their electrical needs. The technology is available now on the scale needed to do this. Even if it only provided half the energy needs of the building, it would cut that much of the fossil fuels used to produce it.

The large solar plants and wind farms can be implemented later on when possible but the smaller applications can be done immediately to start reducing our consumption of oil now which will start us on the road to complete energy independence. Even the average homeowner can install solar panels on their home for hot water heating and electricity.

We also need to increase production and use of ethanol mixed gasoline nationwide. It is only available in certain parts of the country at this time. By expanding distribution and use of this gasoline supplement, and by using more biodiesel, we can further cut our use of oil.

By cutting consumption, we not only extend the supply of oil, it will also help regulate the price and help prevent it from skyrocketing ever higher, which is a major threat to the economic health of not only the U.S. but every country dependent on oil. Once alternative energy sources are in place, it will prevent economies from being held hostage by the oil producing nations.

We need to take these steps and other alternative energy sources as they become available and economically viable, to do what we can not only to reduce our dependence on oil but to cut pollution, carbon emissions and help slow global warming.

I think it's long overdue that the United States makes energy independence a high priority and the people as well as the government should act now toward this end.

All it takes is small steps to reach the larger goal.

Thanks for reading.

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