The Transition to Renewable Energy

There is currently no strategy or proposal on the table for the needed energy conversion to renewable sources for transportation and energy production. For all the hoopla about Al Gore’s movie “An Inconvenient Truth” and given Senator Gore’s own background in the Executive and Legislative branches of the Federal Government, there is little in the way of concrete policy proposals that have been introduced as a cornerstone of a new energy policy.

What is needed?

This issue requires a political settlement that involves large, capital-intensive sectors of the American economy. It is pure folly to expect there to be a negotiating table set up as things stand. The governors and mayors of American have initiated much of the current activity. There needs to be a political mandate that is defined through the Congressional and Presidential elections specifically to move from no-action to a Preferred Scenario that will have the needed impact on global warming. This leaves out both the Democratic and Republican candidates. It leaves open the options of Unity ‘08, the Greens and any others who hold the potential for a comprehensive package of recommendations to enact. http://www.unity08.com/ An independent candidate needs to have defined supporters that endorse the proposal for a national package in order to coordinate the strategy to enact legislation in Congress.

The Green Party current political leadership remains complacent and more focused on the Iraq war then it is on environmental concerns regarding the adoption of a strategy that is based on climate change. James Howard Kunstler, author of THE LONG EMERGENCY, would certainly be a candidate that could unite conservatives and others around the oil peak and energy transition issues. Bill Richardson, a favorite son here in NM, has certainly provided little concrete leadership in addressing energy transition, resource management or national leadership on the Climate Change issue. Arnold Schwarzenegger appears to have usurped that crown quite vigorously with little competition.

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