Posted August 25, 2005

     Even though we are South Boston’s neighborhood weekly, we occasionally devote our editorial space to issues of national importance.  In the past, these have involved politics, education, and even sports, when baseball’s steroid scandal broke open.

     This editorial deals with energy.  With oil at $65 per barrel (a historic high) and gasoline averaging $2.55 a gallon (for self-served regular), no one has to be told of energy’s importance – locally, statewide, and nationally.

     And winter is coming.

     South Boston Online is quite optimistic that America’s energy problems can be resolved.  There is one, single key to ensuring U.S. energy supplies:  sharply reduce (or eliminate) our reliance on imported fossil fuels (oil, LNG).  It will be hard, but that’s it.  If we are able to do that – problem solved.

     First of all, that will require conservation.  However, the main thrust for decreasing our reliance on imports will be alternate forms of energy, added to our power network in a scientific manner over the next 25 years or so.

     Don’t depend upon politicians to do this.  We don’t want to make this a partisan editorial, but it’s a fact that the recently-passed energy bill actually increases our dependence on fossil fuels.  Republicans are in control of the Executive office as well as both houses of the Legislature.  And has anyone heard so much as a whisper from our officials about reducing state and federal taxes on gasoline temporarily?  Of course not.  We private citizens are on our own.

      The major target for conservation in America must be gasoline.  Getting out the caulking gun and the weather stripping will help, as will turning down the thermostat, but homes and workplaces still have to be heated.  Focus on your use of your car.

      Has your car been tuned up recently?  Do you check tire inflation at least weekly?  Both of those measures could save you 10% of your gas usage.  Play a game with your family, and let the kids participate – how many of your current trips with the car can be combined? 

     We’re not recommending wholesale downsizing, but is it time for you to consider a smaller car?  Or a partially electric-driven hybrid?  These are very well engineered vehicles.

     If you really wish to subdue the world’s oil-producing terrorist dictatorships, just cut back on buying the petroleum products they send us.  There is no need to use force.  They’ll soon be at our door, hat in hand, with lower priced oil.  Remember, the U.S. still pumps a lot of its own oil, especially the benchmark West Texas Intermediate.

     In the longer term, alternate sources of energy are the only answer.  Both China and India, which together have seven times the population of the U.S., are consuming far more oil than five years ago.  This is one major reason prices have risen so much.  In addition, global oil supplies are dwindling and will continue to do so.  We can’t do anything about this.  America must turn elsewhere for its energy.

     Here are a few questions to whet your interest in alternate energies.  Did you know that Denmark gets 20% of its electricity from wind power?  Also, were you aware that there are so many “wind corridors” in the U.S. that we could generate all of our electric power needs with wind turbines?  As for the NIMBYs, does anyone believe that the Dutch were opposed to windmills in Holland?

     There are so many energy alternates – wind, solar, tidal hydro, nuclear, renewables like grain-based ethanol, and so on – that we could become totally self-sufficient by 2050.  Think of the jobs an energy changeover will make available in agriculture, engineering, construction, and power plant operations.  And these are environmentally friendly energy sources that are also highly profitable in the long run.

     It’s up to us.  Start conserving.  Stay tuned.