In Nixon’s Footsteps

By promising to double our supply of renewables, Mr. Obama is only trying to keep pace with his predecessor. Yes, that’s right: From 2005 to 2007, the former Texas oil man oversaw a near-doubling of the electrical output from solar and wind power. And between 2007 and 2008, output from those sources grew by another 30%.

Mr. Bush’s record aside, the key problem facing Mr. Obama, and anyone else advocating a rapid transition away from the hydrocarbons that have dominated the world’s energy mix since the dawn of the Industrial Age, is the same issue that dogs every alternative energy idea: scale.

via Robert Bryce Says Renewable Energy Is Insufficient to Replace Hydrocarbons – WSJ.com.

Mr. Bryce explains why even the most ambitious “green energy” effort won’t come close to making us “energy independent”. It’s not complicated – it’s just math. Of course, politicians don’t appear to have much aptitude for math. If they do, they keep it well hidden, at least if there are votes at stake.

Nixon started the push for “energy independence” and it’s had strong bi-partisan support ever since. I’ve always thought that any idea that has bi-partisan support is a real stinker. It’s sad to another administration follow in Nixon’s footsteps.

Energy Policy – Just Ask Paris!

Daniel Henninger makes some very good points about the difference in energy policy as seen by Democrats and Republicans. There is, indeed, a choice to be made. Everyone seems to want to move in the direction of energy alternatives. The difference is speed and risk. The Democratic view is that we should move at great speed and at great risk to the economy (although they never say the last part). The Republican view is that we should move at a slower pace and with very little risk to the economy.

As a practical matter, moving very quickly isn’t an option, no matter how much anyone wants it. Our energy system and economy are too huge. And damaging the economy isn’t likely either – it’s too resilient. At the end of the day, the path suggested by the Republicans (and Paris Hilton!) is the one we’ll follow. If Senator Obama wins, there may be a few false starts, but we’ll end up in a similar place.