Fairness and Objectivity Favors Renewable Energy

Frequent commenter and colleague Tom Konrad of AltEnergyStocks.com writes on my post in which I express my approval of the nomination of Ron Binz to head up the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission:

I was an expert witness (for the Energy Efficiency Business Coalition) in a couple of demand side management cases before Binz when he was the Colorado PUC chair. He’s no knee-jerk enviro, but carefully considers the arguments from both sides.  I thought he was open-minded and intelligent.  That said, anyone who’s open-minded and not married to the status quo will end up moving things in favor of clean energy.

Thanks, Tom.  That’s exactly right.  If all the decisions surrounding energy and the environment were made by people of intelligence and objectivity, the game would be over.  The levelized cost of energy associated with renewable sources is falling every day, just as the costs to human health and the environment of fossil fuels are going the other way.  Anyone can see that.

The question is one of political will, i.e., do we have the strength to tell the coal and oil boys that, we as a country, are in the process of weaning ourselves away from their products?  I’m hopeful that Binz’ appointment answers that question in the affirmative.