Renewable Energy and Morality

In the talk Dr. David Mills gave recently in on solar thermal, he closed by telling his audience that renewable energy was “a moral issue,” meaning, of course, that we as a species have a series of related ethical obligations regarding our environment. When I put this together with the ideas of some other people I’ve interviewed for my book on renewables, I arrive at a considerable laundry list of clear consequences of pursuing the status quo in terms of power generation and consumption:

Increasing rates of serious diseases directly and indirectly caused by fossil fuel extraction, refinement, distribution and combustion

Suffering of other animals brought about by reduction in habitable areas, food supplies, and accelerated extinction of species

Storms, droughts, and famines associated with global climate change

Destruction of crustaceans and associated ecosystems due to ocean acidification

Increased violence from terrorist groups and rogue states empowered by wealth derived from oil

Reduced quality of life for our descendents

Social chaos engendered by imminent gasoline shortages

In my talk yesterday with Matt Simmons of “peak oil” fame, he pointed out that social chaos will ensue as oil becomes scarce and gasoline becomes unavailable in an increasing number locations over increasingly long periods of time. I asked Matt, not generally known for his rose-colored predictions of the future for an oil-addicted world, for a solution. To my surprise and delight, he provided one without a moment’s hesitation. More on this tomorrow.