Renewable Energy begins to surpass the Dirty Stuff
“On Easter Monday 2021 wind power made up 39% of the energy mix, with solar at 21%.
In comparison, nuclear provided 14.4% of electricity, and fossil fuels almost 25%, which mostly came from gas.”
-Ben Schofield & Pete Cooper, BBC News
When I read things like this. It gives me hope.
The war between Russia and Ukraine has become the unfortunate need for the spark of a renewable energy movement. “Energy Independence” is the path we should have headed down decades ago and we are beginning to feel it more than we have since the last major spike in oil prices in 2012.
There were quite a few things that caused the oil prices to rise:
January, 2012- Shortages of oil could have resulted if Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of exported oil travels, as a result of sanctions due to the country's nuclear policies.
February, 2012- cold weather in Europe and higher Third World demand.
February, 2012- This came one day after Iran's oil ministry announced an end to sales to British and French companies; though this would have little actual impact on supplies, fears resulted in higher prices.
August, 2012- California refinery fire contributed to a jump in oil futures.
August-September, 2012- a pipeline leak, fears about Iran, the crisis in Syria, North Sea problems, and Tropical Storm Ernesto all contributed to a 20% jump in oil prices in six weeks.
September, 2012- Hurricane Isaac contributed to a temporary spike in gas prices.
After doing this research, it is apparent that the entire world is impacted by the rising and falling of oil accessibility and prices. When we find ourselves in a situation where we begin to cut off countries due to “bad behavior” we are also cutting ourselves off of the things we happen to be unfortunately dependent of. In 2021, the US imported an average of 209,000 barrels per day of crude oil and 500,000 of other petroleum products from Russia.
Doesn’t seem like much? when the prices of oil increase rapidly, it could make or break the budget for the over 40 million low income families in the US.
What if we would have weaned ourselves of of oil 30 years ago when I was banging my head against the microphone to my teachers, neighbors, family, and classmates?
We always talk about “buying local,” “supporting small businesses,” “fair trade,” yet even though all of this matters, it would pack a bigger punch if our economy wasn’t so dependent on energy supplies from other economies.
Energy is needed for EVERYTHING. We use natural gas and electricty fueld by coal to heat up that every morning latte you love so much. Take a shower everyday? - yeah, that’s natural gas. Those lovely nylons, nearly 95% all the clothes in your closet, the container your berries come in- crude oil. The cost of everything is affected by oil. How do you think those products make it so conveniently to your local co-op, department, or corner store?
Once the cost of oil goes up, EVERYTHING goes up.
The crazy thing about all of this is; if we would have ablactated ourselves from this sludge decades ago, we would not be wasting our precious minutes in the day (that all stack up) repeating statements like: “geez have you seen the cost of gas?” or “Gosh it cost me $60 to fill up my tank today and it only lasted 2 days!” - to random strangers in order to make small talk.
When It Is Everything BUT SMALL Talk.
My hope, is that this war will be the very thing we need to run towards renewables as fast as our sluggish governments can go. And hopefully, human-kind’s habitual nature to suffer short term memory loss after any global or local crisis, will not take-place.
Your Environment Guardian, kristel porter