What we need now is an intense technological collaboration of the world's brightest minds on Renewable Energy Solutions. If we can channel this type of intense collaboration towards mass destruction, why can't we also use the same focus to save life?

Currently, renewable energy production world wide is quite low. Here in America, it is only 8% of the total energy we use. When considering Renewable Energy, many agencies lump wood, hydropower, and biofuels into this category. We do not believe that these are truly forms of Renewable Energy. First of all, with regards to wood, much of the world's forests are being destroyed at an alarming rate. According to National Geographic, swaths the size of Panama are lost each year. The rainforest is the lungs of the planet and absorbs much of the Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere.

In terms of biofules, Nobel Laureate Paul Crutzen found that the emissions of Nitrous Oxide due to nitrate fertilizers are underestimated, and produce more greenhouse gases than the fossil fuels they replace. Also, the reservoirs used for hydropower have a significant environmental impact. They generate methane and greenhouse gasses when the reservoirs are stratified. We're not saying that we should stop using these resources cold turkey. We're saying that the research and development of other resources should be pushed so that we can phase out our harmful methods of production as quickly as possible.

 There has been great technological advances in this field despite the government's total lack of leadership in this endeavor. The cost of wind and solar energy have dropped dramatically in recent years. With some of the most advanced technology in the world, America still has what it takes to build a bridge into the future.

 

What Is Needed?

Spending and Funding: There needs to be a careful review of what is needed for the future at a government level. Currently, funding for renewable energy research is still pathetically low when compared to the money spent on importing oil. In 2006 the government spent 206 billion on oil imports, this was about half of our defense budget at the time. If we drop our over seas wars and stop spending so much money on oil, we can develop more of our funds and attentions towards developing the sustainable energy needed to lead America into the future.

Government Focus: The president needs to use his bully pulpit position in order to bring together major business and industry leaders to see what is necessary to mobilize sweeping changes in this task. He needs to devote more time and energy towards publically declaring the urgency of this task.