The Tipping Point

Since I'm in an industry that is heavily affected by the high cost of fuel, I'm seeing a lot of long faces these days. Hard working people who have no choice but to pay the price and try to survive. Seeing how much damage these high prices have inflicted, I've been more than upset, but don't think everyone is. There are certain people who are giddy, yes giddy, about it and its effect on people. I'm talking about the hard core environmentalist, for them this is a dream come true. (Ironically people selling oil feel the same way.)

Now I'm not suggesting environmentalist are happy people are hurting, I don't think that, but they do see high energy prices as a positive step towards forcing conservation and the use of alternative forms of energy, that are better for the environment. While I admire those who want a cleaner planet, I have to wonder if the environmentalist have gotten too much of a good thing.

They predicted, correctly so, that when the cost of fossil fuels became too expensive people would start using less energy and turn to alternative cleaner sources. What they didn't count on was the tipping point. I believe that there is a tipping point in almost any situation. A point, that when surpassed, can create an undesired and unpredictable effect. We have passed that point. Yes, people are driving less, as well as looking at solar and wind power as real solutions but because the dramatic rise in energy prices they are also turning towards drilling in protected areas, more refineries and more nuclear plants. Clearly this was not what the environmentalist were hoping for. They have fought hard to keep these options off the energy menu for the past thirty years. Well not only are they back on the menu, they're about to be served.

Unfortunately, fossil fuels and nuclear energy are the only sources ready for prime time. While the masses may be willing and ready to make a change, the alternatives are just not there yet. Just because people want an alternative source of energy doesn't mean it's out there, at least not at the moment. Turning our attention 100% to producing these unknown alternatives is not guaranteed to produce anything. We have to have a plan until a solution is found.

What we should be doing is attacking the problem on two fronts. Implement established alternatives where they are productive, reward and promote conservation efforts and encourage the development of cleaner energy. At the same time we need to develop a realistic plan to use the resources we have here now to supply or energy needs . And for Pete's sake don't grow food to put in our fuel tanks while people are starving all over the world.

With the best of intentions the environmentalist have bound our hands too tight and pushed us in a direction that has no clear path. I honestly believe change is necessary, maybe vital, but forcing it on people before a realistic solution has been discovered is risky and seems to be tipping us in the wrong direction.

The best roads don't end in a 90 degree turn, they slowly curve and bank us in a new direction so that very little momentum is lost.