Tap New Sources For Energy, Safety
March 10th, 2005 Green, Blue, Yellow, Orange, Red - we've all come to know the color code that warns us of the inherent terrorist threat. And recent concerns over liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage in the port of Philadelphia - well-placed concerns - suggest two things. The first is that energy security is a crucial part of our total security picture. The second is that we should seek alternative energy sources. Once again, green is the safest color.
Importing energy is fraught with risk, both economic and political. That's why, since 1973, when the initial OPEC embargo triggered long lines at gas stations nationwide, every president has said that the United States must reduce its dependence on foreign oil. Yet we are now twice as dependent on foreign oil as we were then. More than 95 percent of our transportation system now runs on oil and depends on the security of oil pipelines, distribution terminals, tankers, and refineries that stretch in a fragile network around the globe. This supply line is openly targeted by al-Qaeda to cause serious disruptions to our economy and daily life.
Our demand for natural gas now has outpaced our supplies at home, and, as with oil, we face the prospect of more energy imports. A proposed importation network is now on the table. The investment required - multibillion-dollar gas pipelines, multimillion-dollar LNG terminals at seaports on both coasts - stretches the imagination almost as much as the engineering feats needed to make it happen.
The question, as with oil, is whether the network will be safe - whether, for example, if we store millions of gallons of LNG near a city like Philadelphia, the residents of that city can feel secure. Another risk is economic. Some of the billions we've paid for foreign oil have been diverted to terrorist groups. Will the same thing happen with foreign natural gas?
The best way to reduce these risks is to reduce our reliance.
Whereas a gallon of gas in a conventional vehicle yields about 20 miles, a hybrid car can give an additional 20 to 30 miles without any sacrifice in comfort. The recent Philadelphia auto show featured a number of cars, SUVs and trucks now available in hybrid models.
Bioenergy also offers real potential for reducing oil imports. Blends of 85 percent ethanol with biodiesel and conventional petroleum products have been commercially proven. Brazil runs much of its transportation system on E85, the ethanol produced from sugarcane. In the United States, most ethanol is produced from corn and most biodiesel from soybeans. In Pennsylvania, Worley and Obetz, a midstate fuel dealer, is offering its customers biodiesel blends for both the heating and motor fuel markets.
And there are substitutes even for natural gas. Commercially viable alternatives include wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric and biomass. These options supply only a small share of current demand, but new Pennsylvania laws requiring electricity generation from renewables and advanced technologies, along with changes in net metering and interconnection standards, could spur substantial new investment. A PECO pilot project conducted several years ago proved that solar water heating already is cost-effective in the Philadelphia area. Geothermal systems in two new Abington schools will offer fossil-fuel-free and electric-efficient space conditioning with a seven-year payback.
Compact fluorescent and LED lighting offers substantial savings and quick paybacks in retrofitting old buildings. New building design techniques can offer even more benefits, as demonstrated by Texas Instruments' new million-square-foot microchip fabrication plant, expected to cut energy use by 20 percent while cutting capital costs by 30 percent.
Dependence on a vast, vulnerable (mostly foreign) network to supply our energy transportation system and our electricity grid not only takes billions from our own economy but also could end up supporting those who would harm us. We can decrease our risk and increase our nation's security by fostering innovation and adoption of advanced and energy-efficient technologies. Consumers, businesses and public officials can choose low-risk options to balance our energy portfolio and to help move our color-coded threat level toward greater safety. Let's aim for the lowest risk - green!
Ellen M. Bard (ebard@ellenbard.com) is a former Pennsylvania state representative from Montgomery County; in this capacity, she chaired the subcommittee on energy.