Where does electricity come from? It’s a rather simple question that very few people can succinctly answer. But if we can’t answer that simple question, how can we insist on a universal switch to electricity and green energy?
As you see in the accompanying graph, most of our electricity is still generated through the burning of fossil fuels. Yup, to power your electric everything, someone, somewhere, is probably still burning natural gas, coal, or some other fossil fuel. So, before you pat yourself on the back as an ecowarrior, realize that you too may be contributing to climate change.
Personally, I am excited for a future where renewable energy is abundant, and our reliance on fossil fuels dramatically decreases. Unfortunately, the technology just isn’t there yet. We can wish for it; we can hope for it; we can divert billions of taxpayer dollars towards it; we can even force people to change their habits; but we can’t change reality.
Taking into account Moore’s Law or similar theories on technological innovation, the pace of our progress in this sector will increase exponentially on an annual basis. Human ingenuity will eventually figure this out, but until then we need to keep the economy running, homes heated, and people fed. And that means burning fossil fuels.
Last Wednesday President Biden called the climate issue a “clear and present danger.” He then announced $2.3 billion in new funding as he previewed an agenda of executive actions. “Climate…
