Russian Natural Gas: Energy Independence Means Comfort and Safety

You don't need to believe in Global Warming to see the value of energy independence. Due to a price dispute between Russia's Gazprom and the Ukraine, Europe's supply of natural gas has been cut. Russia claims that the Ukraine is stealing gas destined for Europe, and they are in the midst of a price dispute. Citizens of countries all over central and eastern Europe spent Winter nights without heat. Some businesses shutdown their production facilities to reduce non-essential gas usage.

Does Peak Oil (or Peak Natural Gas or Peak Coal) really matter? Shouldn't every country have a safe and reliable energy grid? The more local the energy generation, the more resiliant a regional population can be to national and international distruptions.

Russia may simply be flexing its considerable political weight in the European/Asia theater; this problem will be resolved. However, there will always be disruptions. Natural and man-made disasters could have the same effect on energy supply. Some argue this requires the US to drill and dig in its own backyard. The US is a large country, energy supply routes criss-cross thousands of miles. Katrina wiped out fossil fuel production for a few weeks and energy prices spiked, and unfortunately, a terrorist attack could do the same.

Consider one alternative. Generate electricity locally using solar and wind.

How many acres of rooftops exist in any city? Flat roofs can be covered in PVs. Sloped roofs have PVs on the south face and, where it makes sense, quiet micro wind turbines on the North face. Reduce energy consumption in homes, offices and transit. Buy food locally from your foodshed. Look for work near your home and walk there, bike to work, telecommute, carpool, take the train.

The Green Revolution is not about burning corn-based ethanol or fear of global catastrophe. It's about physical safety (clean water/air, comfortable homes), economic security (stable energy and material prices), reducing demand (efficient buildings and transportation) and changing supply (sustainable energy generation, increasing local production/usage) .