Contrary to the global trend towards getting rid of it
America is using the Ukraine war as a cover to sell fossil fuels to Europe
Passing the Energy Act should be Biden's top priority.
À Reuters
Energy markets prefer clean energy generation to energy that emits polluting gases.
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Over the past year, 90% of all new electrical capacity produced worldwide was renewable energy, even though the fossil energy industry receives 70% of global energy subsidies.
In other words, despite all the advantages of a well-established and homogeneous fossil fuel industry, energy markets prefer clean energy generation to energy that emits polluting gases.
American researcher, Amory Lovins, who now considers Einstein efficient energy, told the Guardian newspaper, "Sunlight and wind energy are now the cheapest sources of energy in 91% of the countries of the world, and there has already been a global revolution in the field of energy."
baffling idea
Given this situation, the next thought will leave you very confused. The administration of US President Joe Biden has announced a new partnership with the European Union to help it end its dependence on Russian natural gas, by replacing it with American natural gas.
Instead of offering efforts in the manner of the Marshall Plan, which the United States put forward after World War II, to help Europe speed up the transition to clean energy and mitigate the effects of the ever-growing climate crisis, the Biden administration chose to exploit the Russian invasion of Ukraine to try to justify building infrastructure New natural gas, which will limit us in the use of fossil fuels in the coming years.
look under the hood
The White House announcement of partnership negotiations talks about a big game of clean energy and efficient energy, but in essence, it increases the production of liquefied natural gas, facilitates approval processes for building infrastructure for natural gas, and requires that the European Union countries maintain gas reservoirs 90% natural.
The partnership announcement is very clear about the objectives of the Gas Production and Consumption Initiative.
It stipulates that the United States and its international partners will guarantee the securing of quantities of liquefied gas, which amount to at least 15 billion cubic meters, in 2022.
No benchmarks or timelines for clean energy have been clarified.
The renewable energy goals, as well as their effectiveness in the agreement, sound like vague promises from a child telling his brother that he will be kind to him in the future.
The declaration stated, “Develop a strategy to accelerate workforce development to support rapid deployment of clean energy technologies, including expanded use of solar energy and air.” The White House did not take the time to correct grammatical errors in the text, an indication that quick ideas were added to the text. text later.
Strategy development
I hope I'm not being misunderstood, as "strategy development" is certainly an important issue, and would be a great point to spark discussion.
What would actually be more convincing is to talk clearly about the number of “Gigawatts” that will be produced, in addition to the resulting job opportunities, just as the talk about the liquefied natural gas industry has been clarified.
The ad is essentially a natural gas sandwich, two slices of clean energy discourse, with the fossil fuel industry in between.
I think the oil and gas industry spends about $375 million a year to put pressure on the federal government in Washington to meet their demands.
mark loss
As many have pointed out, while Americans are alarmed by the change in gas prices, the proposed measures will take months, even years, to implement, and will not affect gas prices or reduce Russia's ability to continue its invasion of Ukraine.
The New York Times reports, "The United States does not have the capacity to export more gas, and Europe does not have the ability to import very large quantities.
Accordingly, it takes two to five years to establish sufficient storage and pumping stations on both sides of the Atlantic.
Continuation of the invasion
The terrible Russian invasion has been going on for about two months, and peace negotiations in Turkey are currently underway.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration appears committed to a guaranteed demand for gas security until the end of this decade and the resulting climate chaos into centuries to come, which is an absolute boon to the fossil-fuel industry.
Bloomberg reports said, “Billions of investment in new gas-to-liquid facilities to be shipped around the world took several years, and LNG exporters will require the use of these facilities even after this current crisis.”
As a reminder, the International Energy Agency declared in May 2021 that “there is no investment in fossil fuel supply projects” if we are to prevent a 1.5 degree global warming.
A better way to achieve energy independence
Of course, there are other ways to reduce the European Union's demand for Russian gas.
Climate activist and writer Bill McKibbin suggests that Biden should enact the Defense Production Act and begin large-scale production of electric heat pumps and insulation materials for Europe.
This will not be cheaper, faster, and better to take care of the planet, but rather a positive boost for the US clean energy industry, as it will create a lot of well-paying jobs.
And speaking of creating good-paying jobs, now would be a good time to pass the $500 billion in clean energy appropriations in the Budget Adjustment Act debated in the White House and Congress last year.
Congressman Joe Manchin of the Democratic Party has expressed interest in passing the energy bill quickly, but we've heard that a lot before.
To get the energy bill passed, it must be a top priority for President Biden and Congressional Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
American voters elected Biden and the Democratic majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, based on their vision of revitalizing the American economy through investment in clean energy and green solutions.
US climate advocate Justin Guay summed up our collective feelings accurately: “Climate advocates are eager for the Biden team to rise to this moment.
And we need historic leadership that tells the world that the only real way to security is to get rid of gas.
Wars and crises do not happen when we ignore climate concerns, but when we double their size.” Will the Biden team listen to all this?
* Andreas Karillas is an environmental activist and writer
• Sunlight and wind energy are now the cheapest sources of energy in 91% of the countries of the world, and a global revolution has already taken place in the field of energy.
• Oil and gas industry companies spend about $375 million annually in order to pressure the federal government in Washington to achieve its demands.
• The United States does not have enough capacity to export more gas, and Europe does not have the ability to import very large quantities, and accordingly, establishing sufficient storage and pumping stations on both sides of the Atlantic takes two to five years.
• The Biden administration appears committed to a guaranteed demand for gas security until the end of this decade and the resulting climate chaos into centuries to come, which is an absolute boon to the fossil fuel industry.
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