6 February 2001

Editor:

There is no "true" energy shortage in California or anywhere else in the United States (or in the Developed World for that matter).There is massive stupidity on the part of millions of people. There is also incredible greed on the part of the energy companies, especially those companies in the business of wholesaling electricity to end-use distributors.

The media and government come in for a "fair share" of blame, too. The government for its failure (but that is really a failure on the part of the people) to craft, to put into effect and to maintain "sane and sustainable" energy policies and programs. The media because they add to the "crisis mentality" by hyping those aspects of the situation which are most likely to boost newspaper sales or attract radio listeners and TV viewers.

Oh, yes, there is plenty of blame to go around, but human stupidity is the fundamental reason the situation has bubbled up to public awareness after years of festering "beyond the pale" of everyday awareness. The energy flaps of the 1970s gave people around the world more than enough warning that the profligate and inefficient use of non-renewable energy is a one-way avenue to cultural disaster.

The surprise is not that California is in a so-called energy crisis; the surprise is that it has taken "us" so long to get into the muck "we" are in. Welcome to reality, folks. To quote Al Jolson: "You ain't seen nothin' yet." And, to paraphrase Pogo: "We have met the enemy and they is us."

The energy moguls are about to fleece the California taxpayers out of $10 Billion, thanks to the stupidity of Gov. Davis and other California politicians of his ilk. Instead of meeting the energy moguls head-on and making them back down with their egregious and greed-motivated increases, Gov. Davis and the others have taken the easy route: That of "throwing" taxpayer money into the breach.

Neither ten billion nor hundreds of billions will atone for the fact that almost every person, business and governmental entity in California (and most of the rest of the developed world) waste energy. They waste energy now, and will continue to waste it even while they fret about the increases in rates, the need for new electric generating plants and other measures which will do little to solve the fundamental problem: Too many people in the world are hooked on non-renewable energy; too many waste too much of the energy that is available.

Meanwhile, the no effective, long-range planning will be done. No effective, meaningful education regarding energy use will occur. A patchwork of "band aids" will be brought forth and touted. If the so-called energy crisis temporarily fades into the background again, energy use patterns will continue down the road to ultimate disaster.

What would the key elements of a rational, coherent, long-range, sustainable energy policy and program include? First, energy efficiency would be the foundation. A key aspect of efficiency would focus on energy conservation. Second, a gradual transition from non-renewable to renewable energy sources would build upon the efficiency motif. Third, "energy education" (early, deep, prolonged, serious education) would be included.

In every geographic area of the globe, energy independence would be stressed. This would mean radically different energy use configurations for different climate zones and cultures. Energy conservation in Alaska would differ markedly from that in Hawaii. Energy use in the so-called Developed Nations would be different from that in the so-called Developing Nations; but, not through the exploitation of energy resources of the "developing" by the "developed," as is now the case.

Sincerely,

Hal Mansfield, 1138 C. R. 302, Durango, CO 81303-8050

Phone:970-259-1324

E-mail: mansfield_h@fortlewis.edu