Antonio V. Osmeña
Estatements
AFTER the 1973 oil embargo, Congress has failed until today to pass laws for a comprehensive short, intermediate and long-term energy strategy for the Philippines. Our political leaders continue to increase the total energy supply of conventional fossil fuels and have even proposed dependence on nuclear power for producing electricity.
There is no political will for the National Government to support improvements in energy efficiency and development of renewable energy alternatives. Despite the belief of most financial experts and utility company executives that nuclear power is an uneconomical energy option, even with massive government subsidies, politicians continue to think otherwise.
Major oil companies, which are now more accurately called energy companies, have gained increasing control over most major energy alternatives not only in the United States, but all over the world. US Government records show that since 1983, the large oil companies own at least 70 percent of US natural gas reserves, 70 percent of uranium production and reserves, nearly all of the nation’s privately held coal reserves, one-third of the coal mined each year, nine of the top 15 coal mining companies, leases for much of the rich oil shale and geothermal energy reserves on federal lands, five of the 10 largest solar photovoltaic companies, eight of the 25 largest companies making active solar collectors and, finally, a significant percentage of solar energy patents.
The oil companies are aware that oil is, in the long run, a declining business. It makes sense for them to invest in alternatives, and they have the capital needed to stimulate development of these alternatives. There is no law preventing them from diversifying their economic interests.
However, some analysts fear that such horizontal integration will allow big energy companies too much control over the prices and rate of development of most energy alternatives.
Who among other legislators has the political will to pass legislation prohibiting or carefully regulating such horizontal integration of energy alternatives by large energy companies?
As things stand today, our country will collapse if the energy companies controlling energy distribution decide to withdraw operations; unless, of course, the government decides to nationalize the energy business, like coal and fossil fuels.
So far, our government policies and expenditures have emphasized development of the hard path. This involves improvements in energy efficiency, less dependence on imported oil, an increased share of primary energy obtained from renewable sources and construction of a few new coal-fired power plants.
While politicians, energy company executives and environmentalists argue over which path to follow, a number of citizens have chosen the soft path, which means taking energy matters into their own hands. Some analysts believe that making a relatively smooth transition to a new, sustainable energy era over the next 50 years is one of the most important, complex and difficult problems facing our country and the world.
As what is happening in the United States, these common sense actions by individuals and businesses provided over 150 times more energy than new supplies obtained from non-renewable sources like coal, oil and natural gas, or from new nuclear power plants.
Similarly, local governments in a growing number of cities are developing successful programs to improve energy efficiency.
They are showing that local initiatives are a faster and cheaper way to improve energy efficiency, and that they can develop their direct and indirect solar energy resources, rather than waiting for action at the state level. They argue that our country has enough time to change to a new, sustainable era, but only if we begin now.
Analysts believe that there is a strong lobby among the special interest groups to delay the full-fledged operation of indigenous energy resources, like geothermal energy, to produce electricity. Experts estimate that with a vigorous development program for geothermal, wind and direct solar energy, enough supply can be generated to meet the projected demand for electricity. Some scientists are convinced the use of hydrogen gas to fuel cars can be viable, since seawater can be used to provide an almost infinite supply of hydrogen, in sharp contrast to fossil fuels. The Philippine archipelago, after all, is surrounded by oceans.
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