And exhale.
I heard a great line from my boy Stephen Colbert. He said something about the Gulf of Mexico being renamed the Gulf of Texaco - one of the many reasons why the Colbert Report is such wonderful program. All jokes aside though, let's remember that it was BP's rig and not Texaco's, although it doesn't really make a difference at this point to those who enjoy clean water and any sort of wildlife. Either way, the spill seems to be growing at a scary rate. First described as roughly the size of Rhode Island, it has now been likened to some larger states (even Maryland!). Of course, the states that really matter throughout this awful situation are those that are located along the Gulf coast. By the way, if you weren't convinced that New Orleans was cursed before, you have to now.
So on the one hand, we have environmentalists screaming 'I told you so' over and over, which is no surprise. Then we have the right wing oil proponents who are basically saying that oil extraction is a dangerous and complicated process and things like this are bound to happen -which is true, unfortunately. Let's stay in the middle for a bit and just look at the reality. As a left-leaning environment supporter, I say that this spill is another reason why the age of oil needs to start winding down. We cannot afford these huge accidents. And as a person who enjoys driving my car, heating my home, and doing all the things made possible by gas and oil, I say that such accidents are simply a part of what we've all signed up for. At the end of the day, whether you're a Rush Limbaugh follower or a Rachel Maddow supporter, nobody wins.
This type of disaster is a perfect opportunity for Obama and his administration to push hard for a true energy revolution. People who weren't around for the Exxon-Valdez oil spill years ago are finally seeing the very real risks involved with drilling for oil. It's a process that's paid for with both money and blood.
The first step toward transitioning from oil to renewables has to be wide-ranging investment in research. Although today we have wind farms and solar power stations throughout the country, the technology is still not their for storing the energy they produce for later consumption. Like it or not, the sun goes away at night and every single day is not windy. Scientists need to discover a way to retain the intermittent energy we receive from these natural sources so we can use it at any time, day or night. Until the time that technology catches up with our ideal energy future, we all need to work together in conserving the energy we do use. After all, an energy revolution isn't just about renewable energy.
Question: Why can't the energy bills we get each month be as specified and detailed as our phone bills? Power companies need to start allowing consumers the chance to save energy when it best suits them. Plans for cell phones are varied and can be adjusted to the individual needs and demands of the user. Different plans offer different services depending on a person's preferences. It seems to me that we should enjoy similar variety in the energy arena. Unless you are power-hungry and have the money to pay for it, you will take any chance you can get to conserve energy and subsequently save some green (no pun intended). Most of us are on board with energy conservation, but it would be nice for the big power companies to meet us halfway. And of course, our government should do all it can to bridge the gap and enforce laws that push the country in the right direction. If we're gonna have a big government, it might as well do us all some good.....right?
Thanks for reading if you did. I'll try get my next post out a little quicker. Take care all.
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