If your cell phone no longer works, the process of getting a replacement is quite simple. It might only take twenty or thirty minutes from the time you enter the store until you leave.
In today’s society, people can do many things like replacing their cell phones almost as quickly as snapping their fingers. While I love this convenience as much as anybody else, the problem is that a culture has been created where there is a lot less planning. The focus is almost exclusively on the short-term.
This is a very dangerous mindset to have when it comes to energy. When the current energy model no longer works, the problem won’t be solved as easily as walking into a store at a local strip mall and spending twenty or thirty minutes picking out a new cell phone.
Once the global economy rebounds in the next couple of years, I fully expect the oil prices of the summer of 2008 to return. The low prices over the past year have caused production projects to be delayed or cancelled. This lack of supply will likely result in prices shooting higher a lot sooner than most people think.
Moreover, with production in a large number of oil fields around the world in decline, oil prices could go much higher than the $100 to $150 per barrel range in the following years if nothing is done.
Since it will take several years to build the initial hydrogen fueling infrastructure, the time to start is right now. This will allow large numbers of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to be on the road beginning at some point in the 2015 time frame when the technology is ready and mass production (i.e. at least 100,000 units per year for each car company) will bring down the cost to about what it is for vehicles today.
This disaster can be averted. But it is time to step up and make this happen. Our way of life is at stake.
[Photo credit: Bah Humbug]
Related posts:
Comments on this entry are closed.