US struggles to fix energy crisis
There is a massive push brewing in the nation’s capital, right under the noses of America’s citizens.
Analyzing energy costs — Energy Secretary Chu admitted that he supported higher gas prices. Photo credit: U.S. Dept. of Energy
According to FoxNews.com, President Obama’s Energy Secretary Steven Chu confirmed that in 2008, he told the Wall Street Journal that elevating gas prices to higher European-level prices would help wean Americans off of the foreign oil addiction and compel them to use more renewables.
“It’s a great idea,” Christiansburg Energy Analyst Benjamin Knopp said. “Our dependence on foreign oil has been crippling extensive research on other sources of natural energy we could be using.”
The continuing use of foreign oil is not without its consequences. The Washington Post reports that the consequences of rising gas prices have caused President Obama’s approval ratings to drop 7 percent in a national poll for the 2012 presidential election. In light of this, Secretary Chu claims he has had a change of heart.
According to CNN.com, despite the assault the American public has imposed on their leader, the president has repeatedly defended his political record, insisting that there is ‘no silver bullet’ or quick Aleve to this natural energy dilemma.
It is true that America has relied far too much on foreign oil for decades. Whether or not you agree with the decisions of President Obama or his Energy Analyst regarding the spike of gas prices, the push to explore renewables for new energy purposes is prudent.
“You think the president of the United States going into reelection wants gas prices to go higher,” President Obama asked in a Fox News press release. “Is there anybody here who thinks that makes a lot of sense?”
US political representatives remain uncertain of the major direction in the quest for using renewables for public energy consumption. Knopp maintains that the uncertainty isn’t alarming. In fact, it is an element of hope for the public.
“This is what we should want,” Knopp said. “There are numerous renewables in abundance out there that we have yet to explore — sunlight, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat, to name a few. It is to our benefit and advantage that the president’s energy analyst has this mindset and focus. The use of foreign oil as our chief source of energy…is a problem and high gas prices are wakening the public to this problem.”
A news release from the White House last week expressed Obama’s commitment to American-made energy, both to promote economic growth and decrease the price of energy.
The Energy Department will invest $450 million over the next five years to support a next-generation nuclear reactor design, according to the White House press release. Manufacturing these reactors in the United States will open up jobs, as well as allow the Energy Department to develop a smarter energy grid.
While steps like this show that Obama is realizing the importance of the growing energy crisis, everything announced is all part of a much larger plan. There is — as of yet — no immediate relief on the horizon for American taxpayers struggling with outlandish gas prices.
The GOP candidates, at least, are searching for ways to find a more hands-on means of helping lower the cost of energy. For example, according to FoxNews.com, Newt Gingrich claims he will get gas down to $2.50 a gallon.
To be fair, the concept most Americans have that President Obama has supreme control over the prices at the pump lacks any merit — there is no magic button to raise or lower the price. But the Obama administration’s decision to jack gas prices up is a painful one. The time for aggressive exploration of renewables is already close at hand.