The following commentary was written by Michael Gilbert. Michael is from Colorado Springs, Colorado and is an active player in the energy industry.
Everyone is running around concerned over energy, energy, energy. Oil this, gas that, ethanol maybe, hybrids for sure and everyone agrees that nuclear is the answer, except none of us want it our back yard.
Oh and did I mention the cure all for those of us whom are so inclined to go completely green, solar powered and wind driven homes…While I’m not sure how green batteries are, a viable solution for those who live in a predominantly sunny, windy area.
Pretty cool if the area is built for it off the cuff.
Anyway let’s get down to the facts (or at least how I see it).
First and foremost we have all been conditioned with higher prices through the technique of sticker shock.
In other words smack them (us) with crazy outrageous costs, get us to gasp and scream in outrage, then offer us a discount and tell us how lucky we are.
(Please review gasoline prices over the past few years and the trend they have followed.)
The next step is to remove the discount and reintroduce sticker shock. (Continue with this trend until outrage overcomes the discount).
Now obviously there are other factors (some real others… well, imagined, or otherwise)
However there is one thing that is absolutely clear. A higher price (for everything that is energy related) is here to stay. Demand is not going to decrease and reliable and legitimate alternatives are years away if not longer… and we all better get used to it.
So, I‘ll ask you a question, what do we do….no seriously I mean it what do we do?
And please don’t throw cliché answers at me. There are no all inclusive wholesale immediate answers where we will wake up in the morning and it will all be better.
If you have a suggestion please make sure you have thought it through with a very realistic timeline that includes how and why big business would get involved. (Remember it doesn’t happen without big business and they won’t do or institute a damn thing with out huge profits to offset huge profits)
In a time when change is the thing maybe we can be the ones who truly pave the way for it.