Energy policy takes vision, leadership

The NV’s criticism of Mark Warner’s alternative energy strategy (“Hot air fuels energy plan,” July 19) might be considered politically based if it weren’t for the fact that it is essentially identical to California’s Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plan. Both want the federal government to lead the process and both call for government assistance, such as tax credits and incentives to move this country toward energy independence.
The NV thinks that widespread use of solar power is unattainable, but California’s “Governator” recently signed legislation that will provide financial incentives for home owners
to install solar panels. Schwarzenegger’s Million Solar Roofs legislation will produce 3,000 megawatts of clean energy and reduce the output of greenhouse gasses by 3 million tons, which is like taking 1 million cars off the road.
Both Warner and Schwarzenegger are skeptical of industry’s ability to solve the energy problem without government leadership: American automobile manufacturers have resisted making more fuel efficient cars, the petroleum industry hasn’t built a new refinery in years and companies like Dominion Power are more interested in building coal-fired power plants than investing in clean alternatives.
Warner and Schwarzenegger believe a shift to clean and
renewable energy will create new technologies and jobs. Schwarzenegger has likened it to putting men on the moon. American industry accepted the challenge and built the hardware, but it took a government agency, NASA, to lead and coordinate the effort.
The NV says Warner’s plans are not credible, but consider this: Wind and solar energy together provide more than 10 percent of Germany’s electricity and will provide 20 percent in another 10 years. It has also created more than 60,000 high-paying jobs. We need politicians who believe America can be a technological leader rather than a follower — or worse, hold the cynical views of the NV — and once again find ourselves importing the technologies we could be creating.
David Colton
Waynesboro