Have you noticed all the green around lately? Besides the Indian summer we're slogging through, the past year has seen an explosion of environmental awareness and renewable energy discussion. Green is everywhere, from Vanity Fair to Esquire, from TV to the big screen. Everyone seems to have an opinion on what the future holds and how we might achieve a sustainable, "green" future.
This coming Friday at 4:30 p.m. in the Crane Room, we will have the opportunity to take part in the debate on our energy future. The Tufts Energy Security Initiative (ESI) has invited two speakers to debate the merits of solar energy. This debate promises to be intriguing as the two speakers, Howard Hayden and Travis Bradford, really don't like each other. This is not to say that they do not respect each other; they just choose not to agree on anything. Perhaps I shouldn't make too many assumptions.
Howard Hayden is the author of "The Solar Fraud: Why Solar Energy Won't Run the World" and a lifer in the energy sector. Travis Bradford is the author of "The Solar Revolution: The Economic Transformation of the Global Energy Industry" and an expert in all things solar. I think you can see where they might disagree.
Solar power is certainly nothing new. The first solar cell was created in 1883 by Charles Fritts. We've come a long way since then and solar cell technology has only gotten better with age. According to Wikipedia, another well-reputed source of expertise, the earth gets hit with 3.85x1031 joules of solar energy per year. That's at least enough for one hell of a sun tan. Maybe we ought to cash in on this opportunity, right? Or wrong? Heck, I have no idea.
What I do know is that solar presents us with a great option for energy independence. We could finally put Texas to good use, stop that itch to "spread democracy," and even create some new jobs. Now how can you argue with that?
It may not be that easy, however, as some serious questions about solar still remain, or at least people like Howard Hayden think so.
Solar is certainly not the only option, and when looking to our future, we should invest in our best options. Solar, wind, tidal, biofuels and nuclear all hold promise in replacing our dwindling supply of fossil fuels (ever wonder why car exhaust smelled like dinosaurs? Me neither...)
So should we all start investing today? Should we ask our parents for some solar panels for Christmas? Why should any of this matter to us, a bunch of students who have tests to study for and local hospitals to trash? I cannot answer these questions because I am not an expert on solar energy.
But I know two people who are, and they happen to be participating in a debate this coming Friday. With an issue as pertinent and vitally important as our energy security, we cannot afford to take 10 years going down the wrong path. If solar is the way to go, we should dive right in. If not, we'll have to look hard at our other options. Regardless, we have to pursue one of the options presented before us, and we have to do it now.
