Roscoe Bartlett is a conservative Republican with 7 terms in the house. Go to his web page for a complete bio, but it is important to note that he is one of the few (maybe the only?) Representative who is a scientist. His work includes teaching physiology and endocrinology, and while working for NASA was highly recognized for his contributions, Amoung other things, Dr. Bartlett developed re-breathing devices that increase the safety of astronauts, pilots, and fire fighters. He has farmed and run a small business that built over 100 homes, many of them with solar power.
Dr, Bartlett recommends that we prepare for energy depletion "at every level" of American government and society. This issue, he believes, should take top priority in every decision at every level of business and government. The most important steps to take, according to Bartlett, are these:
1. Get off the grid. Our large, fragile, electric grid is the wrong way to do electricity. We need to generate as much electricity onsite or near to site of use as we can. It will take time, but we need to move quickly to a dispersed and decentralized electricity production system.
2. Get out of debt. This goes for individuals and for business and government. Our economy is likely to see severe "dislocations" over the next decade or two. Those free of debt will be better prepared to weather the economic difficulties.
3. Invest in conservation. This is our most important single method for coping with energy resource depletion. Dr. Bartlett addresses the use of coal, nuclear, and alternative energies. Like others who have studied this, he realizes that we have no combination of fuel sources or technologies that will begin to make up for the energy depletion we are likely to see. (Even if we build a nuclear power plant every two weeks from now to 2050, we would only dent the difference between energy demand and supply.)
4. Re-localize agriculture. We spend 10 calories of fossil-fuel energy to grow one calorie of food. We spend even more energy to package and distribute and market food. People who live on or close to the farm are much better suited to thrive in the future than we Americans, who cannot feed ourselves at all. We no longer know how to grow our own food, let alone how to preserve food without intensive energy inputs.
5. Transform transportation. Dr. Bartlett suggests that most Americans should be able to walk to work. It is interesting that he gives transit some support, but is far more emphatic that walking to work is the goal we should keep in mind. Walking and biking are the most energy-efficient transportation we have, and this change alone can transform our culture for the better.
Should we invest hundreds of millions of dollars in a new professional sports stadium? To do so would be a local act of eco-suicide. We need instead to invest in transforming our city in terms of energy, agriculture, and transportation. Sustainable urban infrastructure is no longer optional. Sustainable urban infrastructure is necessary for survival.
-- pedaling for peace and ecojustice -- from Lynnhurst for now -- Gary Hoover
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