energy independence

Charles Krauthammer of The Seattle Times argued in his opinion column this morning that the ethanol solutions Bush offered in his State of the Union address do not offer a real path to energy independence. I agree with him, for a whole variety of reasons beyond the increasing demand that he touts as the main obstacle to ethanol. Ethanol's EROEI (energy returned on energy invested) can't compare to gasoline's, and cellulosic ethanol is theoretically a good idea but practically still just a pipe dream. Krauthammer argues that the real solutions are to tax gasoline, drill in the Artic, and go nuclear. All of which have some (limited) possibility, though the latter two both open up a whole new range of environmental problems. A gas tax is by far the most promising of these solutions, not only because it doesn't automatically cause more environmental problems, but also because it offers a real economic incentive toward the most important solution of all: conservation.

It strikes me as a linguistic oddity that the very word "conservation" has become mostly unmentional in conservative circles. They are, after all, closely related. But conservation is widely seen as uncapitalist and therefore un-American. The very idea of choosing to use less of something that's cheap, convenient, and available is simply not acceptable in a society that's motivated entirely by economic means.

But conservation is not only in many ways the simplest solution to energy problems; it is also one of the most Christian solutions. To conserve something is to preserve it, to save it, to guard it. Behind the idea of conservation is an concept of balance, a sense that one should not take advantage of blessings or use them all for one's self. Something should be saved; something should be left behind for others. It is a rejection of selfishness.

And many of the Christian disciplines are supported by a principle of conservation. Fasting requires eating less than what is available or convenient, often for the purpose of sharing with others. Giving is a kind of conservation of money, a laying aside of a portion of your wealth to store it in a place where it cannot be wasted. And the church calendar is a way of conserving time, a way of guarding and preserving each season and its unique meaning. Perhaps it is because of our culture's rejection of any kind of self-denial or conservation that many churches no longer celebrate these disciplines beyond a mere lip service.

And even though it's not mentioned much in energy discussions, the truth is that conservation is a surprisingly easy solution. Ride a bike. Use low-energy light bulbs. Buy local food. Take public transportation. The Center for a New American Dream is running an online campaign that shows the difference small decisions like these can make. No, it won't solve the whole problem, but it will make a dent in it. And once you get used to the discipline of conservation, it's really not even that difficult.