Originally posted at Writeindependent.org on May 22, 2012
It’s business-as-usual for the powers that be, according to the following statement made after the May 18-19 G8 summit at Camp David. No mention of hydrogen, solar, or wind sourced-energy, no mention of batteries with longer life spans or of geothermal or hydropower. But there is specific mention of fracking, deep water drilling for oil, and nuclear.
The biggest red flag of all is this: they promote the “evolution of global energy infrastructure.” Why should this be a red flag? Because “global” means not local. It’s anti- distributed energy, and anti- on-site generation. Distributed energy is anathema to big business, because its very essence means decentralized: small enough to get the job done in your home town. It means making power close to the consumer, so that the consumer can participate in the selection of the means for generation, so that energy does not have to be transported far distances from the generation facility, and so that neighbors can pool their resources for greater efficiency.
Again, G8 really only supports G8. They decide what works best for them, not the population as a whole. For the text of their statement, read:
“As our economies grow, we recognize the importance of meeting our energy needs from a wide variety of sources ranging from traditional fuels to renewables to other clean technologies. As we each implement our own individual energy strategies, we embrace the pursuit of an appropriate mix from all of the above in an environmentally safe, sustainable, secure, and affordable manner. We also recognize the importance of pursuing and promoting sustainable energy and low carbon policies in order to tackle the global challenge of climate change. To facilitate the trade of energy around the world, we commit to take further steps to remove obstacles to the evolution of global energy infrastructure; to reduce barriers and refrain from discriminatory measures that impede market access; and to pursue universal access to cleaner, safer, and more affordable energy. We remain committed to the principles on global energy security adopted by the G8 in St. Petersburg.
“As we pursue energy security, we will do so with renewed focus on safety and sustainability. We are committed to establishing and sharing best practices on energy production, including exploration in frontier areas and the use of technologies such as deep water drilling and hydraulic fracturing, where allowed, to allow for the safe development of energy sources, taking into account environmental concerns over the life of a field. In light of the nuclear accident triggered by the tsunami in Japan, we continue to strongly support initiatives to carry out comprehensive risk and safety assessments of existing nuclear installations and to strengthen the implementation of relevant conventions to aim for high levels of nuclear safety.”
“We recognize that increasing energy efficiency and reliance on renewables and other clean energy technologies can contribute significantly to energy security and savings, while also addressing climate change and promoting sustainable economic growth and innovation. We welcome sustained, cost-effective policies to support reliable renewable energy sources and their market integration. We commit to advance appliance and equipment efficiency, including through comparable and transparent testing procedures, and to promote industrial and building efficiency through energy management systems.”