Renewables Are The Key To Energy Independence
The high price of gas in recent weeks has led to renewed conversations about the need to achieve energy independence.
Energy independence means being able to rely on local energy sources for most energy needs, rather than relying on energy imported from elsewhere.
Although concentrated investment and focused public policy will be necessary to achieve independence, consumers will eventually be able to enjoy less expensive energy prices in all areas of life.
Amidst the highest inflation in decades, America’s gasoline prices have soared in recent months. Following 11 weeks in a row of increasing costs, the price of gas reached $4.32 a gallon in the middle of March. That’s the most gas has cost per gallon since March 2014. With Americans paying so much for energy, some lawmakers have floated the idea of sending “gas stimulus checks” to ease the pain at the pump.
Multiple factors are driving the surge in gas prices. With spring and warmer weather now here, some states are switching to “summer grade gasoline,” which helps to reduce pollution during the warmer months of the year and is more expensive than gasoline used in the winter. There’s also been the issue of supply and demand — despite increasing demand, gasoline inventories have been below their five year average for over a year now. But perhaps the biggest reason for high gas prices recently is Russia’s February invasion of Ukraine, which caused the cost of crude oil to skyrocket throughout the world.
Whatever the cause, the high cost of gas is causing Americans to look for cheaper ways to get around. This makes electric vehicles a more attractive option for many. Filling up a car with gas is more expensive than it is to plug an EV into the electric grid for charging. Whereas the yearly cost of operating a gas vehicle totals $4,336, it costs just $3,679 to operate an EV. Some estimates say that EV sales in the U.S. are expected to increase by an astounding 37% this year alone.
Electrification of transportation is a key component in achieving energy independence, which entails the ability to rely on local energy sources for most or all energy needs. But while putting more EVs on the road— whether they be cars, school buses, or other vehicles — is an important step toward energy independence, transportation electrification isn’t enough. True energy independence can best be realized through the proliferation of renewables like solar and wind, which has the power to generate high amounts of energy locally.
Energy independence offers more than simply less expensive transportation costs over time. Renewables also help to decrease our reliance on fossil fuels, which are expensive and harmful to both the planet and human health. Distributed energy systems, which generate energy at or near the location where the energy will be used, can rely on renewables to inexpensively power homes and buildings. The decentralized nature of distributed systems also makes them more reliable — not needing to rely on a centralized electric grid means less blackouts. And when energy storage systems are incorporated into distributed systems, there’s a supply of energy ready for moments when generation slows, helping communities stay powered using their own energy, even when the world faces a crisis.
The path to energy independence requires continued investment and supportive public policy. Sustained efforts to develop distributed energy systems powered by renewables will lead not only to transportation costs becoming cheaper, but also cheaper energy prices across the board.