[All] The Energy Trap

[Peter Kofler]

An excellent article that qualifies and quantifies a seldom discussed part of the contemporary energy challenge: 
 http://physics.ucsd.edu/do-the-math/2011/10/the-energy-trap/
which implicitly raises the question as to whether society will have the sociopolitical will to endure short-term pain for long-term gain with respect to the impending energy transition away from nonrenewables. On the face of it, this choice seems substantially better than the alternative, i.e., serial short-term deferrals (that is to say, repeatedly not having the political or social will to endure short-term energy sacrifices in favour of long-term stability) followed by long-term pain, yet, ironically, no modern society has yet demonstrated the discipline to pull it off.
As the author explains:The invisible hand of the market will slap us silly demanding a new energy infrastructure based on non-fossil solutions. But here’s the rub. The construction of that shiny new infrastructure requires not just money, but…energy. And that’s the very commodity in short supply. Will we really be willing to sacrifice additional energy in the short term—effectively steepening the decline—for a long-term energy plan? Please note that this is not a screed arguing in favour of doing little or maintaining business as usual - the author is very clear about the importance of developing a long-term energy plan and moving towards a regenerative economy but he does raise some proactive questions that I think few have considered, much less tried to answer, thusfar. 		 	   		  
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