What do energy independence and energy security have to do with jobs in the green sector? Everything! Recently, I was lucky enough to attend the Colorado Oil and Gas Association (COGA) Energy Epicenter conference and the American Renewable Energy Foundation conference. It was a great opportunity to learn about the oil and gas and the renewable energy industries. What surprised me most was that both industries seem to be focused on the same thing – reducing our dependence on foreign energy sources. By doing so, we reduce the probability that we will become embroiled in a conflict in a volatile region fighting for a resource we own.
At the COGA conference, Dr. George Freidman of STRATFOR made a clear argument that reducing our dependence on foreign oil will enable us to pick and choose when and where we expend our political and military capital. While at the AREDAY forum, former presidential candidate and NATO Commander, General Wesley Clark, was equally clear that to reduce that dependence, all energy options must remain part of a comprehensive energy policy.
But reducing our country’s dependence on foreign oil is not just a matter of increasing production of North American sources of fossil fuels. It’s also a matter of decreasing our energy demands by changing the way we use energy as well as reducing our need for it by powering our systems with cleaner energy sources, including wind, solar and natural gas.
Increasing energy production and lowering consumption are simply part of the solution to an extremely complex problem. We need to develop a comprehensive national energy plan to cut ties to foreign oil and begin to make the transition to renewable energy, understanding that this transition may take 50 to 100 years. Dr. Scott Tinker from the University of Texas predicts that together, renewables, natural gas and nuclear energy could overtake coal and oil as our leading source of energy by 2064 – leading to a cleaner energy portfolio. Ignoring any source of energy at this point would be a mistake, just as it is unrealistic to say that we should immediately stop using coal and oil.
What does this have to do with jobs for veterans? Everything! Our veterans are poised to power the transition to a sustainable, reliable and ultimately, clean energy future. Careers in the renewable energy sector, as well as jobs in the natural gas industry, are a large part of the solution to our nation’s veteran unemployment problem. We can’t afford to waste an opportunity. Where will you weigh in to help power our future?
– John Toth, Veterans Green Jobs
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Hello John,
I couldn’t agree with you more, which is why I am pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies with an Energy concentration. I have hopes that my CH31 benefits will allow me to pursue a grad program in Environmental Engineering.
Being part of the first Engineering forces in Afghanistan, I had the opportunity to get a first hand account on how dependent our armed forces were on petroleum. JP8, it was used for everything; from the pot belly stoves to my five ton dump truck and the bird that got it to Afghaniland. I think the 92nd Engineer Battalion still holds some type of record for the most expensive unit to deploy. All the heavy equipment needed to rebuild a runway in a land locked, mountainous portion of the world requires a lot of C-17s, which entail required a lot of fuel. Then moving the rock from off site quarries to the runway and establishing prime power only added fuel to the fire.
I was certain it was just the Army that operated in this type of inefficient manner. Come to find out back state side, we weren’t doing things much better. After eight years of service I had another opportunity while serving under JTF-GTMO in Cuba to see how thing could get better. Due to the embargo we cut water supply ties from mainland Cuba and depended on a desalination plant. Large wind turbines were installed to power the plant and the excess is used for the installation. Upon departure I was noticing an electric vehicle shift. Out with the Chevy 2500 series and in with the electric Cushman.
With a little bit of courage, some policy change and the right incentives we can successfully smack the smirk off OPEC’s face. That’s my new mission.