The expanding Gulf of Mexico oil spill is a blatant reminder of the critical importance of ending our addiction to oil. As long as we continue to drive our petroleum powered cars, and travel and ship goods in petroleum fueled airplanes, buses, trucks, trains, and ships, we can expect oil spill accidents to occur and wreak havoc on coastal and forest ecosystems. This New York Times Map shows the estimated extent of the current BP spill. Not only is it expected to devastate the already compromised fisheries that fuel many of the local Gulf State economies, the oil will likely enter the loop current, which has the potential to spread the mess up the eastern seaboard.
This is not the first time a major oil spill has occurred. The New York Times put together a History of Major Oil Spills, started with the 1969 leak of 4.2 million gallons off the shore of Santa Barbara, California. Is the risk of having these spills, and the countless other small ones, worth it? On the backdrop of this spill, and the potential for future ones, it should be difficult for anyone to argue that we should continue down the path of oil dependence, especially when viable alternatives exist and/or are being developed. We need to end our dependence on oil. Period.
We cannot expect to stop global oil consumption in one, five, or even ten years. We can, however, push alternative low carbon fuels and platforms to commercial levels that can ultimately replace oil. With strong state and federal policy, and enlightened consumer decisions, there is no reason the next generation should have to ever drive a petroleum powered vehicle. Instead, their first driving experience should be with an electric drive vehicle (either hydrogen fuel cell or battery electric), or biofuel powered combustion engine with state of the art emissions control equipment.
To be clear, these technologies are ready today. Nissan expects to deploy its 100% Battery Electric Leaf to consumers by December 2010. According to numbers aggregated by the California Fuel Cell Partnership, 45o Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCV) from various companies will be in customer hands by the end of 2012, with 4,200 FCVs on the road by 2015. Tesla is already leasing its high performance Battery Electric Roadster, and expects to have its seven seat Model S deployed in 2012. And these are just examples of what is coming down the road.
Energy Independence Now continues to work with the State of California to ensure that these technologies continue to move forward toward replacing oil. The implementation of state policies such as the Zero-Emissions Vehicle Mandate, Low Emissions Vehicle Program, the Low-Carbon Fuel Standard, AB 32, Clean Fuels Outlet Regulation, and the Alternative Fuel and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program remains critical to the move to use less oil and transition to new, spill-free (and climate friendly) fuel sources. Successful development and implementation of these policies is ultimately contingent on public support for ending our addiction to petroleum. Given the visibility of this recent oil related catastrophe, it is hard to imagine this support waning.
