Every president since Nixon has been an advocate of energy independence. Energy expert Daniel Yergin not. In fact he does not think it would make America safer.
Famous for its history oil the Pulitzer Prize for "The Price", Yergin's new book "The search" sites from the library and hit stores on Tuesday, looking at all solutions of fossil fuels to solar and nuclear one motion much larger than his previous work.
"Energy independence is a very attractive, but it is impossible to set a target in the near future," Yergin told Reuters. "What we need to do is to diversify energy sources, such as investors diversify their offerings to make them safer."
The United States has enjoyed a resurgence in the production of fossil fuels in recent years, and offshore drilling for oil and hydraulic fracture (also called "Fracking") to release gas trapped in the rocks. It has also caused the game environment, with mounting opposition to shale drilling in states like Pennsylvania.
Yergin acknowledges the concerns of those who worry about pollution of water resources, but believes that these new techniques can safely increase the production of energy without the side effects as long as proper precautions are taken.
"We need to think in advance and mitigate the risks," he said. "The cost of avoiding a crisis is much smaller than the cost of the crisis."
With an eye toward FUTURE
"The search for" away from the traditional focus on black gold Yergin. With an eye toward the future, we analyze the mix of energy sources is needed to feed a growing population and economy.
"I think the challenge is the kind of growth we will see in the future," he said. "We are sure to diversify and broaden our energy portfolio to support a much larger world economy can be no more than two decades."
Yergin is optimistic about the new technology, combined with sound design to meet future needs.
The risks are managed properly, he believes that shale gas is essential for energy supply in the United States. He stressed that it contains 30 percent of natural gas production.
"We thought as a country, we have imported large quantities of natural gas instead of we produce in our own borders," he said.
But shale drilling is not the only new technology that is making waves in the world of energy.
Yergin wrote about the revival of renewable energy sources, also believes very promising. That traces the evolution of wind technology, which he has made great strides in recent years astronomical. It also discusses the potential of solar energy, but predicted that widespread use will only occur when costs are low.
Another pillar of energy security identifies Yergin is conservation, which he calls "the fifth fuel." He claims to use energy efficiently is an important piece of the puzzle of energy, and he mentions previous successes. Yergin believes that people can be moved to this objective through a combination of technological innovation, regulation and cost-effectiveness.
"We are now twice as energy efficient as we were in the 1970s," he said. "I think it's a reasonable goal - why? We do not become twice as good again "
Above all, he believes that a multi-faceted approach is essential to support an expanding global economy.
"We could be energy independent, but it could be very expensive," he said. "We are part of a global market, and what really matters is energy security."
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