Falling Oil Prices

By Osaretin Omorodion* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Falling oil prices is a popular topic amongst conversations spawning all over the U.S. Many base their opinions on the relief that this price drop has given their wallets. Many applaud the policies behind increased domestic oil production which is one of the factors to accredit for these price drops. However, the petroleum industry still comes with many repercussions, such as contributing to the greenhouse effect that is the culprit of adverse climate change.

Pouring the bulk of investment towards this archaic source of energy is not intelligible, considering the finite resource, especially of U.S domestic oil.

The danger of these low oil prices, although they offer immediate relief, is the possibility that they will distract our policymakers from creating legislation that support investment towards diversifying our energy economy with renewables, which benefit the economy, workforce, and health of our environment.

An impressive panel of environmental journalists, hailed at the Wilson Center's recent Energy and Environment discussion, chimed in on the prospects of the 2016 U.S. presidential election and expressed that Republican candidates can not likely be climate change deniers and win the popular vote.

In general, public opinion towards environmental issues and global warming has evolved over the years and is increasingly supporting evidence that shows humans’ negative effect on the climate and environment although Congress and its policies hasn't been as progressive and in consensus with this public opinion.

The Keystone XL pipeline proposal has been generating controversy since its inception a few years ago. Legislation in favor of the pipeline has passed in the Senate and is expected to reach the president's desk for official approval soon. If enacted, the pipeline would become part of the most sophisticated infrastructure in North America's petroleum industry, and significantly aid the growth of the U.S homegrown crude oil production.

The KXL proposal is promising for energy security and ambitions to cut dependence on foreign oil. However, when considering energy security and dependence from imported fossil fuels, policymakers, scientists, and engineers should also collaborate to design sophisticated infrastructure projects that would support renewable energy, and ultimately help the U.S cut back on its CO2 emissions.

In recent months, Burlington, VT became the first U.S. city to generate 100% of its electricity from renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar and hydroelectric dams,. Burlington’s achievement is an example of the energy independence and environmental sustainability that could be obtained on a wider scale throughout the U.S if more infrastructures supporting renewable energy sources were implemented. Our nation should continue to seek innovative ways to supply the energy demands of our population, though with consideration to much necessary CO2 emission reductions

The drastic drop in oil prices is an immediate relief to many middle class individuals and households, though we should not be short-sighted and should continue to demand that our legislators support construction of green infrastructures, such as biomass refineries so that more U.S cities are able to be reliant on cleaner, and more innovative sources of energy. READ MORE (Advanced Biofuels USA) and MORE (PBS Newshour)

*Advanced Biofuels USA contributor, Osaretin Omorodion studied environmental science and biology at the State University of New York and represents Advanced Biofuels USA at events in and around the Washington, DC area.