A solution to the world’s energy issues may be found right here
in Morgan Hill.
That solution comes in the form of a book titled
”
Clean Energy Nation: Freeing America From the Tyranny of Fossil
Fuels,
”
co-written by Morgan Hill’s very own Martin Cheek, formerly of
Hollister, and Congressman Jerry McNerney.
A solution to the world’s energy issues may be found right here in Morgan Hill.
That solution comes in the form of a book titled “Clean Energy Nation: Freeing America From the Tyranny of Fossil Fuels,” co-written by Morgan Hill’s very own Martin Cheek, formerly of Hollister, and Congressman Jerry McNerney.
The book explores the concepts of energy freedom, said Cheek, an escape from America’s dependency on fossil fuels, which are the basis of oil and hydrocarbon energy. The book warns that if Americans and the rest of the world do not take the correct steps to make our society more energy efficient, the Earth’s limited supply of natural resources will come to an end.
Although these concepts aren’t anything that the average American has not already heard of, both Cheek and McNerney further emphasize the importance of the United States taking control of its future to make changes toward energy freedom.
“There’s a lot to lose if we don’t do it correctly,” said McNerney. “We still have time, we still have fuel out there. On the other hand, if we wait too long, we will suffer some serious consequences.”
Those consequences, pointed out in the book, are depleting the Earth’s sources of fossil fuels until there aren’t any left. That means no more oil, gas, and in turn no motor vehicles, electricity, street lamps, refrigerators, or computers … the list goes on.
Some possible solutions from fossil fuel freedom would be through alternative energy: sun, wind, water and nuclear power are some suggested in the book.
“Civilization is going to crash and burn and a lot of nice people are going to die and suffer,” said Cheek, if changes are not made soon.
With more than 300 million Americans, the United States is using more than 25 percent of the world’s fossil fuels, said Cheek. The book points out the concept of Hubbert’s Peak theory, by geologist M. King Hubbert, who suggested that the United States’ oil production would peak in about 1970, a worldwide peak at year 2000, and a gradual decline soon after.
The authors suggest day-to-day choices as small steps toward energy freedom that in the long run could make a larger impact.
“If we can all develop habits on a small scale or individual basis, such as shutting down the lights at home, reduce your thermostat … if 300 million Americans can do it, it has a huge impact,” said Cheek.
Other simple changes can be using energy efficient light bulbs or reusing grocery bags, since there is a lot of energy to produce each bag, said Cheek.
Cheek said making these changes is also a question of psychology, and getting into the mentality to face the reality of the situation. One factor mentioned in the book is having people realize the externality costs of oil. That includes health care costs from toxins released into the environment from oil production, to military protection in overseas oil access, a bill of $50 billion a year in tax dollars that Americans pay, he said.
“We pay a high price, nearly $1 trillion in externality costs to oil dependency,” said Cheek, who was honored as Man of the Year 2010 by the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce.
He said the most economic way to reduce fossil fuel dependency is to reduce the use of those fossil fuels.
McNerney said preparing oneself with a good education to become informed of these issues, as well as enthusiasm in policy changes will help develop energy freedom.
One factor that some Americans have met with skepticism is the concept of global warming or climate change.
“There’s an overwhelming amount of evidence: Freak storms, droughts, the global ice caps are melting, the ocean is rising, and so on. You have to have ideological blinders on not to see that,” said McNerney. “I hate to see us wait until it’s a catastrophic situation.”
One move that Cheek see’s happening in the future is a move from ‘”dinomobiles” (or gas-using vehicles) to electric cars.
“The infrastructure is not there yet. Battery storage is expensive,” he said. “We need to make the transition to electric cars, I think by 2020.”
Comparably, the transition from horse and carriage to cars took about 20 to 30 years, he said.
“Clean Energy Nation: Freeing America From the Tyranny of Fossil Fuels” took the authors five years to write and sprang from talks amongst the two during McNerney’s campaign for congress in 2006. The book can be found at BookSmart, 80 E. Second St., in Morgan Hill, as well as other major retail locations.
Book party
– Co-author Martin Cheek will speak about “Clean Energy Nation: Freeing America from the Tyranny of Fossil Fuels” written with Congressman Jerry McNerney
– When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27
– Where: Morgan Hill Library, 660 West Main Ave., Morgan Hill
– Books available for purchase and signing.
– Co-sponsored by BookSmart, Leadership Morgan Hill, the Morgan Hill Toastmasters, Friends of the Morgan Hill Library
