We need to be able to meet a global increase in energy demand from clean, reliable low-cost sources. However, the way in which we achieve this goal is ambiguous; there are many factors in society and in our world that can change how we plan for a sustainable future. New developments in energy technologies, changes in demand, fluctuations in raw material and fuel sourcing, the most pressing issues of the day, variations in public opinion, and changes in public policy can all have significant impacts on how we determine the best path forward. Right now, we cannot honestly know which technologies will power our future and which ones we will leave behind; what may appear to play a small role today may be invaluable in the future.
Going forward, it is important that we keep an open mind to all possible ways to achieve a sustainable future, always looking for ways to optimize how we implement our plans, and continuously developing our technological options. We must work with a sense of urgency, recognizing the importance of clean, reliable energy to our planet and our society.
The future of energy is one of cooperation, one that we as a society build together. There is not much time, so we must quickly create new energy solutions and begin working together. We must stop villainizing coal, and begin cooperating to find the the best paths forward towards sustainability by developing every technological option available to us, and implementing them responsibly to generate clean, reliable, low-cost energy.
