We must be able to meet an increasing global energy demand in a clean, reliable fashion. However, the way in which we achieve this goal is ambiguous; there are many different factors in society and our world that can change how we plan for a sustainable future. New developments in energy technologies, sudden changes in demand, fluctuations in raw material and fuel sourcing, the most pressing issues as they change with time, variations in public opinion, and public policy can all have significant impacts on how we determine the best path forward. Right now, we cannot accurately decide on which technologies will power our future and which ones to leave behind, because what may seem to play a smaller role in our energy solutions today may be invaluable in the future.
It is important that we keep an open mind about all the possible ways that we can achieve a sustainable future, always look for ways to optimize how we implement our plans, and continuously develop all of 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 we as a society come together to build. It is time for us to stop being competitive over which energy technologies will power the future, and begin cooperating to find the best path towards sustainability.
