This month, I’ve been discussing energy issues. I believe that weaning ourselves off of foreign sources of energy is a three-legged stool. We’ve discussed the first two legs: more American energy development and increased use of renewable fuels. The final leg is conservation.

 

All three legs are necessary, because each by itself is not the magic bullet. I do not believe that we can conserve our way out of an energy crisis. However, I believe smart energy conservation can have a positive effect.

 

The United States is still the biggest user of energy in the world, although countries like China are gaining rapidly. There are a number of ways that individuals can conserve energy. From your home to your automobile, every day consumers use energy from a variety of sources.

 

In the 2005 Energy bill, Congress offered consumers and businesses tax credits for a variety of conservation measures from buying a hybrid vehicle to energy efficient appliances. It also offered businesses an incentive to install qualified fuel cells, stationary micro-turbine power plants, and solar equipment. Many of these tax credits expire at the end of this year.

 

You can find a full list of conservation ideas and tax credits at www.energy.gov. I believe that we must look at all options for reducing and finally weaning ourselves off of foreign sources of energy. The best way to do that is to continue to increase the amount of American energy, expand the use of renewable fuels and find ways to conserve energy.

 

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