An Approaching Crisis in Energy

I was pleased to read Paul Roberts’ “Power Outage” (Opinion, May 23), on how the U.S. is falling behind other nations in developing alternative energy sources. But I was surprised that no mention was made of the very credible hypothesis that we are coming to the end of “the age of oil,” making the need for developing such alternative energy sources critical.

By the credible estimates of more than a few experts, the end of cheap oil will be as damaging to the world as a comet impacting Earth would be. In this case, the “comet’s” size and arrival date are disputed, but some think it is very large and very close. If a comet were approaching our planet, it would be the leading news story day after day. Why is that not so of the inevitable (and likely imminent) end of the age of cheap petroleum?

Don Chatfield

San Dimas

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I find it interesting that Roberts touts the progress of Germany and Japan toward “alternative sources” of energy without mentioning that both countries (and others, such as France, with limited petroleum resources) have made significant commitments to nuclear power -- an anathema in the U.S.

Solar and wind power have important but limited potential to fuel the economy, in general, and our enthusiasm for automotive travel, in particular. Hydrogen vehicles are a pipe dream without a cheap and abundant source of electrical energy. Nuclear power is a clear “alternative,” with technological support rather than fear-mongering.

Gary Tompkins

Lake Arrowhead

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Our continued emphasis on individualized transportation needs to be shelved. Let us seriously educate the entire nation to become attuned to the idea of mass transportation, especially our young. Be it solar-powered or not, our conditioned attitudes need changing.

Brahma D. Sharma

Pismo Beach