A teachable moment about energy

The Gulf of Mexico oil spill continues to generate anger and angst but also provides a teachable moment to discuss some key truths about the future of energy in America:

• Off-shore oil is critical to our economy. Illinois is lucky that we receive more than half of our crude oil supply from Canada, but one-third of the country's domestic supply comes from the Gulf.

• Generating energy is not a zero-risk proposition. Let's make generating and transporting energy safer, but not overreact and shut down any one energy opportunity - especially when there is little to nothing to fill the void if we do.

• Alternative energies are critical, but they are in their infancy. Wind, solar, fuel cells, geothermal, waste to energy and biofuels are all important energy sources in a world that continues to increase its energy usage. But they will take time to grow.

• Alternatives don't provide energy security, yet. Wind and solar power development has little to do with energy security, unless we're driving electric cars. All of our electricity currently comes from secure, North American sources. We rely on imports for much of our crude oil.

• There is no "app" for the perfect energy. Until someone invents a cheap, reliable, secure form of energy that has little to no effect on the environment we must use traditional energies in better ways, new energies in more robust ways and all energies in more efficient ways.

To paraphrase author and actress Carrie Fisher, Americans think instant gratification takes too long. This certainly holds true for our attitudes toward energy because we usually just think about availability and price.

Let's continue to learn more about energy and how we can build a more secure and efficient future.

Tom Wolf

Executive Director

Illinois Chamber of Commerce Energy Council

Chicago