It’s clear that Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to weaponize Europe’s dependence on his country’s fossil fuels to deter support for Ukraine. This moment should serve as a wake-up call to acknowledge that our heavy reliance on fossil fuels is incompatible with the national security interests of the United States and our European allies.
That’s why a rapid transition to clean energy is imperative.
In the United States, President Biden should invoke his emergency powers under the Defense Production Act (DPA) to ramp up clean energy production and installation at a pace and scale similar to military weaponry production during World War II. Except this time, it won’t be bombs, planes or tankers we need to scale up, but the production of heat pumps, solar, wind and other clean energy technology.
By using the DPA to accelerate technological innovation and move us toward clean energy independence, Biden can protect national security and insulate against Russian-engineered shocks to fossil fuel prices. Clean energy will give Americans more choice in how we power our lives and businesses and protect us from the mounting impacts of the climate emergency.
The United States has a long legacy of leading the world through times of crisis with bold innovation. We, along with our NATO allies, can emerge victorious from this war by harnessing the power of the sun and the wind, our water and tides, and even the earth itself. We know it’s possible, and it’s time for President Biden to lead the way.
Read More:Opinion: How President Biden can win the energy war with Russia — and lower gas prices
2022-05-17 14:30:00