Energy Independence

We all rely on Energy. Every single person in this country relies on electricity, oil, gas and even coal. From making that all important first cup of coffee in the morning, to driving to work, to checking your emails at work and then cooking your dinner in the evening. What source of energy we use is a question that merits a debate on itself and gets alot of attention. Where we get our energy from is the question that we never ask and the one I seek to answer in this Blog Post.

7 of the top 10 biggest companies in the world (by revenue) are Energy Companies. These 7 companies are: ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, BP Plc, Total S.A., Chevron Corp., Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. and Saudi Aramco. It is no coincidence that 7 of the top 10 biggest global companies are energy companies. They have us pinned.

We need energy. They make and sell energy.

So how do we break this dependency on huge global corporations (that some would say have unethical and environmentally damaging business practices)?

Simple. We build and organise our own Energy Independence. Local communities and individuals should be freed from National Government regulations on Energy Creation and Supply. My vision is of a Nation that is self efficient in energy, and green energy at that.

Local villages, towns and city nieghbourhoods could come together in a democratic bottom up hierarchy to decide for themselves how and where their energy is produced and ofcourse at what cost. With wind and solar energy research taking off in a big way right now, I believe it will only be a matter of time before wind turbines and solar panels are efficient, affordable and discreet. This will create even more Energy Independence for families and communities. My vision is of each house and each local community having their own Energy creation system, rather than a National Grid of Energy Suppliers controlled by Government and Companies.

This may all sound pie in the sky. But this is all possible. With less Government regulation, more self resposibility and community participation.

The benefits of local Renewable Energy Creation are numerous:

- The demolition of those hideous electricity pylons that blight our beautiful countryside
- The bringing together of local communities
- The loss of dependency on huge Global Corporations
- Vastly better for the environment on a local and global scale
(good for polar bears)
- A sense of pride, knowing and having a say in exactly how your energy is created

Rather than constructing huge offshore wind farms, investing billions into Nuclear or attempting to "green up" the image of coal powered stations, we need to think and work local as communities.

This is true Energy Independence.