Are We Ready to Lead?
I read with great interest a recent article by Daniel Lyons in Newsweek, entitled An SOS for Science. While I don’t agree with everything he states, he much more eloquently than I, raises one of my chief concerns: Is the US is ready to lead the renewable energy revolution?
Renewable energy initiatives should be embraced by all of us, as sustainable design and responsible energy production and consumption is simply the right thing to do. Whether you agree that global warming is true or not, you must agree that we can do better. As Lyons points out, we’re spending all our time arguing the facts around global warming and are frankly missing the bigger picture. As a profession, engineers will be on the leading edge of the development of new creative technologies to harness power, distribute and consume it. As Lyons points out, the U.S. can simply sit back and watch other emerging countries take the lead (and the market share), or we can take our rightful place at the leading edge.
I encourage each of you to join me in the call to arms, with the simple mantra, “we can do better!” We have a professional and ethical obligation to do so.
