Addiction to oil - Sweden leads the way

In the next 15 years, Sweden hopes to be free from oil energy and it won't be relying on nuclear as well. Is that possible?

Coming in the heels of President Bush's addicted to oil remarks in his state of union address, Sweden thinks it can replace all fossil fuels with renewables before climate change destroys economies and growing oil scarcity leads to huge new price rises.

The result: the world's first oil-free economy by 2020.

A Swedish government official says:

"We want to be both mentally and technically prepared for a world without oil.
The plan is a response to global climate change, rising petroleum prices and
warnings by some experts that the world may soon be running out of oil."

Last week George Bush surprised analysts by saying that the US was addicted to oil and should greatly reduce imports from the Middle East. The US now plans a large increase in nuclear power.

And in the UK, the government is committed to generating 10% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2012, and last month launched an energy review which has a specific remit to consider a large increase in nuclear power.

The big guns are realising that oil wells around the world are drying up. They are also aware of the potential surge in demand for oil from China in the near future. Thus the smartest thing to do is to switch to other renewable energy.

This is just the beginning. In time, world powers will have made further development of biofuels derived from massive forests, and by expanding other renewable energies such as wind and wave power. And there is always nuclear energy.

But the Swedes are miles ahead from the rest of us:

• They are working with carmakers Saab and Volvo to develop cars and lorries that burn ethanol and other biofuels.

• Last year the Swedish energy agency said it planned to get the public sector to move out of oil.

• Its health and library services are being given grants to convert from oil use and homeowners are being encouraged with green taxes.

• The paper and pulp industries use bark to produce energy.

• Sawmills burn wood chips and sawdust to generate power.

One small step is in place to make the earth a cleaner and healthier place too. How refreshing.

my other blog