Israel and the U.S. will head a research project on renewable energy resources as the world’s volatile geo-politics and finite energy supply threaten energy-consuming countries.
A three-day conference entitled “Cooperation for Energy Independence of Democracies in the 21st Century” will draw about 150 participants over three days with energy expertise in academics, policy, politics, finance and technology.
Fossil fuels should be replaced by hydrogen fuel production and biomass, which can be derived from municipal waste, as well as other reusable materials, according to conference organizers.
Yet, despite an emphasis by conference headliners on environmental efficiency and economic co-operation, the project clearly has political undertones.
Conference organizer David Haberman, an expert on hydrogen energy, acknowledged the “poor allocation of fossil fuels among democracies in this world” as well as Israel’s “extreme risk” in its energy consumption. He mentioned the Jewish state’s hostile relationship with its oil-producing neighbors as a disadvantage.
The U.S., too, is at great risk, which was apparent when the electricity supply to the country’s northeast was cut off two weeks ago, despite the fact that it has the “most evolved infrastructure in the world,” Haberman said.
Non-OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) oil production will peak in 2015, according to Haberman, which means that afterwards, most of the world’s finite energy resources will be in the hands of OPEC nations.
Randa Fahmy Hudome, former U.S. assistant deputy secretary of energy, said that the project, which clearly targets democracies, would not polarize participating and non-participating nations politically.
“Ultimately, the whole world is going to benefit from this research project,” she said. “This is not about favoring one particular form of government over another.”
This is evident by the participation of China, a communist state. Kenya, Japan, Sweden, Australia, the European Union and the International Energy Association are among interested parties.
Both Haberman and Fahmy Hudome hope that Iraq, home to the world’s second largest oil supply, will continue to be an important energy supplier once the political situation stabilizes. They said that the U.S. has taken charge of the security situation and rebuilding the country’s infrastructures.
Joseph Paritzky, Israel’s minister of national infrastructure, will meet U.S. officials within 10 days to discuss the possibility of re-opening the oil pipeline between Iraq and Israel, which has been diverted to Lebanon since 1948.
Even if the pipeline were to operate, Iraq can only supply “x number of years of oil,” according to Haberman. “Oil is at best a temporary solution.”
An engineer by profession, Haberman is more concerned about sustainability. He said that he hopes to “render communities, states and nations energy independent,” including Iraq.
While President Bush has dedicated $1.7 billion to the project over 5 years, the U.S. Senate has yet to pass a comprehensive energy bill.
The conference is being organized by Israel’s Ministry of Natural Infrastructure, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the American Jewish Congress and endorsed by several U.S. legislators.