The Crisis in Clean Energy: Stark Realities of the Renewables Craze - Essay Example

The Crisis in Clean Energy: Stark Realities of the Renewables CrazeSummaryVictor and Kassia in their article ‘The crisis in clean energy: stark realities of the renewables craze’ published in 2011, explore the issue of a possible energy crisis in the clean-energy industry. According to them, subsidies that have contributed to growth in the energy industry are now unsustainable politically. The crisis is seen as a tough challenge to the US foreign policy, which in turn calls for appropriate preparedness of the policymakers.

Victor and Kassia cite commercialization and technology gap as chief obstacles in the energy industry, which can lead to the crisis. These gaps have resulted from the act of many nations supporting concepts that are not much risky. Such concepts are believed to have the least ideas of innovation, and they are all over the world.Critical AnalysisFrom Victor’s and Kassia’s suggestion that an energy crisis is approaching in the clean-energy industry, I totally agree with their conclusion (Victor & Kassia para.1). Despite the efforts of governments in raising the awareness of clean-energy, much has not been achieved as the subsidies that develop the industry are slowly being withdrawn.

More so, the crisis can extend to the global platform and create a serious challenge to foreign policy of the US. The crisis can trigger the usage of non-renewable energy sources, which may bring the issues of global warming, trade deficit and energy insecurity.Equally, the issue of commercialization and technology gap is a considerable shortcoming in the clean energy industry. I agree with Victor and Kassia in their point that the technology gap has led to the development of energy gadgets that are unsustainable (Victor & Kassia para.4). From a look at the current market, politics has changed the landscape of the clean energy by allowing a massive flocking of private investors with unsustainable approaches.

Most of the investors have specialized in coming up with clean energy projects that are built within a short time, as opposed to investing on projects with technologies that are innovative. As a result, there has been very little competition between clean energy sources and conventional sources of energy for a while.The article is also right when it suggests that the governments’ withdrawal in support of innovations has greatly resulted to the slow progress in the clean energy industry (Victor & Kassia para.5). It is true that many innovations in the clean energy industry are being abandoned when they reach the stage of evaluation for safe use.

Many scientists have come up with ideas that are quite risky and such ideas have not been fully supported by the concerned authorities. The present times call for the consideration of positive outcomes of every idea. Therefore, such ideas should be looked at keenly, with security measures being taken into account.Hand in hand, Victor’s and Kassia’s suggestion that the cost of initiating clean energy projects is another problem in the industry (para.5) is a true statement. Many massive projects in the industry call for greater spending and attached risks.

Most of the private investors will not dare to carry out such projects without connecting with the governments, for fear of the surrounding implications. The governments may be in a position of acquiring much funding, whereas the private investors may lack the support.However, it is sensible to conclude that approaching a previously depicted problem will determine the seriousness of its impact. Given that the current trends indicate a possible crisis in the clean energy industry, various strategies can be used to combat the problem before it blows up fully.

It is a responsibility of the key players in the world’s energy industry to be prepared well so as to combat the perceived crisis. Victor and Kassia (para.2) make a sensible call for the preparedness of the policymakers. For instance, governments can implement the previous strategies that helped the industry realize higher growth rates recently. The re-introduction of public subsidies and government stimulus can be examples of strategic approaches.Works CitedVictor, David and Kassia, Yanosek.

"The Crisis in Clean Energy: Stark Realities of the Renewables Craze." Foreign Affairs, 2011. 90.4 112. Available at: .