Achieving True Energy Abundance
Global energy dynamics have entered a troubling period. Conflicts in Iran and Ukraine have led to surging energy prices. Attacks on oil tankers and nuclear facilities in multiple nations are raising alarms. Local fossil fuel pollution contributes to one in five global deaths. This summer, a record-breaking heat wave in Europe resulted in 14,000 fatalities and $2 billion in agricultural losses. Following this, over 300,000 people faced evacuation due to wildfires. Meanwhile, misinformation and misguided policies continue to increase emissions.
In this scenario, the Abundance movement, promoted by figures like Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, envisions a future of secure, clean energy. Yet, it acknowledges its failure to provide a solid roadmap. The current emphasis on energy supply fosters misconceptions. It overlooks consumer-side opportunities and promotes unnecessary expansion of energy production. A clear distinction is necessary between abundant energy and energy abundance.
One approach by the Abundance movement is indoor factory farming. This demands vastly more energy than outdoor farming, consuming a hundred times more for similar yields. Expanding clean energy excessively wastes resources and leads to environmental issues. Replacing existing energy sources with cleaner ones misses the point. This issue is termed the primary energy fallacy, equating raw energy with useful energy. Notably, two-thirds of fossil fuel energy is lost as waste heat before reaching consumers.
Enhancing energy efficiency offers significant advantages. This approach, though less visually appealing than renewable energy infrastructures, proves more impactful. The subtlety of efficiency improvements also sidesteps not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) objections. Importantly, efficiency differs from scarcity or degrowth. Consumers require energy services like lighting and transport, not raw oil or coal. ‘Electro-efficiency,’ a concept by Oxford’s Jan Rosenow, plays a vital role. Examples include heat pumps using significantly less energy than traditional furnaces, and LED lights being extremely efficient compared to incandescent bulbs. Electric vehicles are also much more energy-efficient than gasoline cars.
The quality of life benefit strengthens the argument. Electrified homes offer clean air, and induction cooking improves safety. Electric transport provides a faster, quieter option. Notably, electric vehicles conveniently charge at home overnight, potentially serving as backup generators during blackouts. The introduction of electric freight trucks and planes is a promising development. Meanwhile, electric school buses help increase budgets for teachers while reducing exposure to harmful diesel fumes. Efficient office spaces enhance worker productivity and property values. Electrified manufacturing delivers effective and clean operations. Additionally, affordability is increasing. In recent times, wartime oil prices doubled the cost of solar energy, yet charging EVs still compares favorably to gasoline costs. This economic advantage allows for both economic growth and decreased consumption.
Abundance naturally incorporates secure, domestic energy resources. Building renewable energy infrastructure proceeds swiftly, outpacing fossil and nuclear investments. After the Ukraine conflict, Germany rapidly increased heat pump installations. Despite their benefits, the movement critiques bureaucracies. Barriers complicate solar installations’ cost, especially in the U.S. compared to countries like Australia. Abundance advocates propose easing environmental rules, but such actions undermine public trust. Fast-tracking existing lines increases capacity without new environmental impacts. Microgrids enhance reliability, and consumer-side energy efficiency reduces demand during peak times.
Efficient systems, including distributed batteries, play a role by storing and selling solar energy effectively. Virtual power plants integrate these systems into operational solutions. These strategies empower consumers, a key component of abundance. Energy abundance is becoming a reality, as electric vehicles reduce global oil usage significantly. Capitalizing on energy services from raw energy is key. Overcoming obstacles involves enhancing information, facilitating financing, increasing trade skills, and reforming unfavorable policies. Achieving energy abundance demands determination. Now is the moment to accelerate progress.
Evan Mills offers these insights as an energy systems analyst, former senior scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and a research affiliate at the University of California Berkeley’s Energy and Resources Group. His contributions include co-authoring climate assessments for notable organizations. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Redistribution of this material is not permitted.