(Cracking the Code with Greg Kozera - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

Lynnda and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary last weekend. Effective and honest communication was one of the most important things we had to learn and develop. Trust is essential in any strong long-term relationship. We tell each other the truth ALL the TIME. Dishonestly of any kind is dangerous. A “white lie” is still a lie.

Lynnda and I have each other’s passwords. There isn’t anything on my phone or email Lynnda doesn’t have access to. Sometimes, truth can be embarrassing if I do something stupid. It’s easier to tell the truth than to keep stories straight. Truth doesn’t change.

The truth isn’t always pleasant or what we want to hear, like when Lynnda tells me how something I did made her feel. Like it or not, I know what the problem is we need to resolve. If we know the truth we can make decisions based on accurate information. If I ask Lynnda how I look before going to a meeting, she tells me the truth, then I change.

Truth is especially important when it comes to energy. Energy runs the economy. Energy keeps us alive and creates our standard of living, high or low. Cheap energy gives us money to spend on a new car, big screen TV, vacations and extras like eating out. It creates economic growth and jobs. High energy prices raise prices on almost all goods and services. People have less money to spend. We keep the old car, vacation close to home, don’t buy the new TV or eat out, resulting in job losses and slower economic growth. Economical, dependable energy is a good thing.

After years of companies and even engineers remaining silent out of fear of government or “environmental” group retaliation, we are finally beginning to hear the truth about our energy situation. I have been blunt and truthful when someone talks about “getting rid of fossil fuels.” The concept is total fantasy with no basis in physics and sound engineering. Renewables have an important place in our energy mix, but not if we cut down carbon-sequestering trees to replace them with solar panels. The inconvenient truth is windmills, solar panels and EVs are all fossil fuel products. There will be an energy transition most likely to nuclear power years from today.

My son told me Maryland’s governor took action to raise natural gas prices so more people would move to electricity for heating and cooking. The truth is, any created increased electric demand will be fueled by natural gas. Natural gas is the only baseload fuel that can be built quickly. Wind, solar and batteries are not dependable for baseload power. The governor succeeded in needlessly increasing utility costs for Maryland consumers, giving them less money to spend.

It’s important for all Americans to understand energy based on truth, basic science and sound engineering, not fantasy, wishes or emotion. Everyone wants a clean planet. There are multiple ways to get there. Shale Crescent USA was a finalist for the 2024 Platts Energy Award in Energy Transition Downstream for our creative and successful projects lowering global emissions and costs for companies by using abundant natural gas in the Shale Crescent region. We can learn from the mistakes of the EU and California to avoid our own blackouts.

Shale Crescent USA talked to over 100 companies at SelectUSA in May. Not a single company expressed any interest in renewable energy. Their concern was dependable/economical energy.

AEP, First Energy and the PJM grid announced at the West Virginia Manufacturers Association’s Manufacturing and Energy Growth Summit in May that our region would experience blackouts by 2030 unless major changes were made. Baseload coal and nuclear power plants were closed and replaced with intermittent renewable power. Only 5% of planned additions to the grid were baseload natural gas; the other 95% were wind and solar projects.

PJM, faced with a crisis, recently approved emergency baseload natural gas projects to keep the lights on. But 2030 is less than five years away. These projects still need regulatory approval before construction can start. Meeting future demand will be challenging. This problem was the result of poor government decisions based on wishes and neglecting engineering principles. Not enough engineers were willing to speak out.

In 2024, before AI and data center needs were understood, according to the International Energy Agency, China produced and consumed 33% of the world’s electricity. The U.S. is second at 14%, the EU third at 9% and India fourth at 7%. In China, 60% of electricity is produced from coal which they have in abundance. Bringing manufacturing to the U.S. reduces China’s emissions.

Demographic expert Peter Zeihan predicts a collapse in China’s economy and manufacturing. The Chinese population is declining because of their decades-old single-child policy and urbanization. Most people are older than 52. Not enough young people are available to replace older workers. Peter told SCUSA leadership, “The USA must reindustrialize. What you are doing is important.”

Truth is important in a marriage and all successful human relationships. Understanding the truth about energy saves people’s lives, keeps the U.S. free and our economy strong.

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Greg Kozera, gkozera@shalecrescentusa.com, is the director of marketing for Shale Crescent USA. He is a professional engineer with a Masters in Environmental Engineering and over 40 years of experience in the energy industry. He is a leadership expert, high school soccer coach, professional speaker, author of four books and many published articles.