Maslow proposed a ranking of human needs in 1954 and while it is considered somewhat controversial today, it does provide us with a valuable framework for considering priorities in many aspects of life.
As we have repeatedly said, Energy is Life. Quoting from our mission statement: “Energy is more than life, it is the force and power that allows a person and all of mankind to be freed from the limitations of our bodies and to harness the power of our minds. Without the application of external energy we could only build what we are physically capable of lifting and certainly never fly or move faster than we can run. Our quality of life and the entire global economy is based on energy. It is as vital as air and water to our survival.”
You can’t simply turn a switch one day, and bang, you now have a fully functional equitable zero carbon energy system. It needs to be done step by step with each step building upon the previous “proven” foundation. This is why we need to consider the Energy Hierarchy of needs, the energy equivalent of Maslow. We must transition and prove each step of the pyramid before moving to the next. What is the Hierarchy of Energy? As vital to the energy transition success as this is, to my knowledge, it has not been officially developed. (again, we are trying to change our energy system without a plan). The reason this is so important is that people will act according to their energy hierarchy regardless of established orthodoxy.
My list, from the most important to the least.
- Security.
- Affordability
- Abundance
- Sustainability
Security:
If energy is life, then I want to make sure that I have sufficient energy available at all times to sustain my life. With limited energy, I may not have a great quality of life, but I am alive. I need to know that at least this minimum amount of energy will always be there to keep me alive.
Affordability:
This is the economic side of the security issue. I must be able to afford to purchase the energy I need to sustain life.
Abundance:
The more energy I can consume the higher my standard of living and I want to maximize my standard of living. Abundance also drives affordability in a virtuous feedback cycle.
Sustainability:
This is caring about and planning for the future. The reason that this is the least important is because most people, and it is reflected in our institutions, are short-term focused. We are all infected with hyperbolic discounting, placing very little value to the future implications of our actions today. This is why we find ourselves in our current predicament.
The current energy transition is the reverse of this hierarchy. Our unplanned, throw incentives at it, free-for-all energy mix has already compromised both our energy security and affordability.