Defusing the energy bomb: Three ways to get past the mixed messages sent by our leaders

NEW YORK -- Sometimes, I just don't think our public and private sector leaders get it. And with today's energy situation, I think this is one of those times.

This is more of an op-ed piece than I usually do. But I'm amazed at the blind eye our leaders are turning to the obvious long-term energy supply situation. If they won't look at it squarely in the face, you and I will have to.

Looking the other way

Unfortunately, some people in high places just don't get it. To name a few:

• The Administration. Now, this isn't a political column; I don't want to go there. But really, trying to persuade the Saudis to open the spigots -- would that really solve the problem? Not so, according to the Saudis and most U.S. experts as well.
• Rex Tillerson, chairman and chief executive of Exxon Mobil. Recently the Wall Street Journal quoted him saying it is "astonishing and terribly upside down.... that a U.S. president would lobby a foreign government to boost production even as much of the United States remains off limits to domestic drilling." Let's drill more holes in the ground? Because that'll solve long-term energy issues? Right.
• Congress. Hardly the right dog in this fight, either. Some Democratic leaders want to take a tougher line on the Saudis. No more arms deals, and legal action against OPEC entities. What would that accomplish?

Any solutions here? Not in my book. More holes in the ground, more tension in Saudi relations, more profits for Exxon Mobil, but no solution to real long-term energy supply and demand issues.

A trainload of trouble

Do the math, and you'll be amazed at where we are. Worldwide oil consumption is about 87 million barrels of oil per day. We consume 25% of that alone in the U.S. That's about 22 million barrels of oil a day. That works out to about 11 supertanker loads.

If you don't live near a tanker port and can't fathom how big a tanker is, you can convert to railroad tank cars instead to get the picture. Those big black tank cars you see hold about 26,000 gallons. So at 42 gallons per barrel, 22 million barrels works out to some 924 million gallons. At 26,000 gallons per car, it would fill over 35,000 tank cars. Per day. Now I wouldn't want to get stuck behind that train -- would you?

The point is that the amount we depend on every day is huge. It's amazing we come anywhere close to meeting today's demand.

Setting the good example

I think it's obvious that we as individual citizens should take action to conserve, not to obtain more to consume. It always amazes me how the Europeans schedule activities, use public transportation, share, and do without. Yet, do they come up short on the standard-of-living scale? No, they simply work their lives around expensive, scarce energy.

• Heed the price. Simply put, prices are telling us there's more demand than supply. Now, there may be some speculative froth in today's $132 price, but the long-term situation is real. Prices are telling us we need to get the most out of every drop. So, put that in your mindset. We're not used to living with supply shortages. Get used to it.
• Consider realistic alternatives. Considering a 200-mile weekend trip? A 20-mile trip might achieve the same. Schedule "errand days" where you push all errands together. Have your kids take the school bus or car-pool them in school.
• Try no-energy days. I sometimes do "no-spending" days. Days where I stay home or take a walk, hang around the house and do a project, read a book, etc. -- without spending any money. Surely it does my monthly budget good, and it feels good to part ways with the material world, at least for a day. It's time to do the same with energy. Try having "no-energy" days - at least, days consuming no new energy. A bus or train ride is probably OK.

Become an activist and work for global change? You can do that if you want. It's better and more practical to become an example, for yourself and those around you. An example for your leaders, too.

If enough of us do the right thing, the message will float to the top, and soon we'll do the right thing as a country.

Peter Sander contributed to this article.