"Energy Security" Makes Us Less Secure. Renewables Are The Answer - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica argues that the conventional notion of "energy security," heavily reliant on fossil fuels, paradoxically makes countries less secure due to hidden and substantial costs. Andrew Dessler, an atmospheric sciences professor, highlights that while debates often focus on visible costs like fuel prices or electricity bills, they overlook the extensive hidden subsidies fossil fuels receive. These include not only direct financial subsidies but also indirect costs embedded in healthcare, climate change impacts, and especially national security. The U.S. spends over $81 billion annually—about one-fifth of the Department of Defense base budget—to protect critical oil supply routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, costs that are not reflected at the pump but effectively subsidize oil consumption. This defense spending, combined with the economic vulnerabilities caused by global oil price fluctuations, means fossil fuels are far more expensive than they appear. Dessler emphasizes that fossil fuels’ global pricing makes countries economically vulnerable to supply disruptions, as seen recently when U.S. and Israeli strikes on