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## The Impact on National Security due to the Transition to Renewable Energy
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 has successfully managed to steer the U.S. energy policy towards the European approach of rapid expansion of wind and solar power. Regrettably, this haste might be overlooking the crucial factor of national security in energy policy.
## National Security: Essential for Energy Policies
National security is the lifeblood of any nation. Its absence can lead to catastrophic effects, as evidenced by the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
There are several major concerns associated with the shift from traditional energy forms to more sustainable sources. These include increased geopolitical dependencies (particularly on China), transfer of wealth and expertise to China, and the potential vulnerability in the event of a military confrontation.
## China’s Dominance in the Energy Transition
The major part of transitioning to renewable energy involves wind, solar, and batteries. China boasts authority over the global production of these resources, thus increasing the rest of the world’s dependency on it.
Just like Germany’s increased dependency on Russian natural gas post the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the world now runs the risk of becoming heavily reliant on China for renewable energy resources. This could escalate geopolitical tensions, similar to how Europe was vulnerable due to its reliance on Russian gas when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
## Balancing Global Power Distribution
The hasty transition to renewable energy has increased the world’s dependency on the Chinese energy and mineral sectors, and the Taiwanese semiconductor industry. If a military conflict breaks out in these regions, the global economy might face major challenges because of these dependencies.
Currently, China controls 80% of the solar value chain, 60% of the world’s wind turbines, and 60% of batteries for Electric Vehicles (EV). The solar, wind, and battery manufacturing market globally amounted to nearly $500 billion in 2023. If these resources are exported from China, it might lead to considerable geopolitical imbalance.
## Knowledge Transfer: A Double-Edged Sword
The transfer of wealth to China is not the only alarming development. The knowledge transfer is also a considerable concern. Around half of the science and engineering doctorate candidates in the U.S. are foreign-born, with a large percentage from China.
While being open to education from overseas is an attribute to take pride in, providing the knowledge to potential rivals could indeed be problematic.
## Vulnerabilities of Renewable Energy Facilities
Domestically, renewable energy facilities also face significant cyber and kinetic vulnerabilities. For example, a Californian solar plant has to rely on the Chinese company BYD to perform maintenance work remotely from China. This heavy reliance on another nation for such services undoubtedly raises security risks.
Additionally, renewable facilities’ hardware, predominantly made in China, is prone to malicious cyber attacks. The geographically scattered and relatively unguarded wind and solar facilities pose easy targets as well.
## The Rising Threat from China
China has demonstrated increasing aggression in recent years, evidenced by its aggressive tactics in the South China Sea, annexation of Hong Kong, and frequent violation of Taiwan’s sovereignty. In view of this, American citizens need to be aware that their wind and solar power capacities could potentially be compromised in any military conflict with China.
The concerns raised here are not unfounded but are rather backed by evidence from current geopolitical trends. Despite being viewed as alarmist by some, ignoring such alarming patterns could be risky.
In conclusion, as nations transition to renewable energy, it is critical to consider the potential threats to national security, especially from foreign dependencies. By considering these threats, we can ensure the sustainability and security of our future energy supply.
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