Energy Accord? Chamber forum melds the old with the new

Many readers, we would guess, find it hard to discern the "right" course for the nation's energy future. Energy policy has gotten caught up in the culture war. When that happens, the truth can be hard to see.

One faction staunchly advocates more domestic oil and gas drilling, augmented with new nuclear power plants, as the nation's energy salvation. Just as staunchly, the opposition depicts more drilling as the pointless feeding of an unsustainable addiction; it urges a greater policy emphasis on such sustainable energy sources as solar power, wind power and biofuels. Each faction advances seemingly strong arguments for its position, grounded in dueling projections and statistics.

Someone needs to sort all this out for local folks. Into that confusion breach has stepped the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce with its first ever Alternative Energy Forum. The event, which will include energy-related exhibits, happens Oct. 8 at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, between 8:30 a.m. and noon.

Experts from utilities, business, government and academia will discuss most aspects of the energy challenge facing our communities. Attendees will hear learned presentations on nuclear power and offshore drilling, as well as bioenergy, solar power and wind power.

They'll also hear presentations on the current state of national energy policy and the business perspective on energy issues. And a Santee Cooper expert will offer a comprehensive view of our communities' future energy needs.

What we have here, in short, is an event with potential to narrow the rift - locally, at least - between the drill-now and go-green contingents. The top challenge for the co-hosts, Myrtle Beach chamber President Brad Dean and Rennie M. Singletary of the S.C. Chamber of Commerce, is to make sure this happens.

What the local folks need most is a better sense of how the old and the new might work in tandem to to ease the transition from fossil fuels to alternative technologies - with minimal economic disruption. Some may not like to admit this, but most folks know deep down that an "all of the above" approach would work best. The challenge is getting there in unified fashion.

Price aside, offshore drilling for oil and gas is attractive because it could - many years from now - increase energy supplies under American control, easing the nation's unhealthy economic attachment to the Middle East. Nuclear power has its problems - most notably lack of a long-term storage site for spent nuclear fuel. But nuclear plants do not spew carbon into the atmosphere and, once built, are relatively cheap to operate.

Wind- and solar-generated electric power appear to have enormous potential to heat and cool homes, and to "refuel" electric and hybrid cars. But as attendees Oct. 8 will likely hear, some time will elapse before affordable technology to realize that potential is available. As for bioenergy, South Carolina's best option appears to be ethanol production from switch grass - now under study in Florence County under the auspices of Clemson University. Hydrogen power also has huge S.C. potential, though that's not up for discussion Oct. 8.

What's needed is an energy policy that melds the best ideas from both camps. If the forum helps advances such a compromise, while dispelling local confusion, the chamber will have performed a useful public service.