Credible Witness? | Green Energy News

July 6, 2003 – Vol.8 No.15

CREDIBLE WITNESS?

Why would U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan be asked to testify at the Senate Energy Committee on the state of natural gas supplies in the U.S. when Alan is not known for his expertise on energy issues?

Here’s one possible answer. When Alan speaks, the mainstream media listens. Alan has achieved celebrity status. For the media, Alan’s words are newsworthy. Alan's words make a headline, front page news for the nation’s papers, and commentary for the talking heads on cable and free television.

Alan’s words create an opportunity to push an agenda upon the general public.

Consider this. A hearing on Capitol Hill made up only of energy experts - people with names unrecognizable to the masses - would not make much of a news story. A hearing of experts from, perhaps, the U.S. Department of Energy who could speak with accuracy of natural gas supplies; or, perhaps, from the American Wind Energy Association on how more wind capacity could displace electricity generated with natural gas thus lessen its demand and ease supply concerns; or, perhaps, from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy who could urge greater efficiency programs to again lessen the demand on natural gas - would not make the mainstream news at all.

Instead what the general public gets is Alan’s words saying we need to import more natural gas in liquid form and need new terminals to do so. And alongside Alan’s words in those news stories is the rest of the agenda presented by the Senate Committee - the nation needs to bring back nuclear power and restrictions on drilling for natural gas on public lands should be eased.

Sorry to be cynical. But Mr. Greenspan, and his stardom, may be being used to help sell limited solution to what may be a growing problem for the U.S. - the depletion of domestically produced natural gas.