Trump’s war on Iran inadvertently makes a case for renewable energy.
Without the free flow of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, we have a crisis. Twenty percent of the world’s oil and gas passes through this strait.
This exposes the depth of our dependence on fossil fuel.
Since the Industrial Revolution in the late 1700s, the use of coal, gas, and oil has become our main source of energy in all aspects of life. It pollutes our planet.
The growing number of high tech and AI companies use even more of our resources, especially potable water as coolant. This will become scarce in a warming Earth. These companies create unique problems by re-opening old nuclear plants and building new nuclear reactors, their choice of power. Its volatile, hazardous waste cannot be disposed of in normal landfills.
We’ve known about the threat of a warming planet for decades. Already we have lost our four seasons to extreme temperatures, creating chaotic weather events. Order is essential for life; seasons create that order.
Wars were never fought for the acquisition of solar, wind, and thermal resources, Nature’s non-polluting gifts. Further, mainstream media, by omission, censors information about the threat of climate change. But climate change has arrived—and we must partner with nature’s resources now, to stem our disastrous path toward global suicide.
Shirley Schaffer and Sarah Newfeld-Green
Grover Beach
This article appears in March 26 – April 2, 2026.
The case for renewable energy was obvious long before the war in Iran. Unfortunately, the demands of technology do not yield to popular political outcry, and must be solved before we can move to renewables. The necessary technology will not magically appear just because we demand it, but must instead be first invented and developed. The main problem is how do we provide the necessary energy storage for the often prolonged periods when sources like solar and wind are not available? As we have seen from the dispute over the proposed Morro Bay battery facility, that problem is a long way from being solved. And, of course, some of the renewables present their own problems. Consider the current battles over the environmental impact of offshore wind power, or of hydroelectric, which requires the damming of rivers, and which is vulnerable to drought. Like it or not, it is going to take time.
Current vs. Future Landscape
Today (2026): Common EVs offer 250–350 miles; premium vehicles like Lucid Air can reach over 500 miles. Facebook
2026–2028: Introduction of 600+ mile batteries from firms like Samsung and Solid Power (partnering with BMW/others)
1,000-Mile Potential: Companies like 24M Technologies are developing “electrode-to-pack” (ETOP) designs, which increase energy density by eliminating redundant components, aiming for ~1,000 miles.
Solid-state batteries are widely considered the most promising next-generation technology, offering higher energy density, faster charging, and improved safety by replacing liquid electrolytes with solid materials
WE ARE GETTING THERE!