After donating his congressional papers to Bracken Library Monday, retired Congressman Phil Sharp turned his attention to oil, telling an audience that America would never be free from its grasp.
Sharp also spoke about electricity and the storage of nuclear energy.
The subject has been close to Sharp for some time, as it is the basis of years of congressional work.
He said attacking energy reduction early entails dealing with the issue within the next few years.
"It is important to know where you are going and how it will impact the next 10 years," Sharp said.
Sharp said when he first entered office in the 1970s, one of the major pushes in Congress was to make the United States oil-independent.
Such a feat was impossible, he said, as the nation is now interdependent on fuels with the rest of the world.
"We need to be honest about the reality that we have made a concrete decision that we are not willing to pay the cost of oil independence," Sharp said.
Even to address the topic, he said, would take time.
"There is not much we can do quickly with oil," Sharp said. "Fields could go up in flames in Saudi Arabia, and prices will go through the roof."
Oil was not the only focus of Sharp's speech. He eventually moved from the oil independence to the digital revolution.
Because of a digital revolution, Sharp said, the electric energy industry must transform at the speed the revolution is occurring.
The government cannot, Sharp added, slow it down or speed it up.
"One of our top priorities should be to complete the transition of restructuring the industry," Sharp said.
Conservation was also an important issue, Sharp said.
"One of our great concerns are the people that are pro-production," Sharp said. "They think if we don't produce tons more energy, we can kiss American prosperity good-bye."
Despite this thinking, Sharp said most of the cars driven today are far more fuel-efficient, and most industries are purchasing more energy-efficient motors.
"Efficiency and conservation are important for the future," Sharp said. "We want our children and grandchildren to enjoy prosperity without choking to death in the process."
Sharp said nuclear storage was another hot issue. He said people want energy storage, but not in their backyards.
Yet, there are misconceptions about nuclear storage, he said.
"There are few accidents and usually no damage to any citizens," he said.
He told the audience that when a nuclear storage facility is chosen, it is usually open for 50 to 100 years before it is sealed. This is done so research can continue and mistakes can be reversed.
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