A LIGHTBULB MOMENT

An ah-ha moment that every American needs to have!

I recently saw a post on LinkedIn by Kyle Haustveit and immediately wanted every American to have the same Lightbulb Moment that his daughter had about energy. We all take energy and electricity for granted. Energy systems are extremely complex and policy makers often promulgate energy policies without the requisite knowledge of highly intricate energy systems. Energy and electricity enable modern society. We all owe it to ourselves to help our friends and families understand energy. Below is a guest post by Kyle.

The other day, my daughter asked me a simple question as she on flipped a light switch: "How does a light bulb work?"

What started as a basic explanation quickly turned into a journey through the critical industries that make that light possible. I explained how it begins with mining for copper and other essential metals, which are crucial for the electrical wiring and components. Then, we talked about the natural gas that powers much of our electrical generation, a significant portion of which comes from the U.S. shale wells.

She got more than she was asking for, but it was a perfect opportunity to teach her about the importance of energy awareness. It's easy to take for granted the robust energy economy we enjoy in the U.S., but make no mistake, it's built on the backs of millions of hardworking individuals, massive amounts of capital, and continuous technological breakthroughs.

From the engineers developing new drilling technologies for oil, natural gas, and geothermal to the workers extracting and processing these resources, every lightbulb moment is a testament to their dedication and innovation. This conversation reminded me how vital it is to reach the next generation and help them understand the complexities and importance of our energy industry.

We need all forms of energy to meet growing demand and this will require technology breakthroughs. By working together, avoiding the villainizing of any one form of energy, we can ensure a supply of reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy for the future. This is made possible through the spirit of experimentation and breakthroughs from the minds of pioneers like Thomas Edison, and George Mitchell.

Quite the Light Bulb moment indeed!

(5) Kyle Haustveit, P.E. | LinkedIn

#EnergyAwareness #USShaleRevolution #FutureGenerations #Innovation #HardWork #EnergyEducation #Experimentation #Breakthroughs