Energy Security Risk Assessment: A Transatlantic Comparison

Despite facing similar challenges, the United States and Germany continually diverge in their creation of energy policy. Mr. Aki Kachi argues that Germany pursues risk-averse energy policy, citing the nation’s decision to phase out its nuclear power plants by 2022 and the Energiewende, a large-scale movement to develop renewable energy.  Conversely, U.S. energy policy, Mr. Kachi argues, differs from the German example in that it is primarily reactionary rather than proactive.  In the U.S., technological development in fossil fuel production takes precedence over alternative energy development, leaving the country’s energy supply more susceptible to volatile prices in the global market.  Does the potential of a natural gas surplus in the U.S. justify the environmental hazards of fracking? Should the U.S. government cut oil subsidies in order to incentivize alternative energy development? Do you believe that the German government will remain faithful to its commitment to phase out nuclear power?