Innovation is key to Arctic progress

www.icelandictimes.com 9 US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry’s message US Secretary Rick Perry started his speech by congratulating the Icelanders on their 75th Anniversary of Independence. In fact, the US was the first nation to recognize Iceland’s Independence. Before him, VicePresident Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had made visits to Iceland, demonstrating the shift in US policy in the High North. Rick Perry said that he had visited the geothermal firm HS Orka, from which the US could learn much. In Alaska, Perry said, there were endless opportunities and unprecedented climate research was being carried out. The US had taken steps to open Alaska’s North Slope in a responsible way. There were plenty of opportunities in the Arctic. “By any measure, the Arctic is brimming with economic opportunities and energy potential. One third of natural gas resources are located in the Arctic. We are convinced they can be responsibly explored and developed for the Arctic peoples and ultimately, the world,” Secretary Perry said. More than 1.5 million people are residing in over 1,500 communities in the Arctic. They depend on locally generated power, largely micro grids. The challenge is to develop local knowledge and train individuals so they can better serve their communities. Perry said that one key principle is behind all US efforts. “We believe that the key to energy progress, to economic progress, to environmental progress is to allow the power of innovation to become the driver of progress. The US has an incredible story to tell of innovation. America is the second biggest producer of wind and solar energy. We are reviving our coal and oil industry and following decades of independence or, should I say, dependence on volatile regions for oil and gas, the US is now the world’s number one producer of both these energy resources. We are now an exporter of oil and gas, exporting to 36 countries in five continents. By next year we will become a net oil exporter,” Perry said. Greenhouse emissions dramatically down The secretary said that from 2005 to 2018, while energy production rose, US net greenhouse emissions fell dramatically, with the reduction especially strong in the power sector. Energy greenhouse emissions fell by an even greater amount. “Today we are leading the world in reducing those emissions, proving that we can both grow the economy and protect the environment. And once again, innovation is behind these astounding achievements. Innovation allows us to reduce and lower emission gas. Rather than driving out these forms of fuels, innovation allows us lower these emissions while growing,” Perry said.

The US sees the Arctic nations becoming leaders in computing. In 2020 the Arctic Super Computing Summit will be held in Iceland, making way for the next super-computing revolution. “What is true for the US is true for every free country in the Arctic region. I firmly believe that, given the right policies, the innovative innovation of free peoples can unleash unpresented progress. That is why I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the US and for the Arctic region,” said Secretary Perry. The North belongs to the Free Towards the end of his speech, Secretary Perry talked about countries seeking to “dominate the Arctic from the outside”. He was talking about China, no doubt. “I look to the future. I see us successfully resisting those countries seeking to dominate the Arctic from the outside. Nations that neither share our democratic values nor our record of environmental stewardship. I see us unleashing energy and progress to liberate nations from dependence on those same countries which would use their powers from the outside, their energy in particular, as a geo-political weapon. I see US geo energy liberate, not subjugate, the world,” Secretary Perry said and pledged that the US would share its energy with people all across the world and that tomorrow belongs to the North and the future belongs to the free.