August 27, 2013

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Iceland wants to know: “who needs coal when you have FIRE?”

A quick check-in from the road. Occasionally I see ads in different countries that give perspective on how that country views energy and I try to snag pictures if I can.

By David Wogan

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This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

A quick check-in from the road. Occasionally I see ads in different countries that give perspective on how that country views energy and I try to snag pictures if I can. These two ads offer a juxtaposition of resources and current energy issues.

Here's a wall display in Keflavík airport (about 50 km southwest of the capital Reykjavík): "who needs coal when you have fire?"

I have learned that Icelanders are proud of their country and geothermal energy is something they are indeed proud of, making the cold land more hospitable, but also enabling a tourism industry with the likes of hot springs like the Blue Lagoon (which is actually supplied by the produce water from a nearby geothermal plant).

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For an island nation like Iceland, it is fortunate to have abundant natural resources.

Next up is an ad at a bus stop in downtown Washington, DC: "America and Canada: friends, neighbors, allies". The subtext gets right into it: "America's choice: import oil from Canada [...] or choose less stable offshore sources with weaker environmental standards".

You can make a compelling argument for or against importing Canadian fossil fuels, and this ad hopes to sway you (or the regulator) on the commute to work.

David Wogan is an engineer and policy researcher who writes about energy, technology, and policy.

David's academic and professional background includes a unique blend of technology and policy in the field of energy systems. Most recently, David worked at Austin Energy, a Texas municipal utility, implementing a Department of Energy stimulus grant related to energy efficiency. Previously, David was a member of the Energy & Climate Change team at the White House Council on Environmental Quality for the Obama Administration.

David holds two Master's degrees from The University of Texas at Austin in Mechanical Engineering and Public Affairs. While at UT, David was a researcher in the Webber Energy Group, where his research focused on advanced biofuel production to offset petroleum use in the transportation sector. David holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin, where he researched nuclear non-proliferation measurement technology.

David is a 2013 Aspen Institute Journalism Scholar, joining a select group of journalists from Slate, ABC News, and The New York Times.

David lives in Austin, Texas. Follow along on Twitter or email him at david.wogan@me.com.

More by David Wogan

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