From the CEO
When a friend of mine found out I recently started as ECA's new CEO, she told me I would inevitably fail because everyone involved in energy "had already dug their trenches" and would never compromise, let alone agree, on the things that mattered. I replied that she'd never make it as a cheerleader and left it at that. But against my will, the idea has returned to me several times since. What if - despite the gazillions of dollars we'll all spend (through bills, taxes, retrofits etc) - we are unable to meet the challenge because we just can't work together?
For what it's worth, and with a whole month of experience under my belt, let me nail my colours to the mast.
I am either an idealistic realist or a realistic idealist. Either way, I believe the one thing that has consistently characterised humans throughout time is our ability to problem solve collectively. At some point (I'd love to know when) we began to realise that there is some kind of magic that happens when we bring diverse minds to bear on tricky problems. Somehow our differences start to coalesce around a collective good; we begin to see a future painted with a broader - and thus more complementary - palette than just our own.
We have faced genuinely civilisation-threatening challenges before and I believe we will do so now. I also believe, very firmly, that when push comes to shove we will prevail through commonsense and a recognition that we are all consumers first and foremost. None of us is operating in a vacuum; indeed, we are all operating on ourselves and those we love.
Ah, but when does the push come to the shove, and who gives it?
There are people reading this (in fact most of you) who will have a far better technical answer to this question than I could give. Some will identify the moment through an economic lens, or an engineering one, or a political one, or a scientific one. For me, I simply feel it through the pores of my skin - literally and figuratively. Somehow there has been a discernible shift from "if/whether" to "how/when" and - increasingly - "act now!".
Which brings me back to collective problem solving. Broadly-speaking, the table is set and the chairs distributed among the major movers and shakers for the decarbonisation/decentralisation transition. The agenda is (more or less) drafted. The question for me is: what is each of us going to carry into the discussion? With the crunch time upon us, are we genuinely prepared to start the next phase of this conversation with a promise to each other that consumers and communities are the true alpha and omega? After all, the energy system exists for one purpose alone, so far as I can tell: to encourage easier, fairer, more - ahem - illuminated lives.
And so to my call to action. For those with a seat at this table, take 10 minutes and ask yourselves a few simple, first principles questions. Is every decision I take one that history will record as being in the collective, community good? How informed am I of the real-life human impacts, particularly on those who are already overburdened?
Energy can clearly be a powerfully democratising force but it can also entrench division and inequity. Which brings me back to my friend's view on trenches and their place in this discussion. And that is: none.
Let's talk next month.
Until then, warm regards,
Brendan
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