The Myth of Instant Energy Transition
Public discourse often treats the energy transition as if it were a straightforward technological substitution—simply replace oil with solar panels and gasoline vehicles with electric ones. History shows otherwise.
Energy transitions unfold slowly because energy systems are deeply embedded in the structure of industrial civilization. The shift from wood to coal took more than a century. The transition from coal to oil and natural gas unfolded across decades.
Today’s transformation toward renewable energy will likely follow a similar trajectory.
The infrastructure that powers modern civilization—pipelines, refineries, shipping fleets, industrial machinery, and transportation networks—cannot be replaced overnight.
