Putin’s War on Ukraine has shown how fossil fuels are making our world less safe and dependent on autocratic dictators. The Marshall Plan – an audacious and innovative strategy – provided Europe with the stimulus needed to rapidly rebuild after World War II.
According to Elected Officials to Protect America, the world needs a Ukraine Energy Security Marshall Plan to help Ukraine rebuild a clean energy economic with the security of knowing that they won’t be vulnerable to oil and gas fluctuations, and the dangers of being dependent on fossil fuels ever again.
EOPA says it would be inhumane to wait for the end of the war as millions of Ukrainians are suffering in frigid winter temperature without electricity. Already over 9 million souls have been forced to leave Ukraine.
The world can rebuild the infrastructure that has been hit by drones and missiles with distributed, smart microgrids, supported by batteries and make Ukraine more resilient right now.
GLOBALLY, it is a crucial opportunity to empower Ukraine and Europe with accessible and affordable clean energy while simultaneously undermining Putin’s war efforts in Ukraine by fostering energy independence.
REGIONALLY, it aims to empower Ukraine with accessible and affordable clean energy, enhancing its energy independence, driving reforms and investments, and fostering comprehensive and sustainable economic growth to support Ukraine’s recovery. Ukraine’s clean energy potential is enough to power Europe six times, creating an energy shield vital for regional and international security.
Summary
The Ukraine Energy Security Marshall Plan is driven by the recognition that Ukraine’s energy security is closely intertwined with international stability. Ukraine possesses the potential to power Europe six times over using its vast wind energy resources (The University Technology Sydney, 2024), or three times over within 10 kilometers of the existing electric grid. This presents an opportunity to reduce global reliance on fossil fuel-dependent autocracies. Every one of OPEC and most of OPEC+ are authoritarian regimes. As demonstrated by the doubling of Russian crude oil exports to the UK through third-party refineries, the ongoing reliance on fossil fuels continues to undermine efforts to support Ukraine, as the financial flows from these exports significantly exceed humanitarian aid.
- Policy: Educate, inspire, and raise awareness for Ukraine Energy Security Marshall Plan legislation, starting in the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, and Australia, to include a comprehensive policy covering everything from financing to war and risk insurance to supply chains and training. This is the focus of our effort as policy and legislative improvements will create lasting impacts that expediently enable solar, wind, microgrids, batteries, and innovative secure energy sources.
- Subnational Cooperation: Establish and strengthen Sister City and State partnerships to create the infrastructure and accountability for implementing the plan.
- Direct Aid: Provide Ukraine with immediate energy security assistance primarily through distributed energy, including solar, batteries, heat pumps, EVs, and technical training, including Tier 1 Mental Health support.
Distributed clean energy is more resilient against attacks than traditional electric infrastructure as it does not have single points of failure. For instance, in the U.S., if nine out of our 55,000 substations in the U.S. were attacked it could cause a blackout coast-to-coast. This is why by 2035 every U.S. military base will be powered with a smart electric microgrid.
Distributed clean energy has secondary benefits. Destroyed petrol stations can be replaced with interconnected self-sufficient clean energy electric vehicle charging stations that can power transportation – without the need for the grid. Electric minivans and buses can then be used for their battery storage power to provide emergency power for buildings in times of need.
Read more HERE.