When “Clean Energy” Sounds Dirty

“Clean energy” used to inspire idealism and optimism. Today, it merely triggers eye rolls and passionate political arguments on both sides of the aisle. For many Americans, it’s become a loaded phrase, tied to government subsidies, job losses in fossil fuel towns, and a lingering fear that we’re repeating what happened to steel and manufacturing. The result is a cynicism that we cannot afford at this critical point.

Energy Reality Check

In 2023, over 60% of U.S. energy still came from fossil fuels. That number sometimes surprises people, but it really shouldn’t. Energy demand keeps climbing, fueled (literally) by everything from electric vehicles to data centers powering artificial intelligence. According to Sam Altman, the average ChatGPT query uses about 0.34 watt-hours - equivalent to running a high efficiency lightbulb for a couple of minutes. Imagine the fast growing load of billions upon billions of queries. One can easily imagine a Matrix-like dystopian future.  

However, energy consumption and GDP DO rise together, showing that economic growth still depends on reliable, abundant power. So, demonizing fossil fuels without practical alternatives won’t work. We need an “all of the above” strategy that values technology, cost, and context.

Lessons from the Classroom

In my Introduction to Energy Science course at De Anza College, I learned that there’s no single clean fix. The key is balancing technology, capital and operating costs, waste byproducts and above all, the right use case for the right technology. Each technology - solar, wind, hydro, nuclear - shines in the right use case. 

My Next Step: Osmotic Power

That mindset led me to my current project: Osmotic Power. The concept is simple — use the salinity difference between desalination brine and brackish water to generate clean electricity. If successful, it could help offset the energy use of the Monterey Bay desalination plant, turning waste into opportunity.

Join the Journey

Clean energy shouldn’t divide. It should innovate. I’m building solutions that merge engineering, economics, and environmental impact, because the future depends on all three.

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