THE ENERGY OPPORTUNITY - The Power Surge: Energy, Opportunity, and the Battle for America's Future - page 204

h e United States could realize a host of benei ts by exporting the
technologies that have been developed in recent years. Ef orts to spread
shale gas technology could yield bigger gas supplies in Eastern Europe,
China, and beyond, thereby reducing their reliance on Russia, weaken-
ing pressures to become entangled with Middle Eastern exporters, and
cut ing greenhouse gas emissions. And advances in renewable energy
technologies provide an opportunity both to make money through
international sales and to cut overseas greenhouse gas emissions, but
fully realizing that requires access to foreign markets. Unfortunately,
such access has been inconsistent, and particularly dii cult to gain in
China, which is almost certain to become the world's largest market
for alternative fuels. A growing U.S. renewable energy market may pro-
vide the United States with more leverage because others may worry
about losing access if they fail to become or remain open themselves.
h e United States should take advantage of those concerns to open up
markets abroad.
Big gains in natural gas, energy ei ciency, and renewable power,
driven by markets and policy, can also strengthen the U.S. hand in
pressing others to curb their greenhouse gas emissions. Many coun-
tries are concerned about climate change but fear taking strong action
in part because they perceive others not to be doing so. Progress on
climate within the United States, along with the availability of cheaper
emissions-cut ing technologies, might help change some of their at i-
tudes. h is does not mean the United States should return to a quixotic
quest for a climate treaty. American diplomats should focus on adding
transparency to all countries' ef orts and making it politically costly for
them to reverse course. Whether this is done through a treaty or by
other means is less important.
At the same time as it exploits international opportunities, the United
States should also guard against missteps. Abundant oil and gas supplies
have led many to call for bans on exports of both. h at would forgo
opportunities to shake up global gas markets and strengthen the U.S.
economy, all while put ing U.S. trade agreements and broader access
to foreign markets at risk. h e same is true for restrictions on foreign
investment in U.S. energy production: the United States should be
careful in imposing limits when it is lobbying others to remove theirs.