Energy Crisis
Energy is important to our nation for many reasons. It is a key economic driver. It offers new market opportunities for business. Providing energy to our nation has been an exciting challenge in recent years. Many changes have been constant throughout that period. The past tells Americans that predicting the specifics of the energy future for our nation with great accuracy would be unlikely. Americans get their energy from different types of resources. With all the different resources Americans believe that an energy crunch shouldn’t happen.
The crisis is a nationwide energy discontent in which natural gas rates have soared to the highest level in 15 years, and OPEC has slashed its oil output again to keep prices up. Most Americans know they are the ones who are mostly to blame for the energy crisis. Americans' greed drives us to demand more space and privacy, more power and speed, and more comfort and ease. Satisfying these demands requires the burning of more fossil fuels. Due to the large amounts of energy that Americans use, the demand for more energy resources are becoming low. The energy crisis in California could spread throughout the United States unless answers to these problems of energy consumption can be solved.
If the energy crisis should happen to spread throughout the United States, there would be a large demand for more energy resources. More and more efforts are being attempted for finding new types of energy resources for the long term. Large amounts of money are being spent on different types of energy. Prices will continue to grow if there is a shortage of energy. Americans will have to pay more for energy in the years to come if the oil and natural gas prices continue to go up, due to lack of oil drilling spots. Long term energy problems will be solved with all the new types of energy out there.
Early in the 1970s, natural gas was thought to be a declining fuel. Outdated and counter productive pricing regulations handcuffed the industry. The picture today is decidedly different. Natural gas is being counted on to fuel most of America’s economic expansions way into the 21st century. The regulations of the 1970s have been replaced by a restructured gas market, and the industry has responded. The demand for gas is growing faster than anyone predicted. The United States economy is also growing faste...
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...ergy. Oil and natural gas will still be out there for energy sources in the future. Many Americans will probably find ways to deal with the energy crunch, by using new efficient resources.
Americans hesitate to make detailed predictions about the energy future much past the present. To secure energy for the future cooperating with foreign governments and institutions to develop energy sector laws would help. Policies and regulatory processes for setting standards and opening markets, could help the energy crisis in the United States. Also, promoting energy production in the future in ways that respect health and environmental problems. Many experts agree that consumers who invest in things like better insulation and windows to make their homes more efficient will see the cheapest bills in the future.
In conclusion the past years have been exciting for energy markets, energy policy, and energy supply and demand. Many people have made significant progress in understanding the importance of a basic resource, which they once took for granted. Americans can expect to have better tools for the future of energy and to be better at identifying and addressing these challenges.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that energy is important to our nation for many reasons. it is a key economic driver and offers new market opportunities for business.
- Explains that the energy crisis in california is a nationwide energy discontent in which natural gas rates have soared to the highest level in 15 years, and opec has slashed its oil output again to keep prices up.
- Opines that if the energy crisis spreads throughout the united states, there would be a large demand for more energy resources.
- Explains that natural gas is being counted on to fuel most of america's economic expansions way into the 21st century. the regulations of the 1970s have been replaced by a restructured gas market.
- Explains that the united states now has two percent of the world’s proven crude-oil reserves. production costs are lower overseas, so it is cheaper to buy from opec nations than from many american suppliers.
- Argues that the 21st century may be seen by an equally dramatic change from fossil fuels, and the environmental chaos they brought.
- Explains that nuclear energy is a powerful energy released by changes in the nucleus core of atoms.
- Explains that wind power is attractive because it is free and renewable and does not add to air or water pollution. windmills account for about 2,500 megawatts of generating capacity nationwide.
- Opines that a jump to solar power would solve about 100 earthly problems. there seems to be no end to the potential use of solar energy in the united states.
- Explains that hydroelectricity is obtained from the energy contained in falling water. it is a renewable, non-polluting energy source.
- Opines that wind and solar energy will be the leading source of energy in the future. fossil fuels energy is struggling due to prices and the lack of areas to drill for oil.
- Recommends cooperating with foreign governments and institutions to develop energy sector laws. policies and regulatory processes for setting standards and opening markets could help the energy crisis in the united states and promote energy production in ways that respect health and environmental problems.
- Concludes that the past years have been exciting for energy markets, energy policy, and energy supply and demand.
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- Oil & Gas: The Most Dangerous Crisis of Allopinionated essayBetween rising demand for energy and the growing inability to increase energy production, a threat of economic collapse is approaching the global economy. The energy frenzy of the world has oil and food prices reaching historical records on a daily basis. The United States has historically been effective with action to prevent future breakdowns and turn them into opportunities. However, there has been a recent interruption in our nation’s capacity to understand the human and business concerns, and their strong relation to oil. How much time is left to sort these issues? In my report there will be a review of different options to relieve the supply and demand pressures on our energy supplies through the exploration of current consequences of our actions, oil alternatives, and awareness to energy consumption. Oil surpassed $130 per barrel in May of 2008, which depending on how they measure it, means that it is about 20% percent higher than the highs reached in the late 1970s and early 80s. In other words, this is getting serious. It is not the intensifying discussion of gasoline prices that we hear, but rather the impact that the price of oil is beginning to have on our nation and the global economy as a whole. If oil prices continue at this level or rise, there will be long-term shifts in how our economy works. According to Oliver (2008), the U.S. is the largest single consumer of energy on Earth. If the United States wants to remain as a strong nation (against other nations in the world) it must find its equalization for overcoming its biggest obstacles: Finding alternative sources for energy that will not trade one crisis for another and finding a way to become independently energy wealthy.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the united states must find its equalization for overcoming its biggest obstacles: finding alternative sources for energy that will not trade one crisis for another and becoming independently energy wealthy.
- Opines that the price of oil has led to increased consumer fears, leading to a vicious circle repeating itself and the poor judgments of our nation to develop alternative energy sources.
- Explains that while the u.s. is blessed to not be subject to volatility of food prices and allocation scares, it certainly has created some issues with food costs itself.
- Opines that if the u.s. does not find an effective alternative source of energy, it must continue to expand the economy by other means than the expansion of industrialization.
- Cites morrison, d. (2006, september 18). retrieved may 11, 2008, from university of minnesota web site.
- Explains that society for science and the public, and ben harder, (2006). demand for ethanol.
- Argues that the u.s. needs to rethink its actions in the development of new energy sources.
- Cites strategic forecasting, inc.'s web site: http://www.stratfor.com. united states department of agriculture.
1596 wordsRead More - The United States Must Abandon Nuclear Poweranalytical essayThe United States Must Abandon Nuclear Power The United States must re-examine many policies previously accepted as reasonable, especially its own national energy policy. As the largest overall and per capita energy consumer in the world, the U.S. needs to decide upon a reasonable source of energy for the foreseeable future, especially since its energy needs will increase dramatically during that time. With political instability likely to remain the norm in the Middle East, oil continues to be an energy source of questionable reliability; in addition, current estimates of worldwide reserves suggest we may in fact run out of oil entirely in the next fifty years. Natural gas reserves are in fairly short supply too, and costs limit its uses as well.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the united states must re-examine many policies previously accepted as reasonable, especially its national energy policy.
- Argues that nuclear power is an expensive and unreliable source of power under the control of companies with disgraceful safety records.
- Explains that the origins of nuclear power should be enough to give one pause; fission reactions (albeit uncontrolled ones) were originally intended to be used as weapons. the manhattan project, its use in japan and the effect on world war ii are all well-known.
- Analyzes the relationship between the fledgling nuclear industry and the military-industrial complex and other large multi-national corporations.
- Explains that the u.s. government created the atomic energy commission (aec) in 1946, which was responsible for regulating the nuclear industry and promoting it.
- Argues that nuclear plants are highly susceptible to a wide variety of disasters.
- Argues that nuclear industry supporters scoff at terrorism and serious accidents as not credible threats, but accidents happen with alarming regularity, and true calamities have been narrowly averted.
- Explains that the earliest major accident in a u.s. reactor occurred on january 3, 1961, shattering the industry's widespread claim that "no one has ever died because of nuclear reactors."
- Analyzes how the "experimental reactor" argument loses ground when addressing accidents that occur at fully operational commercial reactors.
- Explains that nuclear proponents often suggest that the safety benefits resulting from standardized reactor design would safeguard against many possible hazards, yet they fail to address costs and waste disposal.
- Explains that nuclear plants are the single most expensive way to produce energy, despite early claims that they would be too cheap to meter. the rapid escalating price of uranium and the excessive down-times of many reactors contribute to nuclear-generated electricity being 25% more expensive than coal.
- Explains that uranium contributes heavily to the upward-spiralling costs of nuclear plant operation.
- Explains that breeder reactors were supposed to solve any shortages of uranium and create a "virtually limitless" supply of fuel.
- Compares the toxicity of plutonium and the time-scales involved with it. the average modern nuclear plant produces 500 pounds of uranium per year of operation.
- Argues that renewable energy is based on flexibility of energy sources, since the sun doesn't always shine, nor the wind always blows.
- Opines that nuclear energy must not play a part in the final picture of the united states' energy future. government and industry giants are blind to the dangers for fear of losing their monopoly on energy.
- Opines that the united states must re-examine its entire energy base, using a variety of power sources except the one it can't afford to use on any level.
- Explains that cook, judith, red alert: the worldwide dangers of nuclear power.
- Reviews curtis, richard, and elizabeth hogan's nuclear lessons: an examination of nuclear power’s safety, economic and political record.
- Explains shrader-frechette's nuclear power and public policy: the social and ethical problems of fission technology.
- Describes stoler, peter, and dodd, mead and company's decline and fail: the ailing nuclear power industry.
- Explains sweet, william, the nuclear age: atomic energy, proliferation and the arms race.
3557 wordsRead More - Alternative Energy is the Solution to the Fossil Fuel Dilemmaanalytical essayAlternative Energy is the Solution to the Fossil Fuel Dilemma If the United States continues to employ fossil fuels for energy, the nation will ultimately become more dependent upon fuel imports from the troublesome nations of the Middle East, and we will continue to damage our precious environment. Since the United States relies so heavily on fuel from the Middle East, the U.S. is subject to the will of those quarrelsome nations in order to maintain our fuel reserve. A shortage of oil can happen at any time and would cause an energy crisis that would hinder the United States. Another reason for us to substitute fossil fuels with alternative energy sources is that fossil fuels are hazardous to the environment. In order to minimize dependency on foreign oil and to maintain a habitable environment, the United States must maximize usage of alternative energy sources such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal energy.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that alternative energy is the solution to the fossil fuel dilemma, since the united states relies heavily on fuel imports from the troublesome nations of the middle east.
- Opines that it is imperative for the united states to replace fossil fuel energy with modern alternative energy sources.
- Explains how the united states became hooked on oil. everything we ate, how we lived, what we were, heat and light, jobs and cars depended on it.
- Analyzes fogel's comment that the u.s. became dependent on oil, and its suppliers were troublesome countries in the middle east.
- Explains that alternative energy is crucial to the preservation of a habital environment. according to christine a. erwin, fifty thousand american deaths per year are directly connected to airborne particulate matter.
- Explains that solar energy is one answer to producing power without pollution. fogel says that if everyone could make full use of the sun's light and heat, we would have about twenty thousand times as much energy as the entire world uses now
- Explains that unlike fossil fuel counterparts, sunlight is readily available and does not need to be explored, mined, extracted, transported, combusted, transmitted, or imported.
- Explains how fogel states that solar one collects sunlight using 1,818 giant twenty-three-foot square mirrors in the southern california desert.
- Explains that photovoltaic cells absorb photons in sunlight and release electrons to produce an electric current. they can run the current to a battery and store it until needed.
- Explains fogel's claim that big windmills will make a big difference in providing energy. by using this clean, efficient source of energy, the united states will cut down on oil imports from the middle east.
- Describes weisbrich's modular wind amplified rotor platform (warp), which looks like a stack of wheel rims laid on their sides, with turbines mounted to each of the concave surfaces. wind-tunnel tests at rensselaer polytechnic institute suggest that the warp design can amplify wind speeds by 50 percent or more.
- Explains that hydroelectric power is the electrical energy produced by harnessing the energy of falling water in motion. twenty percent of new york state's electric power comes from hydropower, which is cheaper and cleaner than fossil fuels.
- Explains that existing dams can be retrofitted with hydropower equipment to produce electricity. creating more hydroelectric projects will produce more clean and cost effective energy.
- Explains that geothermal energy will reduce the amount of oil the u.s. has to import. energy obtained from the earth’s natural heat is explained on the web site.
- Explains that geothermal energy can be harnessed from the earth’s natural heat associated with active volcanoes or geologically young inactive volcanics still giving off heat at depth.
- Explains that geothermal energy comes from molten magma deep in the earth, which rises, heats the solid rock above, and breaks through. this heat is conducted to the next layer, porous rock filled with water.
- Argues that the united states should begin a worldwide changeover to clean, renewable alternative energy sources including solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal.
- Cites erwin, christine a, fogel, barbara r, and goldin, augusta.
- Cites bonnie szumsk's "hydroelectric power" and "photovoltaics."
1362 wordsRead More - Renewable Energy: The Switch is Nowcomparative essayThe year is 2200. The world is going through a fossil fuel shortage. Oil reserves are almost completely consumed and it is becoming impossible to find new fossil fuel sources. Not prepared for this event to occur, The United States, has no alternative options. As a result of the oil shortage, the standard of living deteriorates. Heat in homes, supermarkets full of food, and transportation, all basic necessities taken for granted, will be depleted because fossil fuels are used to power almost everything. The key to the prevention of this future is renewable energy. Unfortunately the support for the use of renewable energy is weak and ineffective. Unless the US puts forth effort to research and promote the use of renewable energy to consumers, conversion from fossil fuels to renewable energy will no longer be an option.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the united states has no alternative options because of the fossil fuel shortage. the key to the prevention of this future is renewable energy.
- Explains that the use of fossil fuels on a large scale, specifically coal, began with the industrial revolution in england.
- Compares the consumption of fossil fuels and renewables in the u.s.
- Explains that government involvement in promoting alternative energies in the u.s. began with the passage of the clean air act.
- Concludes that future dependence on fossil fuels is preventable with research and development on alternative and renewable technologies and government involvement.
- Describes the u.s. energy information administration (eia)'s independent statistics and analysis.
- Explains that humans have used alternative sources of energy for centuries, even before it became popular in the 1970s. america's energy usage is divided into four sections/sectors, transportation, commercial, residential, and industrial
- Explains that renewable energy and nuclear power are the fastest-growing energy sources, but fossil fuels will continue to supply almost 80 percent of world energy use through 2040.
- Explains alters, sandra m. energy supplies, sustainability, and costs. 2011 ed. wylie: information plus.
- States mast, tom r., over a barrel: a simple guide to the oil shortage, austin: hayden, 2005.
1511 wordsRead More - Impact of Coal vs Uranium Power Plantsexplanatory essayCurrently our country, and especially California, is confronting a serious energy crisis. Newspaper headlines warn of blackouts and tremendous rate increases. The cost of all we buy will increase in an effort to cover the added expenses. They only way to control this shortage of fuel are to produce more, conserve and control the amount of energy we use or a combination of conserving and increasing production.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the impact of coal versus uranium power plants on california's energy crisis. newspaper headlines warn of blackouts and rate increases. the only way to control this shortage of fuel is to produce more, conserve and control the amount of energy.
- Explains that coal and nuclear power are two major sources of energy in the united states. both were built for the same purpose, to supply energy to the world.
- Explains that coal is a combustible, sedimentary, organic rock formed from vegetation. large coal deposits started to be formed after the evolution of land plants in the devonian period.
- Explains that the altered remains of prehistoric vegetation originally accumulated as plant material in swamps and peat bogs.
- Explains that coal reserves are known to be in about one hundred countries. at current production levels, they are estimated to last over 200 years.
- Explains that the supply of coal has decreased significantly and there is not enough coal to last forever if the current consumption rate continues.
- Explains that uranium is found everywhere in the earth's surface. it is a metal and looks like lead.
- Opines that undiscovered uranium deposits total 3,760,000 tons and the potential for exploitation of these deposits will become cost-competitive as the price increases.
- Explains that nuclear power is considered one of the united states main and cleanest sources of energy today.
- Explains that a coal power plant converts the natural resource, coal, into fuel to supply power for the world.
- Explains that turning coal into power is not as complicated as the conversion of uranium. pulverized coal is blown into the furnace where it burns while airborne.
- Explains the amount of electricity generated from coal-fired power plants increased by almost 16% between 1992 and 1998.
- Explains that coal is the number one source of u.s. electricity production at 54%, and nuclear power produces 21% of electricity.
- Explains that nuclear energy is a reliable source of electricity for the united states. seventeen one thousand-megawatt reactors could be fueled with 690,000 tons of domestic uranium reserves.
- Explains that while the amount of uranium needed to produce electricity is much less than coal, there is concern about the safety of the environment whenever radioactive material is used.
- Explains that nuclear power plants are environmentally benign and enable endangered species to live and thrive nearby. all energy production results in environmental damage.
- Explains that wastes and by-products from coal power plants also impact the environment. there are currently fish in 50,000 waterbeds in 40 states that have such high levels of mercury that the health agencies warn people not to eat them.
- Opines that nuclear waste from nuclear power plants may be a threat to the environment if not stored properly.
- Explains that nuclear waste is dangerous, but proper containment is observed to protect the environment.
- Explains that finding safe sites to store radioactive waste is a problem. the world is dealing with nuclear power plant waste, as well as high-radioactive military waste.
- Opines that nuclear accidents are not known that often, and that people are afraid of the words nuclear and radioactive because they associate them with the atomic bomb.
- Explains that if a nuclear power plant exploded, there would be no worldwide disaster — land contamination, cancer deaths, and restrictions on milk and cattle consumption would result.
- Explains that nuclear power plants have safety factors built in to protect themselves and the people around them. the primary system retains radioactivity until it can be removed by systems that clean the cooling water.
- Opines that employees of nuclear power plants need to be cautious and informed of the risks. six to seven percent of worker deaths were directly related to radiation exposure on the job.
- Explains that coal-fired power plants release several hundred pounds of mercury per year. they are responsible for thirty three percent of the total mercury emissions from all known manmade sources.
- Explains that coal and oil fired power plants released almost nine million pounds of toxic metals and metal compounds into the air that year [1998].
- Explains the environmental impact and economic impact of coal generated energy and nuclear power plants. both use uranium and plutonium, which is powerful and has more severe effects.
- Explains that coal power plants emit toxic metals, mercury, and sulfur dioxide, which pollute the environment, nitrous oxide and acid rain, while nuclear plants release radioactive material during an accident or meltdown.
- Opines that the best solution to the energy crisis is to use all sources of power in moderation and to conserve energy whenever possible.
- Cites the clean coal technology compendium at www.lanl.gov/cgi-bin/byteserver.
- Cites gregorovich's article, "environmental preservation" and "fast facts on power plants."
- Describes the best arguments for and against nuclear power.
- Cites richard e. webb, ph.d., "nuclear lessons an examination of nuclear power’s safet, economic and political record." harrisburg.
1928 wordsRead More - US Needs to Have Energy Independenceopinionated essayIntroduction The reliance on other countries for fossil fuels that produce energy have put the United States of America at risk of being pulled into unstable regions around the world jeopardizing international relationships and putting its own citizens in harm’s way. America needs to balance both the pursuit of alternative energy solutions and reduce energy usage. Our military runs on fossil fuels produced by other nations who do not have similar interests or values as the United States, ultimately adding unwanted risk that becomes difficult to manage. There are advantages to alternative energy solutions that could allow for America to become an independent energy nation that would eliminate the need to support and stabilize various regions around the world.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that america needs to balance the pursuit of alternative energy solutions and reduce energy usage by taking advantage of breakthrough technologies.
- Opines that america needs to balance the pursuit of alternative energy solutions and reduce energy usage. the highest oil production locations are too far from america's soil.
- Argues that the u.s. is the world's largest consumer of oil and is vulnerable to instability in the energy industry.
- Cites lafontaine, dan. army engineers spur development of tactical microgrids.
- Explains the u.s. congressional record - senate. political proceedings & debates, washington: united states government printing office, 2007.
795 wordsRead More - The United States currently produce their energy from natural gas, nuclear, coal, conventional hydropower, petroleum and other renewable energy sources, and this makes them the world’s consumer and producer of energy. United States is carrying out domestic policy measures to address the huge predicament of climate change and to improve a thriving and sustainable clean energy. This is via legislation, consumer subsidies, civic education, and tax incentives (Bannon, 2007).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the united states produces energy from natural gas, nuclear, coal, conventional hydropower, petroleum, and other renewable energy sources, making them the world's consumer and producer of energy.
- Explains the american recovery and reinvestment act (arra) that came to force in 2009 that saw the allocation in excess of ninety billion for the venture in clean energy technologies to create diverse, clean and energy- independent economy.
- Explains that president obama declared the government’s commitment to come up with the first ever joint carbon dioxide and fuel economy tailpipe emission values for light-duty trucks and cars in the united states.
- Explains that president obama obligated for more aggressive effective standards for ordinary household electrical devices and roll out a program of renewable energy production.
- Opines that states, industries, local governments, schools, universities, and non-governmental organisations are vital additions to the many federal strategies to inform the public and educate the industry on issues of climate change.
- Explains that the energy policy act of 2005 (epact) allowed the investment in tax credits for those investing in industrial and commercial renewable energy. these credits were extended to the year 2016 to aid in the cutting of green house gases emission.
- Explains that the department of energy loan guarantee program was improved by the american recovery and reinvestment act of 2009. these loans are geared towards the promotion of clean energy that will assist in the reduction of climate change.
- Cites bannon, b. d. and bell, m. r. on climate change, ambient ozone, and health in 50 u.s. cities.
- Cites karl, t. s., global climate change impacts in the united states: a state of knowledge report from the u.s. global change research program.
629 wordsRead More - H.R. 6 (110th): Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007explanatory essayClimate change has garnered much attention over the past decade. Similarly, the cost of energy has become a growing debate. Ultimately, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 was introduced in response to the growing concerns with climate change as well as the increasing amount of greenhouse gas emissions coupled with increased oil price. These factors brought these issues to the general public’s attention and raised questions regarding the United States’ own energy efficiency and reliance on foreign energy. After the United States declined to ratify the Kyoto protocol, which would have helped to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we fell behind in standards for clean energy and energy independence through clean alternatives (Meade, 2008).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that in order to implement the regulations as specified by energy independent security act (eisa), three main agencies were in charge of setting the standards. the focus will be on the first four main titles.
- Describes the actions taken to implement the title i-energy security through improved vehicle fuel economy guidelines.
- Cites the washington post for president bush's state of the union address.
- States that the us department of transportation (2011, april) summary of fuel economy performance. accessed may 8, 2013.
- Explains that the energy independence and security act of 2007 was introduced in response to the growing concerns with climate change and the increasing amount of greenhouse gas emissions coupled with increased oil price.
- Explains that the energy independence and security act was introduced for a number of reasons, including the state of the union address by george bush in 2006.
- Explains that the energy independence and security act of 2007 was introduced by nick rahall, who is currently serving as the ranking member on the house transportation and infrastructure committee.
- Explains that there were more than 310 bills related to energy efficiency and renewable energy in the 110th congress. many were introduced around the same time as the original h.r. 6 clean energy act.
- Describes h.r. 656, which calls for higher automobile fuel efficiency with the goal of reducing oil used for automotive fuel by 10% starting in 2017.
- States that h.r. 182 creates an excise tax on gas-guzzler vehicles and a trust fund for alternative fuel refueling infrastructure projects.
- Explains that h.r. 84 – energy efficient buildings act of 2007 provides grants for renovations to make buildings more energy efficient.
- Explains that there is no single set of criteria to choose this policy formulation over each of the given alternatives. the two controversial sections called for the repeal of tax subsidies for domestic oil and natural gas production and the renewable portfolio standard.
- Explains the goal of title ii: energy security through increased production of biofuels, which was to increase the amount of biofuel produced by the united states, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Explains that eisa has seen much evaluation and scrutiny over its effectiveness. in 2011, congressional budget negotiations led to a defunding for title iii.
- Cites the authenticated u.s government information (gpo) from the 2007 h.r.6. 110th congress.
- Explains the energy independence and security act of 2007 (eisa) frequently asked questions. epa finalizes regulations for the national renewable fuel standard program for 2010 and beyond.
- Cites the u.s energy information administration's energy efficiency and renewable energy legislation in the 110th congress.
3433 wordsRead More - Energy Consumption in the United Statescomparative essayThe United States consumes more energy than needed, compared to the rest of the world. However, to properly address such an issue as over consumption of energy, one first must understand what “energy” is.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the united states consumes more energy than the rest of the world. they state that america's consumption of fossil fuels constitutes eighty-six percent of american energy.
- Explains that the united states consumes more energy than needed, but it is not all due to wastefulness and apathy.
- Proposes that america should stop relying heavily on fossil fuels and turn its focus onto renewable sources of energy, such as solar power and hydroelectricity.
- Cites mindfully's sustainability/americans-consume-24percent, energy information administration, accessed february 12, 2005. lewis lehrman, "energetic america".
458 wordsRead More - Wind Energy as a Replacement for Fossil Fuelsexplanatory essayEnergy is an integral part of our daily lives. While organisms get energy to move from food, non-living appliances such as phones, lights, cars etc. get their energy from other renewable or non-renewable sources. The majority of energy consumed comes from non-renewable energy sources: fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal) and nuclear energy. In the past few decades, the issue of a potential “energy crisis” has arisen. Since people nowadays use such large amounts of fossil fuels, they will run out in the near future. Out of the three fossil fuels, oil and gas are the most widely used. It is predicted that, without taking into account the new reserves that could become accessible with the advancement of technology, oil and gas reserves on earth will run out in 40 and 70 years respectively. This shortage of fossil fuels will cause a crisis because our society is extremely dependent on fossil fuels—85% of our energy comes from burning them. However, fossil fuels could be replaced by other energy sources, but many are skeptical about the feasibility of this.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the majority of energy consumed comes from non-renewable sources such as fossil fuels and nuclear energy.
- Explains that the amount of energy captured in usable form can't keep up with our demand. global energy usage has been increasing due to rapid population growth.
- Explains that the impending shortage of fossil fuels has led people to consider using other sources of energy that could fully or partially replace fossils. renewable energy sources are sustainable and yield long-term solutions.
- Explains that wind energy comes from harnessing the kinetic energy of the wind, or the movement of air.
- Explains that wind turbines are used to convert kinetic energy from wind to electrical energy that can be used.
- Explains that wind turbines can vary greatly in size, depending on what they are generating electricity for. they can be found on land or offshore in either shallow or deep water.
- Explains that wind power supplies just under 2% of global power, and has the potential to increase to 12-18% by 2020.
- Explains the economic benefits of wind power, but it is still expensive to build, and the wind is intermittent, which makes it less cost efficient.
944 wordsRead More