Energy

Energy and Waste

The United States, along with all industrialized nations, is completely dependent upon fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Developing nations are now following this example in the hope of enhancing the well-being of their people. However, the pursuit of energy sources and services causes an underappreciated cost in human life and well-being. This also causes air and water pollution, which poses risks to human health.

The continued production of non-renewable fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, and natural gas) is now requiring more difficult methods of extraction. These can include hydraulic fracturing, "fracking", extended off-shore drilling, long distance pipelines, and other risky methods that threaten fragile ecosystems and lead to the loss of biodiversity. Additionally, nuclear power remains controversial, its promise overcast by the risks of radioactive waste and leaks and the significant events of Chernobyl, Ukraine and Fukushima, Japan.

Energy supply and demand are nationwide issues. Public policy can bring about major improvements in energy use. Between the oil crisis of 1973 and 1995, the United States saw a reduction in energy growth, saving the economy billions of dollars. However, as the difficult days of the 1970s faded into distant memories, old practices resumed and energy consumption increased.

In more recent years, the federal government has used both supply-side and demand side policies to influence the use of energy. Supply-side policies increase oil production and consumption. Demand-side policies, however, help to reduce energy needs and promote the transition to renewable energy (solar, hydropower, wind, geothermal, biofuels, and tidal and wave power). The Energy Policy Act of 2005 was intended to establish U.S. policy for years to come. Acting on recommendations from President Bush, the act worked to increase the energy supply. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 addressed mainly the demand side. President Obama used both supply and demand policies to influence energy policy. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 directed $90 billion dollars toward clean energy and boosted alternative energy.

Current U.S. energy policy focuses on lowering our dependence on foreign oil, making sure our energy supply is secure, and solving climate change. To this end, a combination of approaches is employed. These different approaches have mixed results regarding the environment.

However, despite a few pieces of federal legislation, there really is no comprehensive national energy plan. Energy policy is determined by federal, state, and local municipal entities, which address issues of energy production, distribution, and consumption.

Based upon what you have read; do you believe that the government should establish a national energy policy? If so, how would you construct this policy? If not, how would you address our current energy issues?

Please review the following media for more information:

Baker, A. B. (2010). International Economic Interdependency and U.S. National Energy Policy. Energy Journal, 31(4), 57-78. Link to article.

Fanning, T. A. (2011). The Need for National Energy Policy. Vital Speeches Of The Day, 77(7), 260. Link to article.

Blackmon, D. (2015). Beware of calls for a national "energy policy". World Oil, 236(7), 81-85. Link to article.

- Energy and Waste

The United States is the world's largest energy user. Most of its commercial energy comes from burning non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels. Much of the energy we obtain from fossil fuels is wasted. We cannot recycle energy but we can slow the rate at which waste heat flows into the environment. Industry can save energy by cogeneration which produces heat or steam from the same source, replacing electric motors, and switching to high-efficiency lighting. The animation below compares energy sources in developed and developing countries.

Non-Renewable Energy Sources

Non-renewable, nuclear energy uses controlled nuclear fission, in which a chain reaction heats water to produce steam which turns an electric turbine, to produce electricity. The Nuclear Energy Institute website describes the benefits of nuclear power. Safety concerns, costs and liability have slowed the growth of nuclear power. 

Accidents at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island showed that partial or complete meltdowns are possible. Nuclear powered electricity generating plants produce radioactive wastes, some of which remain dangerous for thousands of years. Nuclear plants must be decommissioned after 15-40 years.

Non-renewable fossil fuels such as crude oil provides most of the worlds energy needs. Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Iran and the United Arab Emirates have the largest know reserves. The United States uses about one-third of the oil extracted worldwide. 

Experts predict an increased use in natural gas. Russia and Kazakhstan have 42% of the known reserves. The U.S, has 3%. When natural gas fields are tapped, propane and butane are liquefied and removed as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The rest of the gas which is mostly methane is dried, cleaned and pumped as Liquefied natural gas (LNG). The American Petroleum Institute website includes information about both oil and natural gas. Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel but has the highest environmental impact. Coal can be converted to synthetic natural gas, liquid fuels such as synthetic gasoline or methanol. Liquefying or gasifying coal is costly and has a high environmental impact. The website, Coal Information explains how coal is formed, mined, and used. 

Renewable Energy Sources

Using solar energy to provide heat and electricity for buildings is an alternative that needs to be explored. Solar thermal systems such as passive and active solar systems are new technologies that collect and transform solar energy into heat.  Photovoltaic cells convert solar energy directly into electricity.

Hydropower or producing electrical energy by falling or flowing water is a largely untapped source of energy. Large-scale hydropower projects flood large areas behind reservoirs, disrupt river ecosystems, displace people, and emit greenhouse gases. Even small projects can threaten aquatic life.

Production of electricity and hydrogen gas by wind farms is expected to increase. Western Europe is currently a leader in the development of wind power. Land for wind farms can also be used for ranching or crops and the profits stay in local communities. Critics claim wind farms are unsightly, noisy and are a hazard to migrating birds. 

Hydrogen gas can be produced by splitting water molecules. If scientists can learn how to decompose water cheaply, they will set into motion a solar-hydrogen revolution. A shift from a fossil fuel economy to a hydrogen economy would eliminate air pollution and greatly reduce the threat of global warming. Hydrogen powered fuel cells could power vehicles and appliances. The article, Breakthroughs Lead to New Talk of a Hydrogen Economy  describes the benefits and possibilities of hydrogen fuel.

Geothermal energy is heat that is transferred from the earth in the forms of dry or wet steam or hot water. This energy form can heat buildings and produce electricity. Geothermal reservoirs can be depleted if heat is removed faster than natural processes can renew it. The potential for geothermal energy is vast.

We have a variety of available energy alternatives to the use of fossil fuels. A shift to more sustainable energy resources is possible if we shift from subsidizing non-sustainable to more sustainable forms energy. Politics and the powerful industry lobbies are the key to making this shift possible.  

For more information on energy sources visit Energy 101. Visit this website to learn more about our past and present energy choices, and what we might do differently in the future